Smithville’s Harvester to Host Preliminaries in Statewide Tennessee Songwriters Week 2023 Competition February 2

Smithville, TN - Music lovers will have an opportunity to catch some rising stars in Downtown Smithville on February 2, when the Harvester hosts an official Qualifying Round in the statewide Tennessee Songwriters Week 2023 contest.

Sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Tourism as a lead-in to annual Tennessee Songwriters Week (www.tnsongwritersweek.com), and held the last week of February, the competition gives songwriters in all musical genres the chance to perform their best originals before a live audience and panel of judges.

The Harvester was selected as one of just fifty live music venues throughout Tennessee to host the qualifying rounds. Winners will advance to showcase events in Memphis, Franklin, Gallatin, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Gatlinburg and Johnson City February 19-25, 2023. Finalists selected at each will earn an opportunity to perform before music industry professionals in the competition’s last round, to be held at Nashville’s Historic Bluebird Cafe.

“Hosting this event is an honor for the Harvester and the city of Smithville,” says Bert Driver, local nurseryman, Harvester owner and local musical impresario. “For years we’ve been showcasing the diverse musical talents and tastes of the Upper Cumberland’s more established artists in concerts at the Burlap Room and Friday Nights at the Harvester. Now, I’m proud to open to our stage to showcase the talents of the next generation of singer-songwriters and musicians.”

Driver says the local judges are well qualified members of the judging team which selects winners at the annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree, our local celebration of traditional Appalachian music.

“The musical heritage of our area stretches back to the early 1800s, built on the folk traditions of England, Ireland, and Scotland brought to Appalachia,” he points out. “Because we're kind of an isolated geographical area, this uniquely American music was preserved for well over one hundred years and is now celebrated in our annual festival, the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree.”

Appreciation of Tennessee’s rich musical heritage is in his family history. His grandfather, Bobo Driver, was a fiddler and guitarist. He performed at the Grand Ole Opry as a member of the Tennessee Playboys and helped start the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree with Congressman Joe L. Evins and Berry C. Williams in July 1972.

“There’s always been a strong local connection with Tennessee music,” he concludes.

The Tennessee Songwriters Week 2023 Qualifying Round will take place at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 2, at the Harvester. For information on competing in or watching the event, or to view the upcoming events calendar head to www.harvestertn.com. Follow us on Facebook: @harvestertn, Instagram: @harvestertn, and TikTok: @harvestertn.

Additional WGNS NEWS Headlines: