The Bloomington Songwriter Showcase was founded by Suzette Weakley, Marc Haggerty, and Dave McConnell, with the added inspiration of Bobbie Lancaster and the encouragement and assistance of Tom Annese and the Player's Pub. MySpace maintained by Tom Marshalek.
Influences
Barbara Cloyd, CJ Watson, Tirk Wilder, Kanye West, Missy Elliot, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Robbie Robertson, Smokey Robinson, Reba McEntire, Johnny Rotten, James Blunt, Jewel, Heart, Johnny Cash, Tiny Tim, Rage Against the Machine, Melissa Etheridge, Leon Redbone, Alice Cooper, Alica Keyes, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Pete Townshend, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Fairport Convention, Bill Monroe, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, The Allman Brothers, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Pat Metheny, Big Mama Thornton, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Pink, Wendy O. Williams, Chrissy Hynde... we'll gradually come up with a list of about a hundred thousand!
Sounds Like
See influences. And all our musician's most importantly sound like themselves!
**IDEA** Make us a top friend, then you can always see right away who's coming up at the Showcase, not to mention promote growing the music scene in Bloomington! Then, check out our calendar, blog, and posted songs to find out more about shows coming up and shows we've had! You can also check our latest shows by clicking Mondays on the calendar at http://www.bloomingtonarts.info. Want to find out more info about artists who have played the Showcase, maybe check out a gig or buy their CDs? We've collected many of their website and MySpace addresses here. Artists and Friends
A Short History of Our Short (Getting Longer!) History
Inspired by their experiences playing and attending songwriter's showcases in Nashville, TN, 'Stella and Jane' members Suzette Weakley (Stella) and Bobbie Lancaster (Jane) decided that they needed to bring a similar experience back home to the fertile musical soil of Bloomington, Indiana, and just maybe help put this place on the map as the musical mecca that it ought to be, given all the talent running around both the town and the region. With a baby on the way, Bobbie didn't quite have the time to jump with both feet first into a new musical project, but she continued to provide encouragement, wisdom and inspiration, while Suzette got together with fellow Bloomington songwriters Marc Haggerty and Dave McConnell (The Lopers) to start the Bloomington Songwriters Showcase. With the added help of the good folks at The Player's Pub, including owner Greg Hill, the Showcase now takes place every Monday from 8-10 at the Pub, featuring an ever growing assortment of the finest performing songwriters from Bloomington, surrounding areas, and throughout the nation, including places like Boulder, CO, Ithaca, New York, Nashville, TN and Austin, TX.
Although the format varies a bit at times, most evenings we feature four individual songwriters, all on stage at the same time. Each takes a turn playing a song in a round robin format until about 10 o'clock rolls around. Sometimes the players get a little extra inspired and play a bit longer and/or accompany each other's songs!
Admission is free, the drinks are cold, and the food is excellent, way beyond your average "pub grub"! So stop on by and enjoy the finest, freshest original music that Bloomington has to offer!
Player's Pub is located at 424 S Walnut St., Bloomington, IN 47401. Their website is www.theplayerspub.com.
If you're a serious songwriter living in or planning to visit the Bloomington area, and you would like to participate, drop us a message with all your contact info (name, email, phone number, besides just your MySpace page:). We'll forward it on to Dave and Suzette, who handle songwriter scheduling. A good demo posted on the web (e.g. MySpace) helps a lot. So far there's no guaranteed money in it, but the tip jar has been doing pretty well lately, and you do get the chance to network with other songwriters, play for an attentive and appreciative crowd that shows it's love, will not ask you to play "Free Bird" or "Rocky Top", and get your name out to our mailing list and MySpace friends. You may even sell a few CDs. We recommend you read above for more info about the show, and also check out our calendar. Shows with fewer than four songwriters *may* have openings for the right writer. Shows with four or more writers are usually considered fully scheduled. Keep in mind that, in our judgment, all of our writers are either professionals, could be if they chose to, or show definite potential in that direction. This isn't open mic night (that's Thursday at the Pub when they have it). You don't have to be a folkie, just write darn good songs and perform them well. Solo acts and duos are welcome, with maybe one more accompanist coming up for a song or two. Full bands should try to book their own night through the Player's Pub (not us) later in the week.
Bloomington Songwriter Showcase's Friend Space (Top 39)
Come out and celebrate the release of our new album, 'Real World Shaker', with us. The kickoff to a national college radio campeign beginning on the 30th. It should be a wild time. Hope to see you there and as always, thanks for the support - The Wonda
Ever wondered what to do in the event of a nuclear threat?
A while ago I found stuff that inspired me to make this film:
Living Under the Shadow of the Nuclear Umbrella
Both artistic (ensure you get the background music!) and educational, it primarily comprises official British government civil defence advice.
Though source materials are quite aged, much remains relevant today.
I encourage all to visit the YouTube page to learn more (Show support! Rate! Comment!) and responsibly circulate as widely as possible, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaIim3Rj7L4
well, it has been a long and winding road, and an even longer time coming, but my debut CD, I Remember, is FINALLY HERE!!! YAY!!!!!
to celebrate, American HeartBeat Records(tm) has arranged a FREE DOWNLOAD of Now Is The Time in exchange for a valid email address. Now Is The Time is a brand new, upbeat song I wrote: we are living in turbulent times. suddenly it is okay to be greedy and heartless? no way! a song of hope for our future, a new vision of America and the world.
we have a bunch of exciting things planned to kick this whole thing off, and we need to get a better picture of who our friends are, so the FREE DOWNLOAD form will ask you a few questions, like, what is your country and nearest major city. it all takes maybe 15 seconds.
Tired of self-promoting? Do you want to get your music heard? If you need assistance in the following, Get in touch or email me @ missongwriterpromo@yahoo.com
Bio's Press kits Events Start up PR CD Promotion Radio and Tv Interviews Advice on your career Media Mailing Lists Slogans and Logo's Band Name Creating Banners and posters and myspace profile Designs Radio submissions Internet and fm stations I adjust the promotions package to fit the artist! You tell me where you are at in your career and where you want to go and I will work the package thats right for you! I promote on a month to month basis! All I need is at least 4 songs, A bio, And a promo pic(s) Cd if possible!
Hi guys, We sure appreciate your help last year and hope you're still willing to let your folks know about this opportunity.
All accepted applicants attend on Full Paid scholarships worth $2500 and pay no tuition! This year's staff includes: Skip Ewing, Deanna Bryant, and Clay Mills.
We rely on the songwriting community to get the word out, and your assistance is vital. Please consider emailing and/or posting this information on your site(s).
Skip Ewing's Horse & Writer "Invitational" July 12 - 18, 2009 (Applications must be postmarked by May 15) www.HorseandWriter.com
The Horse & Writer Team theteam@horseandwriter.com
Hey Bloomington Songwriters, I am really looking forward to Monday's showcase, anxious as always to meet and share the stage with other performing songwriters. With me will be Linda Hicks, with whom I often perform hereabouts.
This video clip is from a performance this past Sat at Borders in West Lafayette with 16 year-old Amanda Fletcher, last year's winner of our young songwriters scholarship. This is one of my newest songs, which Linda has agreed to learn by Monday!
Hello! Just wanted to drop in and let you know that pre-orders for my new jazz standards album "Bittersweet" are now taking place! The first 100 pre-orders will receive a signed and numbered copy! Release date is set for May 19th, but you will get your copy a few days earlier! Kate and I are very excited about the record, and we can't wait for you to hear it. Head over to www.bittersweetthealbum.com to pre-order! Thanks! ~Mark
..
