FOUR LOCAL SONGWRITERS ADVANCE TO NEXT ROUND OF TENNESSEE SONGWRITERS WEEK COMPETITION
Kingsport, Tenn. – (Feb. 3, 2022) Four local songwriters won the Kingsport Qualifying Round for the 2022 Tennessee Songwriters Week competition and will advance to the showcase rounds later this month. The qualifying event, hosted by Visit Kingsport at Model City Tap House, was held on Tuesday, February 1.
With a sold-out crowd in attendance, fifteen songwriters took the stage to perform their original song for a panel of judges with hopes of walking away with a ticket to the next round of the competition. The songwriters were judged on their overall performance, song originality and connection to the audience.
Sarah Beth Lovell, a Kingsport native and teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School performed her original song, Rollin’ On, which earned her a spot in the top four. Joining her was Travis White (Kingsport, Tenn.) with his song Capacity, Jared Bently (Elizabethton, Tenn.) who sang Now I’m Found, and Chancellor Lawson (Kingsport, Tenn.), a member of the regional favorite band Donnie and the Dry Heavers, with his song Happy Man.
The audience and those watching live on facebook were also treated to special performances from the 2020 Showcase Finalist and Kingsport native Beth Snapp along with two of the judges, Benny Wilson, lead singer of The Benny Wilson Band, and Carson Peters, local singer, songwriter and recent contestant on NBC’s The Voice.
The winners of the Kingsport qualifying round advanced to showcase event to be held later this month in Johnson City. Six showcase finalists from across the state will earn prizes, including performing at the historic Bluebird Cafe, a one-year-membership to Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and a branded commemorative guitar.
A state statute designated the last full week of February each year as Tennessee Songwriters Week, which is traditionally a slow month for tourism and travel. The mission of the initiative is to support music venues, generate awareness of songwriters’ contributions to Tennessee, pave the way for future artists, inspire travelers to experience the state’s music stories, history, attractions and venues and drive revenue for music venues that have been devastated by the pandemic.
Timeline of Events
- 30-Feb. 12 – Qualifying Rounds Across the State
- 20-26, 2022 – Showcase Events
- 20-26, 2022 – Special Events Across the State, including Songwriter Nights & In-the-Rounds
- 20, 2022 – Finale at The Bluebird Café
ADDITIONAL EVENT IMAGES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bdjh8mn5mz9zwac/AADZJGyS–IMPo5icAVOSGW9a?dl=0
ABOUT VISIT KINGSPORT
Visit Kingsport provides first-class destination marketing and organization expertise in attracting and welcoming visitors, events, groups and residents that builds economic prosperity through increased employment, tax revenues and relocations. Explore more at visitkingsport.com and by following Visit Kingsport on Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT
Tennessee is the home of the blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll— delivering an unparalleled experience of beauty, history and family adventure, infused with music that creates a vacation that is the “Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee.” Explore more at tnvacation.com and join other Tennessee travelers by following “TNVacation” on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube and “Tennessee” on Snapchat.
Visit Kingsport Media Contact:
Lara Potter
LPotter@visitkingsport.com
TDTD Media Contact:
Jill Kilgore
Jill.Kilgore@tn.gov
