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)
Hey - Just wanted to drop you a quick reminder and invite everyone to an Acoustic / Singer-Songwriter Open_Mic at Jake's (in Bloomington) every Tuesday evening. A sign-up list is put out at 7pm, and performers start playing at 8pm; PLUS, "Bands" will also be welcome to play and have 45minutes to perform (two slots, starting at 11pm with 15min's to set-up & take-down = 1hr.total). We are working on having a "feature" night(s), at venues in Bloomington, Indy, Louisville, and even Nashville (TN) for the best performances ,,, Hope to see you there ! Scott-e-B.
Hey! I put some new tunes up today, and I also re-recorded some old ones. If you got a sec, check them out. I'd love to know what you think. All the best, Johnny.
Bill et al, knock em dead! I'll be there in spirit; and sure was fun last Monday night, the Halloween show with Dave McConnell, Laura Lashbrooks, Tim O'Malley and me. I'll see ya'all next year!
Hey! Thank you for supporting my music. Check out my web site at www.vanessathompson.net and my music videos at www.youtube.com. My new music video to my song "Heartbreakin game" is below for you to view. If you like it, feel free to put it on your page and share it with your friends. There are also some banners on my page if you want to use them on your page. If you have Facebook, please add me. Some are putting me in their top friends. The support is really appreciated. Hope you liked the cover on Hollywood Celebrity Magazine. If you like my music, please add it to your play list for others to hear. Thank you :)
My new music video to my song "Heartbreakin game" is here. Go to www.youtube.com. let me know what you think. There is also a fanpop page for me that has been set up. If you get a chance, visit it at http://lnk.ms/0zvbC . You can also sign up to follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/vanessathompson :)
Thank you to all those who supported my live performance at Club Heaven in Seattle, Washington for the Seattle Music Revival. This is an event that will help define the Seattle music scene.
Hey BSS!- I am a finalist in CMT's Music City Madness Video Contest. Over 1000 entries and I'm in the top 64! I sure would appreciate your vote and support in spreading the word! Click on the link below, then click vote (top right), then pick the 3rd artist's pic (Jimmy Wanye), click start (watch commercial), hit Don Pedigo, click vote, then click submit your vote (bottom left), repeat 100,000 times b/t now and Dec. 14th. Thanks!
It is always a blast playing the showcase! And now the big Songs from the Heartland concert is rapidly approaching Oct 17. You guys are an inspiration to all of us elsewhere in Indiana, and for that I am very grateful.
Nice to plug into a new community of friends and local songwriters. I hope to get to meet you all and throw ideas around! I will check out your sites, please check out mine and leave your feedback in the comments. I am a singer/songwriter and do local in the rounds in Indianapolis with people like Greg O'haver. My son plays trumpet and aspires to go to IU in Bloomington. I hope we get a chance to play down there real soon.
I WANT TO DO A PLUG FOR MY BUDDIES The Music Row Show is live with 2 hours of conversation and music with Steve Dorff! From 7-9pm CST on AM1510 or live online on www.themusicrowshow.com ================================================= NOW ON TO MY SHOWS
WRITERS NIGHTS, RADIO & TV SHOWS
WE WORK WITH TOP STARS-- CMT, GAC, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, CAN YOU DUET, NASHVILLE STAR, AMERICAN IDOL, #1 WRITERS, NEW & UPCOMING WRITERS & ARTISTS
thank YOU! it was an honor to perform with such an amazingly talented line up (including scott, my lead player!) and for such an appreciative audience. yay hoosierland!
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