Songwriters Week Set For UC, Statewide Beginning Sunday

The Tennessee Tourism Department’s annual Songwriters Week begins Sunday with several local showcases scheduled.

Senior Communications Manager Jill Kilgore said this marks the seventh year for the event which supports songwriters of all genres of music. She said the program also attracts tourists to the state. Kilgore said more than 4,000 songwriters have shared original songs during the history of the event.

“Each songwriter who advances to the showcase and wins ends up with the opportunity to perform at the Bluebird Cafe at a regional event where they won,” Kilgore said. “The program is really for up-and-coming and newly established songwriters. Kinda jump start their career, and then they can network with other songwriters and music industries.”

Kilgore said they more than fifty qualifying rounds will take place across all of Tennessee, including local events in Granville, McMinnville and Cookeville. Kilgore said the Upper Cumberland is vital to the success of the event.

“We have about twenty qualifying round venues that take place in middle Tennessee,” Kilgore said. “And the performance in middle Tennessee is so strong, we had to divide our showcases into two, one being in Portland and one being in Franklin.”

Kilgore said the genre of music doesn’t matter for participation.