AUGUST 2021 NEWSLETTER

Hey songwriters,

The suggested songwriting assignment for the next meeting, Wed., Sept 1, is to write a song that starts with the chorus. For more on that, see the Monthly Assignment page on the group website .

Jessica Duke (jessicaduke74@gmail.com) did a fine job at her featured performance at the Starlite open stage in July, but it was later determined that the venue’s open stage would no longer include featured sets. Stage time that exceeds more than a single song, however, is particularly valuable to Songwriters Circle members who want to hone their stage skills. So, we closed the August meeting with a featured set by an invited Circle member, Jon Porobil (trickyhipster@gmail.com). The end-of-the-meeting set will remain a feature of upcoming Circle meetings. Owner Ron “Moondog” Esser will provide sound equipment for our use at the September meeting and featured set, which will be performed by Kate Snow (katesnow@katesnow.com).

More stuff

– Jess Duke and her song “Six Feet Under,” which debuted at a Circle meeting, made it to the final round of WYEP’s Singer-Songwriter Competition. The performance is scheduled to happen live Sept. 18 at The SouthSide Works’ North Lot, but could end up being virtual if at that time crowds are considered unsafe. See and hear ”Six Feet Under.” 

– Good news out of Nashville. Longtime Circle supporter Nancy Deckant cowrote a song that was developed into a professional video. In “Princess,” actor Courtney Lee Pierce has the lead role and CMA Musician of the Year Jenee Fleenor and Nancy make cameo appearances.

– Gig opportunity from member David Powell (david.powell.jason@gmail.com): 

I’m putting together a show on Sat., Sept. 11 in the Civic Center for the Arts in Wilkinsburg. It’s a new establishment in one of the old churches down that way. We are looking for both single acts and full bands, and would like to get a recording of acts (doesn’t matter what quality, something taken on a phone is fine).

Hope to see you soon,

– John