“Iowa City has long been a place where words matter,” said John Schickedanz, executive director of the Englert Theatre. “We’re celebrating songwriting as one of the most powerful forms of modern storytelling.”
The Englert and its partner venues will welcome Jeff Tweedy, Joy Oladokun and a range of acclaimed and up-and-coming composers downtown for the inaugural Iowa City Songwriters Festival (ICSF) this week, Sept. 4 through 6. The festival is meant to “elevate the timeless craft of songwriting by blending world-class live performances with educational opportunities and community engagement,” according to the Englert.
The program includes a daily mix of solo and duo sets, artist talks, mentorship sessions, behind-the-scenes conversations and panel discussions. Attendees will have the chance to interact with songwriters and understand the stories and processes behind their creations. For example, in addition to performing on the Englert stage Friday night, Wilco singer Jeff Tweedy will also take part in an artist talk exclusive to VIPs and “ICSF Scholars,” which are scholarship recipients looking to expand their craft.
“I had the idea for the festival flying between music conferences in Indianapolis and Nashville,” said Brian Johannesen, Englert programming director. “Most conferences are about the business side and I wanted one with songwriters talking about songwriting.”
Originally from Iowa City, Johannesen started writing music when he was 21. He lived in Nashville for four years, where he developed his skillset immersed in the local music scene.
“This is the kind of event I wish I could’ve attended when I was coming up as a songwriter,” he said. “And what better place than Iowa City, which is known as a literary hub of creativity.”
Venues for the fest include the Englert, the James Theater, the Black Angel and the Trumpet Blossom Cafe, among others.
The ICSF will also host a songwriter in residence, the multifaceted artist Courtney Mary Andrews, who will offer a free workshop at Merge on Sept. 3, as well as two music performances and a poetry reading. Her paintings will be on display at The Englert. There will also be an Iowa Arts Hall, where different local arts organizations can talk with the public. An example is MusiCares, a nonprofit that offers health services for musicians and music professionals. They will offer free custom molded earplugs and free consultations.
Iowa City has become a magnet for musicians from across the country, some of whom will perform at the ICSF.
“My songwriting practice started in Iowa City,” said Early Girl lead singer Aaron Longoria, who hails from Texas. “My dad plays the guitar and I was surrounded by music, yet it all began here in 2017 when I began to teach myself how to write songs.”
Longoria grew up moving from city to city every two years. The experience of finding a home in Iowa has permeated their compositions. “My song ‘Sink In‘ is sort of a love letter to this place. Whenever I’ve felt the urge to move again I’ve realized there was always something new awaiting me here. It’s sort of bittersweet because you might feel there’s something else out there but for once you let yourself embrace the beauty around you.”
Myles Hojilla, lead singer and founder of the band Mars Hojilla, came from Illinois to study at the University of Iowa, obtaining both a BS and a Masters in biomedical engineering. When he’s not writing or performing music, he works as a cardiac mapper, helping build 3D computer models of hearts to assist surgeries.
In undergrad, during a class called Creative Writing For The Musician, he submitted the lyrics of a song called “Pinocchio.” “I was using the fable of Pinocchio as a metaphor for someone coming as a transgender man and not being feeling fully seen,” Hojilla explained.
Some of the verses were there, but he was having trouble finding a resolution to the story being told. “Thanks to the feedback I was able to find the lyrics to the chorus, which informs what it’s going to take for other people to see him as a man. The song wouldn’t exist without the workshop.”
Aaron Longoria will perform on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at The Black Angel, and Mars Hojilla on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Northside Neighborhood. Festival passes and single tickets for Tweedy and Oladokun’s performances can be purchased on the Englert’s website.
