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McKenzie’s Park Theatre Selected for State’s Songwriters’ Competition

Carroll, Henry And Weakley Venues Selected

Posted

NASHVILLE (December 2) — Calling all songwriters, sign up for “Tennessee Songwriters Week” Qualifying Rounds for a chance to perform at The Bluebird Cafe as part of Tennessee Tourism’s annual Tennessee Songwriters’ Week. McKenzie’s historic Park Theatre is one of the qualifying venues.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is expanding its second annual Tennessee Songwriters Week in 2020 with the addition of qualifying rounds across the state. Starting December 9, songwriters can sign up to perform at qualifying rounds at venues across Tennessee the first two weeks of February. 

Monica Heath, interim director of the McKenzie Economic Development Corporation (Industrial Board) and the City of McKenzie made an application to be one of the venues. Jill Kilgore with the Department of Tourism indicated communities showed lots of participation in the application process. 

The full confirmed list of official qualifying round venues can be found at tennesseesongwritersweek.com. 

In West Tennessee, the venues are:

Big Buck Resort, Hornsby 

Historic Park Theatre, McKenzie

West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, Brownsville

Southern Legends of Music at the Carnegie, Jackson (Madison, SWTN) 

Casey Jones Village, Tennessee Delta Music Room at the Old Country Store, Jackson

Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Memphis

Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis 

The LATTA Theatre, Selmer

AB Cheatham’s Downtown Tavern, Martin

Blues Landing, Buchanan

Sign-ups will be handled directly by each individual venue. Songwriters should contact venues directly for specific information regarding sign-ups. Qualifying rounds are scheduled to take place between Feb. 1-15, 2020. Top songwriters from the official qualifying rounds will perform during one of the six “Tennessee Songwriters Week” showcases in the following cities: 

Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 – Puckett’s in Franklin

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 – Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 – The Bijou in Knoxville

Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 – Songbirds Guitar Museum in Chattanooga

Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 – Ole Red in Gatlinburg

Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 – The Down Home in Johnson City

Finalists from the showcases get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share their original songs on the historic stage at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. The Bluebird Cafe’s long-time open mic night host and songwriter Barbara Cloyd will serve as emcee at the showcases, and a panel of local judges will select the top songwriter from each event. Six total finalists (1 from each showcase event) will receive a prize pack and perform their original material during the finale event at The Bluebird Cafe on Sunday, March 29, 2020. 

Songs will be evaluated and scored on a numerical scale considering both the song and the performance.

Judges look at originality, vocal and/or instrumental talent and the ability to create an emotional connection to the audience. 

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development partnered with the Bluebird for the showcase events, which emphasize a state statute honoring songwriters passed in 2018. It annually designates the last full week of February as “Tennessee Songwriters Week.” 

The week is designed to celebrate the foundation of the craft, recognize past and present songwriters and pave the way for future artists.

Separate from the qualifying rounds, venues and businesses are encouraged to participate in the second annual Tennessee Songwriters Week (Feb. 23-29, 2020) by programming special events such as songwriter showcases, in-the-rounds and educational opportunities to celebrate songwriters and drive visitation. 

For more information and ongoing updates, visit tennesseesongwritersweek.com. Join the conversation on social using #TNsongwritersweek.

Park Theatre, McKenzie, Songwriters', Competition