The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to sponsor the inaugural Oklahoma Songwriters Festival, the first of it’s kind for Oklahoma. This three-day festival will kick off Thursday, April 28, 2016, with a sponsor reception and conclude with a special “writer round” songwriter showcase on Saturday, April 30, at the ACM@UCO Performance Lab at 7:00 p.m., featuring performances by several talented Oklahoma songwriters and prolific Nashville songwriters including Festival founder and Ada, Oklahoma native, Zac Maloy. “Part of our goal is to create momentum and broaden relationships with the Oklahoma music community, while providing a unique set of performances not readily available to the local music scene in Oklahoma,” said Maloy.
“Oklahoma has produced a tremendous lineup of talented songwriters, ranging from J.J. Cale and Leon Russell to Toby Keith and Carrie Underwood,” Governor Mary Fallin said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for budding songwriters to learn from professionals and for all to share ideas and tips. Oklahoma is proud to host this creative and fun event. Who knows? A hit as big as ‘Oklahoma Hills’ or ‘Okie from Muskogee’ may have its origins at the Oklahoma Songwriter’s Festival.”
Several Oklahoma songwriters were invited by the festival organizers to participate in daytime writing sessions with Nashville songwriters. Artists will spend time creating new material with the goal of taking it back to Nashville to be pitched to industry tastemakers and major record labels. OF+MO Director, Tava Maloy Sofsky, notes that, “It is an honor to have my brother, Zac, bring his friends from Music City back home to mentor and work with our ever-so-talented local music community.”
The first performance of the festival was curated by Greg Johnson, owner of OKC’s legendary listening room, The Blue Door, which will take place Thursday, April 28 at 8:30 p.m, featuring an Oklahoma Songwriter showcase with Kierston White, Beau Jennings, Annie Oakley and Andy Adams. Two music industry panels will be held on Saturday morning, April 30, at ACM@UCO’s Performance Lab at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Distinguished panelists include three Nashville songwriters and a publisher, Greg Johnson and ACM@UCO CEO and Executive Director, Scott Booker, who are all honored to support this opportunity for Oklahoma songwriters. “Songwriting is a key element of the music industry that is easily forgotten. Songwriters are often the Oz behind the curtain helping turn an artist into something even more magical,” said Booker. The panel discussions are free and open to the public, though reserved seating is required.
Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m., the festival will head to the ACM@UCO Performance Lab, also in Bricktown, for intimate “writer round” style performances, a format frequently used in Nashville as it allows songwriters the opportunity to perform their original songs, often made popular by chart-topping artists, and tell the stories of how the songs were created. At this showcase, new music will be performed by acclaimed Oklahoma singer songwriter JD McPherson; Marcus Hummon who wrote the Grammy Award winning Rascal Flatts song “Bless the Broken Road”; Jim Beavers who has scored nine #1 songs since ’08 including “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith; Marti Frederickson, currently on tour with Steven Tyler’s solo band and writer of such hits as “Undo It” by Carrie Underwood and “Jaded” by Aerosmith; and festival founder Zac Maloy, who scored several rock hits as singer for the Oklahoma-based band the Nixons. Maloy, who has also written with Daughtry, 3 Doors Down, Blake Shelton and Tim McGraw, scored a #1 country song with “Temporary Home” which he co-wrote with Carrie Underwood. This is a ticketed event, with a VIP option available, which includes preferred seating and the opportunity to attend a meet-and-greet with the artists before the show.
To see a schedule of events, sign up for the panel discussions and purchase tickets for both performances, visit www.oklahomasongwritersfestival.com.
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About the Oklahoma Film + Music Office:
Created in 1979, The Oklahoma Film + Music Office strives to share all that Oklahoma has to offer by welcoming filmmakers and music professionals to the state and by creating a network of support to develop Oklahoma’s film and music industries. For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program or the Oklahoma Film + Music Office please visit www.okfilmmusic.org.
