Bernice Hembree of Smokey & The Mirror, one of the participants in the House of Songs workshop held in Fayetteville this week
Photo: Kevin Kinder
Songwriters from all over the world are in Fayetteville this week, and several of them are also planning a performance in town this weekend.
An organization called House of Songs is bringing together songwriters from Sweden, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, and the United States for week-long camps to be held simultaneously in Fayetteville and in Austin, Texas this week. Songs created at the camp will be debuted at the Folk Alliance International Conference Feb. 15-19 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Participants include Kaylyn Fay (Oklahoma), Rebecka Digervall (Sweden), Digging Roots (Canada), Bernice Hembree (Arkansas), Adam Torres (Texas), Gareth Averill (UK, Ireland), Tom Levin (Sweden), John Elliot (California), Kai Kater (Canada), CS Nielsen (Denmark), Bryan Hembree (Arkansas) and Steve Averill (Ireland).
A local showcase featuring the participating songwriters is set for 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12 at The Heartbreak House (formerly known as the Good Folk House, 229 N. Block Ave.). Performers include locals Smokey & The Mirror, Still on the Hill, Bayard Blain, Nature & Madness, and Adam Cox, along with visiting songwriters Fay, Kater, Levin, Digging Roots and both Steve and Gareth Averill.
“Pop-up” performances are also planned at 2 p.m. and at 9 p.m. at Crystal Bridges on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The local show at the Heartbreak House is free to attend, and open to the public (here’s the official Facebook event).
For a bit more information about House of Songs, check out their website.
