ABOUT US
From Cyndy Montgomery Reeves, SMSWF Founder and Festival Director;
I attended the 16th Annual Key West Songwriter’s Festival while I was in Key West Spring of 2011. When I first saw a banner promoting the Key West Songwriter’s Festival I thought to myself, “what is this? A songwriters’ festival doesn’t belong in Key West, it belongs in the Smoky Mountains where bluegrass, country and old time music originated”. Even all the songwriters I met in Key West asked me, when I told them where I was from, why didn’t we have a songwriter’s festival in the Smoky Mountains?
Gatlinburg is the perfect place for such an event, especially since these Appalachian Mountains have such a long and deep history of pickers, singers, musicians and songwriters. Upon arriving home I immediately met with the City of Gatlinburg’s Special Events Director, George Hawkins, suggesting that we start a Smoky Mountains Songwriter’s Festival and he agreed.
Join us in “Celebrating Our Appalachian Musical Roots” the 7th annual Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival Aug. 13-22, 2018 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee – The Gateway to The Great Smoky Mountains where bluegrass, country and ole time music originated!
The Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival is held during the third week of August every year to “Celebrate Our Appalachian Musical Roots”. The craft of songwriting from the songwriters themselves will fill venues throughout Gatlinburg with orignal music for 7+days throughout Gatlinburg.
2018 SMSWF.Songwriter Opportunities include: a songwriting competition, songwriting workshop, performance slots, co-writing with Hit Writers and one on one mentoring/audition sessions.
The Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival is a platform for songwriters to perform their original songs. You will recognize many of these songs from the “Hit” lists on the radio. The songwriter not only performs but tells you the story behind the song. It is one of the greatest entertainment venues you will ever see. Public Invited. 10 days of free live entertainment in downtown Gatlinburg.
The mission of The Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival is to bring songwriters, music professionals and music lovers together to enjoyment of learning, sharing, and preserving the craft of the song. What would the world be like without a song and the song begins with a songwriter.
The SMSWF proudly promotes songwriters helping their songs to be discovered not only by publishers and producers but; by all of us, who simply love the songwriter’s songs that the stars perform. Bring your instruments and your songs or just yourself as one who appreciates good music. There will be open jam spots available for all musicians.
Participation in the Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival can come about in several different ways. The Public is invited to participate as well as songwriters. After all there is a song in everyone of us!
- By Signing Up to be in a round.
- By Owning Your Own 30 Minute Stage Spot through an audition process.
- By Entering the SMSWF Song Competition.
- By Registering for SMSWF Workshops.
- By Registering for The SMSWF Co-Write Project with Hit Writers .
- By Registering for Mentoring sessions.
- Simply network within these parameters or throughout Sevier County
- Sign Up to enjoy the celebration of songwriting during the 2018 SMSWF
Click here to read past Media Releases.
Click here to read Testimonials.
Click here for Photo Memories.
