Nashville Songwriter Festival 6/20-22

[Chicago Sandy]

Hi, all (I should say "y'all," given the location, but I'm originally from Brooklyn--"youse guys" or "yuz," perhaps?). I'm here in Nashville, TN for the Nashville Songwriter Festival (not affiliated by NSAI but partly sponsored by American Songwriter Magazine) on Music Row, in the alley between 17th Ave. and Chet Atkins Blvd. Andina & Rich will be performing (check the schedule at www.myspace.com/songwritersfestivalnashville) tomorrow night at approx. 9:15 pm (there was a cancellation so we may be moved up--or if things fall behind, we may play later) and again well after midnight; we will also be playing (listing under Stephen Lee Rich) Sat. & Sun. aft. and evening; and will individually and collectively be emceeing the open stages. Headliners are Tom T. Hall and Stella Parton. Events get under way each day at 11 a.m. (Tomorrow there will be open houses with music publishers, studios, labels and agents, and the festival officially opens at 5 pm). There will also be workshops, including "Ready for the Row" by the Bluebird Cafe's Barbara Cloyd, as well as with CJ Watson and Pat & Pete Luboff.

Videographers will be available for a nominal fee should you wish a quick, economical and convenient way to add a video demo to your press kit (or prove to your significant other that the money and space you've been devoting to G.A.S. was well worth it). Donations for the festival welcome--honor system, no set amount.

I'll be at the Best Western Music Row if you need to reach me.

[Chicago Sandy]

BUMP!

Actually, an update. Quite a variety of performers in several genres--and brave, nonperforming writers who nonetheless get up there and demonstrate their songs often off-key, forcing you to listen to the lyrics because the melodies are indeterminate; paradoxically, it's these folks who seem to have publishing contracts and the hotshots who are still looking. Only goes to show you that here in N'ville, the lyric is king. Had an exhausting day yesterday helping run the Red Starr Video Stage, where we sang last night. Today at 1:45, we're on the Sure Fire Publishing Webcast Stage (so if you google the festival, you just might get to see us even if you can't get down here) and at 11 pm I'll be backing up Stephen Lee Rich at the Pro Instructors' Stage. Tomorrow, it's 5:15 at the Curb Stage (the mainstage) and 11:15 at Sure Fire. They tend to run a little late, but there are also cancellations and shuffling around, so leave about half an hour window before and 45 min. after just to be sure.

Dunno to which open mic I'll be assigned as emcee--word has gotten out that I know my way around a sound system so I might be put on techie duty instead. And in between, I'll be helping out at Red Starr.

There are the usual singer-songwriters who are obviously looking to get signed as artists (and who probably haven't seen a calorie or a carb since 1998), but surprisingly, those who are primarily writers come in all shapes, sizes and ages--we had an 82-yr-old grandma who sings to tracks (still pretty well), has had a couple of cuts (songs covered) and gigs regularly at hospitals and senior centers. Some hip-hop and pop writer/artists too. Today I will pull out what will no doubt be the only dulcimers at the festival.