FESTIVAL TIME IS ON THE WAY
I am mostly about GETTING OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM. The best way to do that for songwriters/artists is to visit a major music center. New York, LA or Nashville are the primary ones in the US, although there are other centers that have a music scene, venues, bars, songwriter's groups etc. and now most even smallest towns and hamlets usually have an open mic, open stage or talent night somewhere. You have to find them, and integrate oneself and even if they are not the classic "Nashville songwriters night", any place to perform your material is better than just sitting at home. And meeting some other people with the same hobby is essential to understanding what this is all about.
But outside of that, there are many FESTIVALS around the country. The BMI KEY WEST songwriter's festival is one that comes up a lot, but I find that really expensive and very limited to how many writers that have involved. And as an ASCAP writer, I don't really qualify (or afford) so I don't go there.
SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST in Austin, Tx. is very much for artists and is one of the primary showcases for alternative, rock, blues, music around. Again, really congested, a LOT going on, and like most modern festivals, pretty expensive.
KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL, in Kerrville, Texas, is the yearly pilgramage for people who want to camp out and get into the folk scene.
All of these are very interesting, and should e checked out. There are numerous others around the country, I see almost every city and town having a "taste of the town" or arts and crafts fairs. All of those are important and if one comes to your area, I hope you support it.
For me, Basically two festivals (with a possibility on a third) are on my radar screen. And as of last week, I'm invited and playing on TWO. But here they are, in order:
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL, August 16-20. GATLINBURG TN.
This is the 6th year for this one. Nestled in the beautiful Smokey Mountains, this one is really finding it's groove. About 100 writers in 8-10 venues. Mostly East Tn. writers featured here, along with around 65 of Nashville hitmakers.
The thing to be remembered going to them, is that you want a place where YOU could perform. Smokey Mountain has DICK'S LAST RESORT, where they do a daily open mic, that anyone can sign up for, and a late night guitar pull on the front porch of the GATLINBURG INN, the old style hotel where Fedelice and Boudeloux Bryant wrote "WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE" and ROCKY TOP, as well as hundreds of other standard songs.
IT is "off season" being at the end of the summer and a few weeks before the fall explosion, so rooms are reasonable.
IT is "off season" being at the end of the summer and a few weeks before the fall explosion, so rooms are reasonable.
And for the scenery, YOU CAN'T BEAT THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS.
FRANK BROWN INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL, Nov. 9-19, PERDIDO KEY, FL./GULF SHORES, AL.
Of course, my favorite. This will be the 33rd year for this one and my 23rd year. It is the MOST PERFECT festival, in that it is at the beaches, a lot of regular tourist traffic, and a tradition of including the community, make this my favorite.
Of course, my favorite. This will be the 33rd year for this one and my 23rd year. It is the MOST PERFECT festival, in that it is at the beaches, a lot of regular tourist traffic, and a tradition of including the community, make this my favorite.
The locals are amazing and a wide variety of venues, writers and music.
The key place is the FLORABAMA LOUNGE, which is the biggest dog on the block. A daily open mic there on one of the most famous stages in songwriting. A central location, people can rub elbows with the hit makers.
The key place is the FLORABAMA LOUNGE, which is the biggest dog on the block. A daily open mic there on one of the most famous stages in songwriting. A central location, people can rub elbows with the hit makers.
About 200 of Nashville's top writers, and a lot of up and comers.
The Mississippi Songwriters Festival, Ocean City Ms. Sept. 16-18.
This one I am still wondering about. The 5th year for it. but they are trying to decide what it is going to be. Mostly Mississippi writers. (My Dad was from Philadelphia Miss. and my relative was Jimmie Rodgers, so I am sort of a legacy) A few Nashville writers go over, Mostly Tommy Barnes and a few more hit makers, but this one is mostly for the locals. They are trying to decide on having me do a workshop this year so I will have to see how that goes.
They do have a late night guitar pull at a historic old hotel, and the overall feel is of some pretty good people.
They do have a late night guitar pull at a historic old hotel, and the overall feel is of some pretty good people.
But they are still trying to find their identities. I do like the fact that the six or seven venues are all in walking distance of each other.
But this year, unless they offer me a workshop, I probably won't go. But if you are near that area, it is a pretty good expense of time to go see what it is all about.
But this year, unless they offer me a workshop, I probably won't go. But if you are near that area, it is a pretty good expense of time to go see what it is all about.
Those are my choices, hope you can make one or more of them or find ones on your own. They are a way to get seen, meet people, and find out you are not so alone in a very interesting art form.
MAB
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