Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival 2015 in Gatlinburg August 19-23
Gather up your dreams and head for these hills for the Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival 2015 in Gatlinburg on August 19-23.
Have a little ditty you penned and no one on hand to tell you what it’s worth? Maybe you have a whole book of original songs and a suitcase loaded with dreams to match. Be in Gatlinburg from August 19-23, 2015 to rub shoulders with hit writers whose dreams have been realized. There will be music in the air and creativity to spare at the annual Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival 2015. Highly successful writers whose works have been snapped up by major recording artists will guide aspiring writers in the ways of the craft and live music will light up the city as the festival turns Gatlinburg into a country, bluegrass and gospel mini-mecca.
Festivities will take place at various venues throughout Gatlinburg. The festival kick-off will be held at the historic Gatlinburg Inn with all workshops being held at Edgewater Hotel. Stella Parton, Dolly’s sister and a carrier of that legendary music gene, will open the festival.
If you’ve never written a song and never plan to, you’ll still love the ambience and live music during the festival. There will be free live music throughout as well as a ticketed concert by EmiSunshine and the Rain, a fresh new act that has graced the Grand Ole Opry stage several times. They will perform on Friday, August 21 at the Brookside Resort Events Center at 8:00 p.m.
Whether you write the occasional song for your family to hear, or have serious career aspirations, you’ll enjoy four days of all things music, creativity and songwriting. You’ll have the opportunity to have your work critiqued, co-write with famous songwriters and gain insider tips from industry movers and shakers.
Songwriters Doug Johnson and Kim Williams at the Country Music Association Awards when “Three Wooden Crosses” won Song of the Year. Photo credit: BMI
Kim Williams, best-known for such number one hits as “Three Wooden Crosses,” which was co-written with Doug Johnson and recorded by Randy Travis, has enjoyed a lion’s share of fame and fortune on the country music scene.
Recently, at a concert in Knoxville, Garth Brooks had a spotlight single him out as he reminded the crowd of Williams’ contributions to the genre. He then sang “Cold Shoulder,” a song showcasing Williams’ hit-making talent and co-written with Kent Blazy and Garth himself. Such is the payoff for the many years of hard work honing his craft as he has written hits for a dazzling array of big-name stars. Williams will be at the Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival, eager to share his enthusiasm for writing and, perhaps most importantly, the art of storytelling.
“I think every one of us is a songwriter at heart. We’ve all got stories to tell,” Kim said in a recent interview with HeySmokies.com. He says he is looking particularly forward to this year’s festival because it gives him the chance to meet up with his compadres in the industry. “I know most of them and I’ve written with most of them,” he says. As experienced writers mingle with hopeful hearts that are passionate about their not-as-yet realized dreams, good things are bound to happen. “It gives them networking opportunities that are just incredible,” says Cindy Reeves, festival founder and director.
Williams says there are three secrets to becoming a successful songwriter: “Write, write and write.” He says writers can’t go wrong with good “earthy story-songs.” Predicting trends can be tough, he notes, in an industry where “what will play on the radio is a moving target. It changes all of the time.”
