Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle

DECEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters, At the final Songwriters Circle meeting of 2019, several good holiday songs were showcased ranging from fun to sentimental to comically irreverent. More time than usual was invested in the group news segment during the Circle’s busiest week of the year. The first Wednesday of January is New Year’s Day. The January meeting […]

6 days ago | 0 Comments

Dec. 6 CD release event moved to another venue

You may have heard about the recent closing of Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, which occurred during an abrupt reorganization of management. The doors to the Marshall Mansion in Shadyside, and its Roots Cellar room where Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle has held its CD release events for 10 years, were locked about a week before Songwriters Circle’s […]

2 weeks ago | 0 Comments

NOVEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters, Giving new life to characters in the songs of other writers has become a popular topic for Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle songwriting assignments. At the group’s November meeting members showcased their follow-ups to hits by songwriters including Shel Silverstein (“A Boy Named Sue”), John Lennon (“Imagine”), Kris Kristofferson “(Me and Bobby McGee”), Townes Van […]

3 weeks ago | 0 Comments

OCTOBER 2019 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters, The group’s new arrangement with Hambone’s went smoothly Wednesday, when Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle held its first meeting on the new night. With no deadline, everyone in the full house was able to workshop a song and discuss it with the group. The Circle meeting ended at about 9:15 p.m. and was immediately followed […]

2 months ago | 0 Comments

Songwriters Circle meetings moving to first Wednesdays

Next meeting: 7 p.m. Wed., Oct. 2. Suggested assignment: Write a song about faith (4207 Butler Street, [Lawrenceville] Pittsburgh. 412-681-4318). Please visit the group website for details about the change in meeting day. First Wednesdays at Hambone’s For more than 25 years Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle has met monthly on the first Tuesday of each month, barring holidays, […]

3 months ago | 0 Comments

SEPTEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters, Several killer murder songs were performed Wednesday at the September meeting of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle. Most of those who followed the monthly songwriting assignment chose to write in traditional murder ballad style, leading to a particularly folky meeting with insightful critiques and comments. The songwriting assignment for October is to write a song […]

3 months ago | 0 Comments

AUGUST 2019 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters, Some interesting characters were developed by Songwriters Circle members who accepted the challenge of writing a character-driven song. About 23 songwriters sat in with the group at the August meeting at Hambone’s. Christopher Mark Jones (cjsongwriter@gmail.com) and Jay Michaels (j21michaels@gmail.com) performed memorable songs, and Vince Rause (vpmr@aol.com) workshopped “Hey Rudy,” his clever sequel […]

4 months ago | 0 Comments

JULY 2019 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters, Interesting meeting July 2, when old friends and new members discussed writing in another performer’s voice, whether for personal inspiration or as a way to get your song on a chart-topping monster. Members showcased songs written in the voices of Jimmy Buffet, Paul Simon, Guy Clark, Norah Jones and others, and talked about […]

5 months ago | 0 Comments

JUNE 2019 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters, Few takers on writing a song with a well-placed key change, but at the June meeting of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle a half-dozen newbies sat in, offered insight and showcased songs. Discussion ensued about possible arrangements for an old-timey jazz tune and a melancholy Christmas song, and longtime member Sue Gartland (suegartland@juno.com) revealed she’s […]

6 months ago | 0 Comments

MAY 2019 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters, The group heard several very different ways to write a bass line into a song at the May meeting of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle. It was another full house at Hambone’s, following a busy month when members played out at the Songwriters Circle featured set at Mr. Small’s Funhouse, a Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle showcase […]

7 months ago | 0 Comments