First Annual Amelia Island Songwriter Festival Slated for August 27-31

Posted in News on August 5, 2008

The First Annual Amelia Island Songwriter Festival will drop anchor in Fernandina Beach, Florida, August 27-31. The BMI-sponsored event offers a unique combination of workshops, showcasing and networking opportunities for aspiring songwriters of all levels. Established Nashville hitmakers will also attend, performing their smashes at evening showcases on the island and offering invaluable insight during daily seminars led by songwriter and author Jason Blume. Favorite local venues throughout Fernandina Beach’s Amelia Island including Florida House Inn, Sandy Bottoms, Wicked Davey’s, O’Kanes Irish Pub, The Palace Saloon and Amelia Island Plantation will host the nightly entertainment. Numerous songwriting contests will also be staged with cash awards for first second and third places; the Grand Event held the final day of the festival will pit the winners of individual contests against each other for Song and Songwriter of the Year bragging rights, along with respective $1,000 prizes.

Hit troubadours including Bobby Pinson (Sugarland’s “Want To,” his own “Don’t Ask Me How I Know”), Jon Randall (Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss’s “Whiskey Lullabye”), Stephony Smith (Tim McGraw & Faith Hill’s “It’s Your Love,” Kenny Chesney’s “Big Star,” Reba McEntire’s “How Was I To Know”), Billy Montana (Sara Evans’ “Suds In the Bucket,” Jo Dee Messina’s “Bring On the Rain,” Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory”), John Wiggins (Joe Nichols’ “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”), and Chuck Jones (Diamond Rio’s “Love A Little Stronger,” Deana Carter’s “Count Me In,” John Berry’s “Your Love Amazes Me”), Woody Mullis and Mike Geiger (co-writers of George Strait’s “Adalida,” Sawyer Brown’s “This Missin’ You Heart of Mine,” and Neil McCoy’s “City Put The Country Back In Me”), along with smoldering singer/songwriters Jessi Alexander and Shelly Fairchild, and CMT Can You Duet show standouts The Coppolas (Kate and Kasey) will mingle with music industry executives and ambitious up-and-comers.

In addition to BMI, sponsors include the Florida House Inn, WQIK-FM, Folio Weekly, WRJY the WAVE and Amelia Island Tourism Development Council. For lodging, schedule, venues and ticket information, please visit www.songwriterfestival.org.

SOURCENews TAGS Country Singer-Songwriter Jessi Alexander Jason Blume The Coppolas Diamond Rio Sara Evans Shelly Fairchild Faith Hill Chuck Jones Alison Krauss Tim McGraw Billy Montana Bobby Pinson Jon Randall Stephony Smith George Strait Sugarland John Wiggins