One of the best kept secrets outside the songwriter community this, the 9th Annual Tin Pan North, Toronto’s largest songwriter’s festival, is a thriving off-shoot of the Nashville, Tennessee initiated organization. Without a big budget or fanfare, this celebration enjoys full houses of lovers of the song featuring songwriters in all stages of their careers and success. And there are more headline names being added daily, surely making this three days in May a must.
Tin Pan North organizers have been hard at work confirming a strong line-up of songwriters for this year’s three-day festival and are pleased to unveil a partial list of participants.
Canadian, Victoria Banks grew up in the Muskoka region of Ontario and perhaps the stark beauty of her childhood home had impact on her songwriting. Victoria now makes Nashville her home and is a staff songwriter at Sony/ATV in that town. Victoria has co-written with such artists as Gretchen Wilson and Jessica Simpson. Her biggest hit to date is “Saints and Angels”, recorded by country superstar, Sara Evans and which garnered Victoria a Country Music Award from ASCAP,. She’s won several highly prestigious awards including the Unisong and USA International Songwriting Competitions.
BNA Records recording artist, Rachel Proctor has always known she would be a country music singer. The Charleston, West Virginia native has been performing full time since the age of six. Rachel is all grown up and still singing and, just like Victoria she made the move to Nashville. After the one and only Martina McBride had a monster hit with her song, “Where Would You Be” Rachel is now one of the most sought-after songwriters around.
Marc-Alan Barnette has music all through his family history, including counting country music pioneer Jimmie Rogers as a distant cousin. He is a true singer’s writer – his song “That’s Where It Hurts” which he co-wrote with his father was recorded by legendary Nashville producer Billy Sherrill on Shelby Lynne’s debut CD. This, in turn, led to John Berry recording “Rescued Me”, a co-write with David Vincent Williams. Barnette, who is as much at home on stage as a performer as he is as a writer, and has opened for a who’s who in the country music arena, including Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels, Ricochet and Patty Loveless, is very involved with the NSAI devoting a great deal of his time to mentor aspiring songwriters.
One of the best kept secrets outside the songwriter community this, the 9th Annual Tin Pan North, Toronto’s largest songwriter’s festival, is a thriving off-shoot of the Nashville, Tennessee initiated organization. Without a big budget or fanfare, this celebration enjoys full houses of lovers of the song featuring songwriters in all stages of their careers and success. And there are more headline names being added daily, surely making this three days in May a must.
Taking place in Toronto and Oakville in several venues over three days in May -22, 23 & 24 - Tin Pan North is a celebration of the song and writer. In addition to concerts, there are seminars and one-on-one mentor programs.
May 22 and 23 feature two shows a night at two new venues - The Trane Studio and Dakota Tavern in Toronto and, just added for Thursday, May 22 is Ten Feet Tall, 1381 Danforth Avenue. Also confirmed is a return to the Moonshine Café in Oakville for Friday, May 23. The last night, Saturday May 24 is the gala celebration at songwriter heaven - Hugh’s Room.
May 22 & 23
Shows at 7:30 and 9:30PM
Admission to each venue is a steal @ $10
May 24
Doors at 6PM, Show 7:30PM
$20
The best deal in town is a $30 Pass that entitles the holder to attend as many shows as is humanly possible!!
All tickets are available at:
www.ticketwindow.ca
www.nsaitoronto.com
1.877.700.3130
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Starts: May 22, 2008
Ends: May 24, 2008
At: The Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Avenue, Toronto Playing: Saturday Friday Thursday
Times: 7:30 PM & 9:30PM Cost: $10 for each venue / $30 for all shows
Getting there:
For more information contact:
April Coish Phone:
416-960-1568 Email:
april@harbury.ca
