When the current chapter of political chaos began swirling around us two years ago, famed singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams knew something important was missing. The kind of music that had marked the political activism of her youth was not there. She decided that, as a songwriter, that was a thing she could do something about. Williams […]
Iowa City Songwriters Festival
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Willis Alan Ramsey on skipping his second album, filling a drawer with white whales and learning to ‘just let it live’
Willis Alan Ramsey was only 21 when he released his self-titled debut album in 1972. Its best-known song, “Muskrat Candlelight,” became a major hit as “Muskrat Love” recorded by Captain & Tennille. The album also made a profound impression on a young Lyle Lovett, who learned every song, attended Ramsey’s shows and even bought the […]
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‘I need to say something to be seen’: Courtney Marie Andrews unravels her writing process as artist in residence of the first Iowa City Songwriters Festival
A multidisciplinary artist from Phoenix, Arizona, Andrews was the artist in residence of the first edition of the Iowa City Songwriters Festival (ICSF), which took place at the top of September. Andrews uploaded her first songs on the internet and experienced the first reactions from listeners. “That’s not punk music, people wrote, that’s folk.” At that age she had no idea folk music would become so important for her.
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‘What better place than Iowa City’ for a songwriting festival? Three days of shows, talks begin Thursday
In it’s first edition, the Festival is meant to “elevate the timeless craft of songwriting by blending world-class live performances with educational opportunities and community engagement,” as announced by the organizing team at the Englert Theatre.
