The Songwriters Association of Mid-North Indiana (SAMI) presents...

A Songwriting Workshop & Concert with Steve Seskin

Steve Seskin is a successful songwriter who has written seven number one songs, including Grammy-nominated “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” recorded by Tim McGraw, and “Don’t Laugh at Me,” winner of NSAI Song of the Year and Music Row Magazine Song of the Year in 1999 as recorded by Mark Wills.

Workshop

Steve’s songwriting courses include; Intro to Lyric Writing, Melody, Phrasing, Rhyming and Metaphor, Point of View, Writing/Rewriting, Inspiration, Music Business, and Collaboration.  Participants can also bring an original song for critique.  See details here: http://steveseskin.com/songwritingworkshops/ 

Concert

A Steve Seskin concert will have you wiping away a tear one minute and laughing out loud the next. His songs all have messages that touch the hearts of everyone: from the feelings of a little boy missing his father, to growing up and being true to yourself, to one of his most well known themes of being considerate to and respectful of one another as expressed in "Don’t Laugh at Me."

When: Saturday, November 10, 2012

Workshop:     9:30am to 4:30pm (pizza lunch provided)

Concert:         7:00pm

Location:

Brady Lane Church of Christ

2701 Brady Lane

Lafayette, IN 47909

Cost: $50 for workshop (includes concert admission); $10 for concert

            $30 for SAMI members with 2012 paid dues

For additional information:

please visit www.samisong.com or email/call Joe Peters at joedaiwarriors@yahoo.com or 765-414-2457

Joe Peters set to release new CD of original music
with Michael Kelsey

Second Wind by The Joedai Warriors

Friday, October 19th, 7pm

University Church @ Purdue

On October 19^th (Friday) SAMI co-president Joe Peters will release his fifth and latest CD with former SAMI superstar Michael Kelsey. The album, entitled Second Wind by the Joedai Warriors contains 14 new songs, many written this year on Joe's Taylor GS-Mini when he was in Africa, and features not only the musical wizardry of Michael Kelsey, but also vocal harmonies and piano from Amanda Fletcher (2008 winner of the Shirley Martin Scholarship for Young Songwriters) and vocal harmonies by Linda Hicks (Joe's long-time musical partner), as well as a few horn parts by Chase Cotten (2010, 2011 & 2012 Shirley Martin runner up) and some drumming by Matt Call (Michael Kelsey's long-time collaborator).

The CD release show will be part of a larger event at University Church @ Purdue (320 North Street, West Lafayette) An Evening of Singers & Songwriters, featuring not only Joe (with Amanda, Linda & others), but Christopher Lee, Jeff Anderson & the Effect, and Frank Muffin (Hans & Brittany Rees) as well. The show will run from 7-11pm, and the Second Wind set will likely start around 8pm. Joe's good friend and gifted watercolorist, Rena Brouwer, will also be doing some performance painting to live, original music in between sets, so you will not want to miss this night.

Cost of the show is $8/person, or $12/couple.  Refreshments available for purchase.

 

SAMI, The Songwriter's Association of Mid-north Indiana, had a reason to celebrate this past weekend when it was announced that four of their members were finalists in the 2012 Blooming-Tunes Annual Song Contest. Neil McTavish took second place with the song, "Always On My Mind." Briagha McTavish, Bette Anderson, and Joe Peters were honorable mentions with their songs "Sick", "Life On My Own", and "Heaven and Earth" respectively. Briagha is Neil's daughter and songwriting partner. Bette Anderson is from Kokomo and a veteran member of SAMI. Joe Peters is the co-president of SAMI.
 

"I can't express how grateful I am. I couldn't have done it without SAMI because I wouldn't have even known about the contest without SAMI. SAMI is such a supportive group and we really work hard at making sure all in the group are aware of things like Blooming-Tunes." says McTavish. Joe Peters joked with Neil by telling him that he was in "good company," as he had won in 2009 with his song "Sail Away." SAMI member MJ Bishop was a co-winner with Joe's friend Bill Headley last year.
 

