At least that’s what my heroine, Alana Cozins, discovers in my recent release Somewhere Down the Line. My hero, Trey Morison, is a songwriter. Songwriters are a special breed. And while they can be male or female, there’s something about the male perspective in a country song. As a music promoter, I network with songwriters and artists on a daily basis. Most of those I work with are either traditional country artists (no hick hop found on my playlist) or Texas artists.
In my novella, I talk about a Songwriters Showcase. When my editor asked for clarification, I realized a lot of my readers may need a little extra insight.
I can’t attest to what is in other states but in Texas (and in Nashville) they have Songwriters Showcases (or sometimes Songwriters Circles). Showcases are an intimate gathering of songwriters/ musicians at one of the many music venues throughout the state. Usually, one artist acts as the host for the evening and invites others to join him (or her) for a couple hours to ‘showcase’ their latest tunes. This gives them a chance to get a little feedback from their peers and the audience.
As a reward for signing my contract for Somewhere Down the Line, I spent twelve days traveling through the upper half of Texas – particularly in the West Texas Hill Country. I spent much of my time in Llano, Texas. I have friends there and wanted the chance to catch up and see some of the talent first hand I’d been promoting. One place in particular stands out. The Badu House is a special venue. A wine house and pub as well as a restaurant and B&B, The Badu features music nights two or three times a week. On Thursday nights, my friend W.C. Jameson heads up the Songwriter’s Showcase. For two hours he and his co-host, Mike Blakely and a guest take turns playing a wide variety of tunes – mostly in the Americana genre. On Monday nights W.C. hosts the circle at Poodie’s Hilltop – one of the oldest honky tonks in Texas and just minutes from Willie Nelson’s home. The infamous Luckenbach is another great place to catch a Songwriters Showcase.
These events provide a morsel to entice you to learn more about the songwriter and their music. And while I can’t say anything about their lovemaking abilities (I am a happily married woman), I can tell you they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. If you appreciate good music and come across one of these gatherings, I urge you to go experience the special magic of a Songwriters Showcase.
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Angela Drake believes in happy endings and the magic of ‘what if’ and second chances. When not living vicariously through her characters, Angela writes about and promotes Texas and classic country music. She is an active member of two local writer’s organizations. Angela enjoys time with her granddaughters, gardening, journaling, and a myriad of artistic pursuits. She shares a home in the Ozarks with her husband, three dogs and two cats. She loves networking with readers and writers through her Facebook, twitter and blog.
Angela’s Links:
Website – https://angeladrake.blogspot.com
FB – https://www.facebook.com/AngelaDrake.author?ref_type=bookmark
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AngelaDrakeA
Buy Links:
Amazon – https://tinyurl.com/nraxsfb
Boroughs Publishing Grp –
https://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/somewhere-down-line
All Romance – https://tinyurl.com/ls2yxcz
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Interesting, not something I’ve read about before. I would be nervous to date a song writer then end up in their lyrics.
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First, congrats on your release! I have it on my Kindle but I’ve had my granddaughter for 3 days and haven’t had time to read. We have the Jim Parker Showcases here but I’ve never been. I might just have to go now.
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Awesome post , Angela! Songwriters are are indeed magical. How cool to tie words to a melody and capture the hearts of so many people! Your book looks fabulous! I can’t wait to read it.
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I never knew that about song writers. How fun for you to get to research and visit with friends. I wonder if that is tax deductible?