Tonight marks the start of Tennessee Songwriters Week

The qualifying rounds for Tennessee Songwriters Week are underway. Tennessee Songwriters Week showcases talent, highlights creativity, and gives a chance to audiences to enjoy beautiful music and discover Tennessee communities.

Winners of the qualifying rounds will advance to the showcase events. The showcase winners will have a chance to perform at The Bluebird Café on March 20.

In South Central Tennessee, the event kicks off Jan. 31, at the Oldham Theater in Winchester.

Songwriters to dazzle guests at the Oldham

6 p.m., Jan 31 – Oldham Theater, Winchester

Songwriters will step on the stage of Oldham Theater to dazzle audiences.

Yvonne Stewart, special projects coordinator for Winchester City, invites guests to join the event. Oldham Theater is providing the venue for the opening round, said Stewart.

“This is the first time that Franklin County/Winchester has held this event,” Stewart said.

Not only does the event highlight talent and provide entertainment but it also supports the local economy of vibrant Tennessee communities.

The event will bring visitors to downtown Winchester, “which hopefully will entice them to return to downtown Winchester in the future.”

“It will boost the economic vitality of downtown Winchester while showcasing our wonderful town,” Stewart said.

Musical talent in the spotlight at South Jackson

6 p.m., Feb. 2 – South Jackson Performing Arts Center, Tullahoma

Executive Chairman and Director of South Jackson Performing Arts Center Greg Gressel is looking forward to the event, which promotes creativity. South Jackson Performing Arts Center is a qualifying round location for the Tennessee Songwriters Week, with the event set for Feb. 2.

“This will be our first year to participate and we are excited about the opportunity,” Gressel said.

“South Jackson Civic Association’s mission is to preserve the South Jackson School building for perpetual use as a regional performing arts center and to present, promote, and foster diverse cultural, educational, historical, and civic activities through arts, music, dance, and other genres. So nurturing songwriters to develop their talent falls into what we are all about.”

Artists hop on brewery’s stage

2 p.m., Feb. 6 – Common John Brewing Company, Manchester

LeBron Haggard, co-owner of Common John Brewing Company, is excited to share the friendly atmosphere of the brewery with guests and to welcome songwriters to the stage.

“Music is at the core of our business,” Haggard said. “We love promoting local independent musicians. We have live music weekly. Plus, our brewery name and several beer names are music/song related.”

Tennessee Songwriters Week allows music fans to discover new talent and to enjoy dining and entertaining experiences offered in Tennessee communities.

“We are locally owned and operated,” Haggard said. “Besides the beer that we make and sell onsite, we offer a large variety of beer from other independent breweries as well as non-alcoholic beverages and food. We are a family-friendly venue.”

When and where?

Jan. 30-Feb. 12 – Qualifying Rounds

Feb. 20-26 – Showcase Events

March 20 – Finale at The Bluebird Café

South Central Tennessee Region Locations

6 p.m., Jan 31 – Oldham Theater, Winchester

6 p.m., Feb. 2 – South Jackson Performing Arts Center, Tullahoma

5 p.m., Feb. 4 – Mt. Pleasant Grille, Mount Pleasant

Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 – Commodore Hotel & Music Café, Linden

2 p.m., Feb. 6 – Common John Brewing Company, Manchester

6 p.m., Feb. 6 - Puckett's Grocery, Downtown Columbia

Qualifying rounds take place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12. Select songwriters from the qualifying rounds will perform during one of the six Tennessee Songwriters Week showcase events in Franklin, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Gatlinburg and Johnson City. Finalists from the six events will get a chance to share their original songs on the stage at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville March 20.

For more information about Tennessee Songwriters Week, visit www.tnvacation.com/songwriters-week. Events are open to the public. Contact the organizations hosting the events for information about admission.