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-Home-Sign Me Up-Event Schedule-Festival Day By Day-Pro Classes-Open House/Booths-Song Challenge-Stages-Create A Round-Writers Table-Featured Writers-How Fest Works-Photos-Places To Stay-Life Time Award-Link The Fest-Keep Me Posted-Contact Us-Store-Play Schedule-Volunteers-Other Happenings- A festival for all songwriters, hosted by songwriters, put together by songwriters! |
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Registration is open......... ..Multiple Stages.......Performing and Non Performing writer slots available.......... June 4-6, 2010 Nashville SongWriters Festival on Music Row It's part festival, part music conference, part business networking opportunity and part gathering of old friends held in Nashville, TN every third weekend of June. The live performances, education and Open House are concurrently running events. Here's a day by day account from Friday morning and continuing on till Sunday midnight. Lets imagine you're at the fest........ The Fest is what you make! |
| Day 1, Friday,
June 4, 2010 It's Friday 9 AM we start with some Pro Instruction Classes.     |
Some of last years instructors... |
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Friday afternoon @ 5:30 PM
we begin firing off the
stages. Starting
at the main stage, it's time to begin the non stop original tunes
till Sunday midnight! There are scheduled
featured writer segments intermingled with regular writers.
About 6:30 the writers start finding their place in the mix at the
various stages. Around 8pm the Festival Grand master appears to accept
the keys to Music Row and anoint the "Blessing of the Songwriters." At
9pm we announce Part 1 of the
"Song
Challenge" winners and check out selected performances of their
song. Unscheduled
Create-A-Rounds that you instigate pop up throughout the
evening here and there. Some writers browse a Booth or drop off their
CDs to display at the
Writer's
Table. The stages hum till about 1 AM.
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| Day 2,
Saturday, June 5th, 2010 It's Saturday morning @ 10 AM, the Writers who got some rest are up-and-about. The second day of the Pro Instructors Classes start.
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Some of last years instructors...
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Also at 10 AM on Saturday the Open House begins. Registered writers are getting first hand experience of the Row. Fest Heads are dropping by participating recording studios, producers, publishers, publicists, consultants, managers, duplicators, and other trade related music businesses on or near the Row. These businesses have an "Open Door Policy" from 10 AM-6 PM June 5th and 6th. They will offer tours of their facilities and answer questions about "What part they play in the biz?" Writers are encouraged to drop off and pick up samples of each others works. These are unscheduled "Meets and Greets!" Also stop by the Fest Info booth and drop off a copy of your songs in the specially marked "Drop Box". We will forward your materials to interested parties at the fest. Again, unscheduled Create-A-Rounds that you instigate pop up here and there throughout the day. Writers are browsing a Booth or drop off their CDs to display at the Writer's Table. |
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Around noon, live music begins filling the Row again and the booths are open for traffic. Little clusters of writers develop, each sharing stories and talking shop. Everyone is laid back and having a meaningful experience thanks to the relaxing and creative atmosphere. At 8 pm we present the Life Time Achievement award. At 9pm we announce Part 2 of the "Song Challenge" winners and check out selected performances of their song. The stages close down again about 1 AM and the really late niters head for the after hours Open Sing Ring and watch the sun rise. By the end of the second day, Fest Heads have been effectively scattered from one end of the Row to the other. |
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Day 3, Sunday, June 6th, 2010 10 AM, Survivors from Friday and Saturday hit the Row again! The Sunday session of the Open House begins. Fest Heads loaded down with business cards, CD's and goodie bags take advantage of the "Open Door Policy" till 6 PM. |
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10:30 AM, The 3rd day of Pro Instruction kicks off again and runs till about 6 PM. |
Some of last years instructors...
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At Noon all the stages begin firing back up, booths are open and everything hums along as usual. Some of the late-niter's begin straggling in and the party continues. Go with the flow, 12 more hours to go. |
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It's 3PM and we begin a special Christian Music Segment at a designated stage. A special emphasis on Contemporary Christian related music is pursued till 6PM. Afterward, if anyone wants to get married at the Fest then this is the time we do it. The bride and groom read a poem or play a special tune to each other on stage, kiss and then head off to a reception nearby. Don't worry. I think there will be plenty of live entertainment.
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8 Year Fest Head, "Coconut" Harley Lameraux, Harmonica Master, Hall of Famer and man of God. Email him here. |
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In the evening about 8 PM
we start winding down the other stages and Southern Fried
Fest Heads start gravitating toward the main stage as we get ready to
Jam till midnight.
Songs and laughter pierce the final hours on the Row as it has been for history. Having gotten our musical fill, we yearn no more. Little elves clear the row of gear, stages, and by the next day it's like we never existed. |
| The week following the Fest some writers are still hanging around the Row, following up on leads and cementing plans for the future. For better or worse, at least you know your way around now. |
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| Questions? Email or call 615-424-1491 or 931-296-4067 Contact Us |
As
the evening winds down about midnight, the hard core gather and play
unplugged at the after hours Open Sing Ring where you're welcome to jam
while someone else plays and wait your turn. Thus begins a life changing
weekend, so pace yourself. :)
