Walnut House Cracks Open New Series of Music Nuts, Middle Tennessee Songwriters Shows, Competition Continues on Wednesday Evenings

Last series contest winner Ellie Austin

The Feb. 19 Middle Tennessee Songwriters Show at the Walnut House kicked off series II after a brief intermission following its first installment’s late-November curtain call. New to this part deux of the contest is an additional open mic portion at the end of the show.

In an ongoing competition, the first three contestants to sign up will perform one song. Additionally, the first five people to sign up for the open mic segment will perform one song each.

Each night of the series, held every other Wednesday, nine featured artists will star in concert in three rounds of three songs each. The show starts with two rounds of featured artists followed by the contest round, the final artist round and then the open mic segment. The competition winner of the night will be announced during the last featured artist’s set. Grand prizes, awarded at the conclusion of the series, include a five-song EP recording with a band, a photo shoot, and gift packages from sponsors Concert Musical Supply, Forrest York Guitars and Tangerine Salon and Spa.

On Wednesday, March 4, attendees will hear from the estrogen section with a special Women in the Round edition of the Middle Tennessee Songwriters Show. Featured artists for that night are Taylor Pie, Kyra Sunflower, Marilyn Harris, Kaylee Flores, Jolie C. Bell, Sunshine Scott, Nancy Layne Prescott, Luisa Marion and last series contest winner Ellie Austin. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free with drinks available for purchase.

The current installment of the series will continue through early June (with shows on March 18, April 1, 15 and 29, May 6 and 20 and June 3), with the contest finale slated for June 17.

Contestants and open mic participants are advised to “bring your voice, instrument and/or track” (with any device brought for playing accompanying music able to plug into an 1/8-inch jack).

Terry McClain performs at the 2019 Middle Tennessee Songwriters Show

“It all starts with the song,” says show co-sponsor Ricky Martini of the Walnut House event. “We want to wake people up in this city and make them aware of the huge abundance of talent here in the middle of Middle Tennessee.”

David L. Graham is booking all featured songwriters. For more information, reach him at 931-224-1599 or dlgraham@blomand.net, or find the Walnut House on Facebook.