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Fest Day By Day at
the Top of Music Row. Map
It's part festival, part
music teaching conference, Open house, part business networking opportunity and part
gathering of old friends held in Nashville, TN June 3-5, 2011. The live
original performances, education and Open House are
concurrently running events.
From Friday morning and continuing on till Sunday midnight.
Lets imagine you're at the
fest........
The Fest is what you make! |
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Friday afternoon @ 5:30 PM
we begin firing off the
stages. Starting
at the main stage, it's time to begin the non stop original tunes
till Sunday midnight! There are scheduled
featured writer segments intermingled with regular writers.
About 6:30 the writers start finding their place in the mix at the
various stages. Around 8pm the Festival Grand master appears to accept
the keys to Music Row and anoint the "Blessing of the Songwriters." At
9pm we announce Part 1 of the
"Song
Challenge" winners and check out selected performances of their
song. Unscheduled
Create-A-Rounds that you instigate pop up throughout the
evening here and there. Some writers browse a Booth or drop off their
CDs to display at the
Writer's
Table. The stages hum till about 1 AM.
As
the evening winds down about midnight, the hard core gather and play
unplugged at the after hours Open Sing Ring where you're welcome to jam
while someone else plays and wait your turn. Thus begins a life changing
weekend, so pace yourself. :) |
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Also at 10 AM on Saturday
the
Open House begins. Registered writers are getting first hand
experience of the Row. Fest Heads are dropping by participating
recording studios, producers, publishers, publicists, consultants,
managers, duplicators, and other trade related music businesses on or
near the Row. These businesses have an "Open Door Policy" from 10
AM-6 PM June 4th and 5th. They will offer tours of their facilities
and answer questions about "What part they play in the biz?" Writers are
encouraged to drop off and pick up samples of each others works. These
are unscheduled "Meets and Greets!"
Also stop by the Fest Info booth
and drop off a copy of
your songs in the specially marked "Drop Box".
We will forward your materials to
interested parties at the fest. Again, unscheduled
Create-A-Rounds that you instigate pop up here and there
throughout the day. Writers are browsing a Booth or drop off their CDs
to display at the
Writer's
Table. |
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Around noon,
live music begins filling the Row again and the booths
are open for traffic. Little clusters of writers develop, each sharing
stories and talking shop. Everyone is laid back and having a meaningful
experience thanks to the relaxing and creative atmosphere. At 8 pm we
present the
Life Time Achievement award. At 9pm we announce Part 2 of
the
"Song
Challenge" winners and check out selected performances of their
song. The stages close down again about 1 AM and the really
late niters head for the after hours Open Sing Ring and watch the sun
rise. By the end of the second day, Fest Heads have been effectively
scattered from one end of the Row to the other. |
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Day 3, Sunday,
June 5th, 2011 10 AM, Survivors from Friday and
Saturday hit the Row again! The Sunday session of the
Open House
begins. Fest Heads loaded down with business cards, CD's and goodie bags
take advantage of the "Open Door Policy" till 6 PM.
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At
Noon all the
stages
begin firing back up, booths are open and everything hums along as
usual. Some of the late-niter's begin straggling in and the party
continues. Go with the flow, 12 more hours to go. |
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It's
11AM and we begin a special Christian Music Segment
at a designated stage till 2PM. At 6PM, if anyone wants to get
married at the Fest then this is the time we do it. The bride and groom
read a poem or play a special tune to each other on stage, kiss and then
head off to a reception nearby. Don't worry. I think there will be
plenty of live entertainment.
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8
Year Fest Head, "Coconut" Harley
Lameraux, Harmonica Master, Hall of Famer and man of God.
Email him here. |
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In the evening
about 8 PM
we start winding down the other stages and Southern Fried
Fest Heads start gravitating toward the main stage as we get ready to
Jam till midnight.
Songs and laughter pierce the final
hours on the Row as it has been for history. Having gotten our musical
fill, we yearn no more. Little elves clear the row of gear, stages, and
by the next day it's like we never existed. |
| The week following the Fest some
writers are still hanging around the Row, following up on leads and
cementing plans for the future. For better or worse, at least you know
your way around now.
Places
To Stay |
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