Blooming-Tunes was conceived by Suzette Weakley, a singer-songwriter based in Bloomington IN. She describes Blooming-Tunes as a Song Contest designed for Singer-Songwriters from the Midwest, who have visited the Midwest, who love the Midwest and/or who have Midwest connections. The judging panel includes professional writers typically based in Nashville TN, working musicians/songwriters, and non-musicians who have shown a true ability to support the art of Songwriting and music. The top four winners, of which Neil McTavish is one, will perform their song live at the historic Buskirk Chumley Theater in downtown Bloomington, IN on October 13, 2012. Neil says that he will not be performing, however. His daughter played piano and sang on the audition recording and she will perform the song with her sister and violinist Jinty McTavish, and friend Paige Clinkenbeard. "Trust me, you don't want to hear me sing this!" laughs Neil. Paige, a former Purduette, agreed to sing harmonies with Briagha and Jinty, even though she was going into "enemy territory!"
 

Last year's Blooming-Tunes headliner was Don Pedigo, Nashville Tennessee who hails from Southern Indiana. Prior year’s top talent included Jenny Devoe (Indiana based Singer/Songwriter - Commercial Songwriter), CJ Watson (National Award Winning Songwriter), Jeff Gilkinson (founder of 'The Dillards') Tirk Wilder (Nashville PRO writer - 'Eyes of a Texas Ranger'), Tim Grimm & Jan Lucas as well as Jason Wilbur (John Prine Band and radio personality 'In Search of A Song'). The top 15 submissions will be included on the 2nd Annual Blooming-Tunes Compilation CD.
 

SAMI welcomes all songwriters in the area to join them for their meetingsat 7:30 pm every 3rd Tuesday of the month in the basement at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation (Wells Community Center) at 638 North Street in Lafayette.
 

For more information:
 

Blooming-Tunes: http://www.blooming-tunes.com
 

More Blooming-Tunes info on Sonicbids:

http://www.sonicbids.com/Opportunity/OpportunityView.aspx?opportunity_id=107325

 

 

SAMI's own MJ Bishop set to perform at the

2012 Uptown Jazz & Blues Festival

Acoustic Jazz & Blues
A native daughter of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and a 30 year resident in Seattle, MJ recently moved to Nashville Tennessee to begin work on her fourth album. A highly acclaimed acoustic solo artist, MJ’s music is described as open-road longing folk Americana, and she has been rightfully compared to Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch. Combining deep roots in acoustic music with a maturing country sensibility, MJ has fashioned a genre that has become her own.

MJ received top honors in the Blooming-Tunes songwriting competition for her song Up North, honorable mention from American Songwriter Magazine Lyric Contest for her song Hobo Dreams, honorable mention from Nashville Demo Studio Annual Songwriters Competition for her song This Way & That, and her latest CD, Pull of the Moon, was chosen as Notable Northwest Recording by Christine Linde, Americana Music Director, KBCS FM of Mid-North Indiana)

Visit MJ at
> www.mjbishopband.com/bishopdavidson.html

Get more information at
> http://www.jazz-blues.org/index.htm

SAMI to play all day at 2012 Riverfest!

Tapawingo Park West Lafayette, Saturday, July 14, 2012 9am-4pm

Join us on the banks of the Wabash River for a free, family-friendly celebration of one of the region’s greatest natural resources!

Music provided all day by SAMI and the Dulcimer Gathering!

Kids zone featuring free pony rides sponsored by Henry Poor Lumber, Columbia Park Zoo, a big bounce, and great kids activities! Canoe races hourly on the half hour throughout the day. An officially-timed 5K race sponsored by the Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality. Unused medicine and personal care product drop off sponsored by Illinois Indiana Sea Grant and West Lafayette DARE. Join us for this great family-friendly event!

Riverfest 2012 SAMI performing schedule:

9:00am - Barrett Myers

9:30am - John Lacy

10:00am - Chase Cotten & Brandon Fulk

10:30am - Briagha McTavish

11:00am - Lee Anna Atwell

11:45 - Scott & Vicki Greeson

12:30 - Joe Peters

1:15 - Amanda Fletcher

2:00pm - Jordan Friend

SAMI Turns 20!

Dear SAMI Family,

This is the 20th Anniversary year of SAMI, and I am pleased to serve as your co-president.

We recently, on May 15th, concluded our 12th annual awards concert for the Shirley Martin Scholarship for Young Songwriters and Mike Lane Horizon Award.  If you were in attendance, or served on the judging committee, I am sure you will agree with me that this crop of kids was stellar in every sense of the word.

