<p>"Carved Wood Box" is an album by Cal Scott.</p>

LONG BEACH, Wash. Great American Song Contest Winner Cal Scott will present a concert to celebrate the release of his new CD, Carved Wood Box, at the Peninsula Arts Center at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $12.

The CD features 11 finely crafted songs filled with unforgettable characters, evocative images, humor, grace and catchy hooks. The concert will feature Scott on vocals, guitars, mandolin and harmonica and Chris Kokesh (www.chriskokesh.com) on vocals, guitar and fiddle.

Carved Wood Box was recorded in 2011 and 2012 in Portland, Nashville, Northern Ireland and Belgium. The idea for the CD came about during Scotts tours with Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, with whom he records and performs. Scott regularly sings a couple of his original songs in their shows, and decided in 2011 that it was time to record a solo CD. The CD was completed over the next two years and features Scott on vocals, guitars, mandolin, cornet, piano and harmonica.

One of the songs from the CD, Paid Too Much for the Diamond, was named the first place winner in The Great American Song Contest 2012 in the Singer-Songwriter category.

Across the Black River, a CD by Scott and Burke, was hailed as one of the top 12 world music CDs of 2007 by the New York Times. Scott is also the musical director of The Trail Band, composes music for film and TV, and has scored more than 60 documentaries and specials for PBS, including three Frontlines and OPBs Oregon Experience. For more information on Scott and his music, visit www.calscottmusic.com

The Peninsula Arts Center is located at 504 Pacific Ave. N. in Long Beach. For information, visit www.peninsulaartscenter.org