The Wallaceburg & District Council For The Arts recently held its first ever Singer-Songwriter Workshop, with the help of Canada’s most awarded independent Canadian country artist, Jamie Warren.
The Arts Council played host to 21 aspiring local songwriters in the first event of a three-part series.
“The workshop and series is off to a phenomenal start,” said Jay Smith, a member of the Arts Council board of directors. “We know we’ve got talent in our backyard, and we want to cultivate that talent and passion. Seeing them hungry to learn more and gain additional education is very gratifying for us.”
Warren, a long-standing singer-songwriter with 16 Top 40 hits and four Top 10 singles to his name, is also a professor of Songwriting 101 at Conestoga College in Kitchener.
Christal Willis of Dresden attended the event, along with her 15-year-old daughter, local country singer-songwriter Jacklyn Wills.
“The workshop was very informative and beneficial to anyone in the music business at any level,” said Christal. “Jamie really knows his stuff. From sharing songs and how they came to be, to important industry information that all singers (and) writers should know. I truly enjoyed my afternoon learning the ins and outs of song writing. I can’t wait for the next workshop and show at the theatre.”
Experienced artists and songwriters also gained additional knowledge from the workshop.
“Jamie’s a pretty big deal,” said Jay Allan, a Bothwell area singer-songwriter with a Top-40 charting single to his own credit. “To see how down to Earth he is with everyone – young, adult, new to song-writing, experienced… it’s really cool.”
Local artists from the age of 15 to 60-plus attended the workshop, made possible by the support of the local community.
“We can’t give back like this without the support of everyone who attends our shows,” added Arts Council President Dave Elliott. “We get so much support from the community. It’s great to be able to give it back.”
The Arts Council will continue the Singer-Songwriter Workshop and Performance Series with the second event Nov. 26. London’s Sarah Smith, a multiple London Music Awards winner and Allan will provide a “Surviving As An Independent Artist” workshop, followed by an evening performance.
Chatham’s Michael Schatte and Tom Lockwood will reunite for a Guitar Workshop and evening performance on Jan.28.
Both events will be held at the Jeanne Gordon Theatre in Wallaceburg. Registration is $40 per workshop. For more information on the workshops, contact Jay Smith at (519) 401-8247 or e-mail jsmith@ckxsfm.com.