On May 19th, the second MindBoggling event was held at the Lily Nature Center at the Celery Bog in West Lafayette.  This year, SAMI partnered with the even organizers to write and perform songs inspired by the celery bog, and there were seven SAMI members who participated in one way or another with their songs and performances.  There is talk now about making SAMI a permanent partner in this endeavor to raise awareness and appreciation for this nature area. 

On June 16, no fewer than four SAMI members or scholarship recipients will play on one stage alone at the Taste of Tippecanoe, the largest musical festival in the county.

On July 14th, a number of SAMI members will perform at this year's Riverfest in Tapawingo Park, West Lafayette, from 9am to 4pm.  SAMI has been involved in providing music at this event on the river since its inception, and our presence has just grown stronger over the years.

On August 11, the city of Lafayette will host a Mosey Down Main Street for the Arts, and once again, with your help, SAMI will be out in force.  We will have a SAMI booth, with brochures about SAMI and SAMI's groupies (as we will be promoting our link to this fund raising dynamo), hands on song performances, both at the booth and on the stage, and encouraging applications to the scholarship.

On November 10, SAMI will host an all-day songwriting workshop and evening concert with hit Nashville writer Steve Seskin.  Those of us who have done workshops with Steve elsewhere know just how invaluable his skills and teaching abilities are, so we are fortunate to get him to Lafayette.

All in all, it's been a great year so far, and will continue to be so for SAMI and its members.  As host of Acoustic Blend, a radio program on WBAA, I have interviewed and had in-studio musical sessions with numerous SAMI members already this year, and the June 9th edition will feature yet another SAMI member.

So come on out to SAMI meetings and events, get involved if you are not already, and spread the word to other songwriters, especially the youth.

As SAMI turns 20, I for one am both humbled and honored by the accomplishments of the organization and its members.  I want to personally thank each and every one of you who have built this phenomenon, and who now keep the mojo going, two decades into this grand experiment.

In gratitude,

Joe Peters
Performing Songwriter

http://www.reverbnation.com/joepeters

Scholarship Awards Concert Tuesday, May 15th 7-8:30pm!

First Place Scholarship Winner:  Briagha McTavish, age 17, “Sick”
First Runner-Up:  Chase Cotten, age 18,  “Another Moment More”
Second Runner-Up:  Mark E. Smith, age 16, “Tonight”
Co-Horizon Award:  Erin Eldridge, age 17, “I Don’t Need More Sugar”
Co-Horizon Award:  Benjamin Douma, age 14, “This is Life”

 

Please join SAMI (Songwriters Association of Mid-north Indiana,) for the 12^th annual Shirley Martin Scholarship for Young Songwriters Awards Night on Tuesday, May 15^th at 7-8:30 pm at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation building, 638 North Street, Lafayette. The Scholarship targets songwriters age 14-19 that exhibit exceptional talent and ability. The top winners will be announced and celebrated with performances of their winning songs. This event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served during the reception. 

"Like" us on Facebook to get announcements and updates throughout the year! 
Shirley-Martin-Scholarship-for-Young-Songwriters

Applications Are Now Being Accepted!

2012 Shirley Martin Scholarship for Young Songwriters

 “A scholarship for the advancement of young songwriters”

Who- The Songwriters Association of Mid-north Indiana (SAMI)

What- Currently accepting applications for the 2012 Shirley Martin Scholarship for Young Songwriters, which includes the special Mike Lane Horizon Award. This scholarship and award exists for the purpose of developing, recognizing and supporting area youth in the advancement of their songwriting skills.

Who Can Apply- Candidates must be between the ages of 14 and 19 at the time of application and be a permanent resident of one of the following Indiana counties to apply: Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Warren and White.

When- Applications being accepted until April 6, 2011.

Winner Will Receive: 

1. $500 cash award to be applied toward the Shirley Martin Scholarship winner’s education, a musical instrument or other songwriting-supporting endeavor.  Other cash awards for runners-up and the Mike Lane Horizon Award.

2. Performance opportunities.

3. Local publicity.

How and Where to Apply:

Applications and instructions can be downloaded (click here) or write to:

The Tippecanoe Arts Federation

638 North Street

Lafayette, IN,  47901

 Distribution: Winners will be notified on or before May 4, 2011.

For additional information Email: cher_fletcher@yahoo.com