August 27th - 31st ,
2008
Amelia Island is the setting for
the First Annual Songwriter Festival where Nashville’s finest
multi-hit songwriters will be performing at local venues such as The Palace
Saloon, Sandy Bottoms, O’Kanes, Amelia Plantation Chapel, and Wicked
Davey’s. Songwriting seminars and workshops will be taught by the premier
songwriting instructor in the world, Jason Blume ("Back To Your Heart" -
Backstreet Boys) as well as PBS’s award-winning, children’s songwriter,
Shana Banana.
Hit singer/songwriter Jim Brickman is scheduled to perform on August 30th at
the Amelia Island Plantation. 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 McEntyre’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 the performances by professional songwriters, the festival
will also feature several songwriting competitions are open to serious
aspiring songwriters and songwriting workshops open to anyone wanting to
learn about or improve their songwriting skills. Top songwriters of each
contest will compete at a Grand Event on the last day, at which time the
festival’s “Song of the Year” and “Songwriter of the Year” awards will be
announced. Winners will receive cash prizes up to $1,000 cash and recording
studio time.”
