Seven songwriters are positioned for a career-defining moment as they prepare to share their original songs onstage at the iconic Bluebird Cafe in March, after winning showcases statewide during the 2024 Tennessee Songwriters Week. In the program’s sixth year, over 1,200 songwriters performed at qualifying rounds in February at more than 50 venues, museums, attractions and cafes to advance to the seven showcase events.
Highlights from the seven showcases include:
– Izzy Arthurs winning with her original song “Long Time Coming” during the showcase at Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis. Arthurs is a singer-songwriter from Jackson, Tennessee. From a young age, she was captivated by the art of storytelling and performance. She’s ready to pursue a life in music and sharing stories.
– At The Bijou in Knoxville, Jacc Moran impressed the judges with his song “Gasp.” Moran—the singer and main songwriter of the band Run 40—grew up in Memphis but has been living in Knoxville for almost a decade. He thanks Knoxville’s music community for their support and kindness. Run 40’s debut EP, High Water, releases this month.
– Ned Abernathy’s “Tennessee and You” won at Songbirds Foundation’s new venue in Chattanooga. Raised in small-town Georgia, Abernathy moved to Nashville in 2022. Abernathy developed his writing chops penning one heartbreak song after another, with a style all his own and stories that he says border on being “too honest.” With the release of his EP coming later in 2024, be sure to catch this new up-and-coming artist out on the road.
– Songwriters at Ole Red in Gatlinburg received a surprise video call from none other than Blake Shelton to offer career advice after they performed their original songs. Finalist Jeremy Wise, a singer-songwriter from Cosby, Tennessee, stole the hearts of judges and the crowd. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wise’s older brother, Elijah, bought him a Martin guitar for graduation. He spent quarantine sitting beside his brother learning how to play. Jeremy followed in his brother Elijah’s footsteps at Ole Red, as Elijah won the Tennessee Songwriters Week showcase on the same stage in 2023. Now, Jeremy Wise plays shows at local venues and works a full-time job in a weld shop as he chases his dreams.
– At The Down Home in Johnson City, the judges were inspired by the song “Habit to Break” and the story of Jessie Rogers. Blind from birth, Rogers found a deep love for writing and music at an early age, making up short stories during free-write time at school and singing at her church. Since 2020, Rogers has released three singles under the name Echoing Sunset, and hopes to release an EP in the coming year.
– Jack Settle won at The Temple Theatre in Portland with his toe-tapping song “Talkin’ to Jack Daniel’s,” co-written by Juli Strawbridge. From Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Settle embraces his deep roots in country and red dirt music. Now calling Nashville his home, Settle embraces the emerging honky-tonk scene and brings a refreshing and captivating sound to the genre. CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2024 duo Tigirlily Gold served as judges at The Temple Theatre and gave a special performance of their song “I Tried a Ring On.”
– At the Franklin Theatre, Meagan Allen captivated the audience with her song “Love Lies.” Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Allen’s love of music began in the shape of a violin at age 4. In 2017, Allen recorded and released her debut album, Critical Emotion. This album, as well as a 2019 single, “Show Me How You Love,” appeared on the Grammy long list in their respective years of release. Allen moved to Nashville after graduating high school in pursuit of her dream, earning a degree in songwriting and an MBA from Belmont University. Today, she continues to write and perform across the country, chasing the dream that underlines her journey and developing a sound uniquely her own.
Each of the seven finalists earned the opportunity to perform at The Bluebird Cafe during a private event in March with music industry professionals, a branded commemorative Taylor guitar, a two-night stay in Nashville, a $100 gift card for travel and a one-year membership to Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).
Helmed by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Tennessee Songwriters Week was established in 2019 to support music venues, celebrate songwriters with live performances in all genres of music, drive visitation and inspire travelers to experience the state’s music stories, history, attractions and venues. Since its inception, more than 4,000 songwriters have shared their original music across Tennessee stages during the annual celebration.
Follow the journey of these songwriters and join the fun by following @tnvacation on social media and #tnsongwritersweek.
For more on the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development—dedicated to driving economic growth and tourism in all 95 counties of Tennessee—visit tnvacation.com.
