ilyĀIMY.com

21 Songwriters.

A group of diverse individuals posing together at an outdoor event, with string lights overhead and a stage in the background. The gathering is part of a community or artistic celebration.
A fantastic day at Monocacy Brewing in Frederick, MD courtesy of Bigger Beast Records from Connecticut. Back row l-r: Gabrielle Zwi, Nicole Belanus, Kai Martin, Eryn Michel, Frank Viele, Shawn Taylor, Kimberly Shires, Antar Goodwin, Erik Balkey, Robert C Fullerton. Front row l-r: Marc Apostolides, Rebecca Berlin, me, Bryan Titus, Liz Reed, Jillian Matundan, Jessica Smucker – and in the very foreground Mosno Al-Moseeki.

SO – the 21 Songwriters was a perfect example of the perfect imperfection of a plan meeting reality, and of a community of people making things work. Whether it’s the weather or the simple practicality of getting people to come out to see performers they’ve never heard of on a weekend where absolutely everything everywhere is happening all at once, this Saturday songwriter’s festival almost completely failed to do what it said on the tin, and yet completely delivered everything *I* needed out of it.

Two men working at an outdoor sound setup, one with a long white beard and sunglasses, the other in a tie-dye shirt operating audio equipment.
Heh, I was eventually called over to soundcheck the stage – it was a little bit of a visceral shock to be reminded that an analog board does NOT have all the same tools that I’ve grown used to!

It was less Bigger Beast and more All Boats Rise – meaning – it didn’t really have the critical mass to be a destination FESTIVAL per se. But it WAS a Hell of a show – and it became a beautiful gathering of singer/songwriters from up and down (mostly up) the east coast, all coming together to build a stage or two (and eventually three), play a lot, swap advice and wisdom, and then break it all down and go our separate ways.

A musician holding a guitar and taking a photo with a smartphone on stage, surrounded by greenery and outdoor setting.
Erik Balkey documenting the documentor.

The organizers had been talking about it like “a mini-NERFA” and – depending on what YOU get out of NERFA, it checked SOME of those boxes.

As someone who has to outlay a LOT of money, sacrifice a number of paying gigs, and spend a lot of time to go to NERFA, it’s taken some time and career stability for me to be able to relax into the joy of those conferences. But over and over again, for the locals, I see them regard it as a moment for them to sneak into a hotel and hang with friends, jamming with one another and reminding one another of their existence – and from that point of view – I can see how a northerner could see a mini-NERFA as being more of a friendly gathering, less weighty than those of us from Maryland might see it.

A musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a cap and a graphic t-shirt, set in an outdoor venue with greenery in the background.
Marc Apostolides soundchecking stage 2 at the 1st (hopefully annual) 21 Songwriters Festival, Maryland edition.

We tried to do something similar for a couple of years down in Bethesda, MD. Before I’d ever been to a real Folk Alliance event, we joined We’re About 9 (if I remember correctly) in trying to organize a day-long event at a local hotel with a couple of different stages, workshops, networking… but the more I think about it, the more I think the name “NERFA” has too many connotations for a “mini-NERFA” to mean the same thing to more than a couple of people.

A group of five people sitting in a casual setting, with one person playing a guitar. The room features orange walls, wooden furniture, and a bookshelf in the background.
Though I’d had the impression our northern visitors were going to do at least an equal portion of the panels, it ended up falling to us. Eryn Michel joined forces with organizer Frank Viele to talk songwriting techniques, Kimberly Shires did a fantastic panel on “getting the most out of your producer” that really made me think about how to use reference tracks more effectively – and I was supposed to talk about Live sound. However, the way things coalesced I didn’t really use any of my 3 page outline and simply did Q&A for about an hour. It worked.

I really enjoyed the 21 Songwriters festival – I chose the venue but friends of FocusMusic did most of the organizing. There were plusses and minuses to that. Rains threatened, I had to build a third stage out of the contents of my trunk. Stuff came together. There was fantastic music and I met some cool people. I talked intelligently about sound and was able to reinforce all of the above through the wringer of running the suddenly-appearing Indoor Stage.

And whether or not it checked boxes for others? I know many of us came away thinking “well, this is what we should do NEXT year” and only successful events get you thinking about the next one.

Three individuals posing for a selfie outdoors, wearing sunglasses, with trees and patio furniture in the background on a sunny day.
Eryn Michel and Jillian Matundan really took the brunt of the work organizing the festival. Bigger Beast ultimately brought 9 singer/songwriters and two stages worth of gear. They ran that. Eryn and Jillian made sure we could support our chosen non-profit (Warrior Canine Connection), that there were panels, that the venue knew we were coming… you know… the little stuff!

Maybe these were all single-serving friends. Maybe they’ll be something more. I dunno… I feel a little over the concept of “industry contacts” and a little old for “new friends” – but fellow roadwarriors? I think I’ve always got time for them and hope to see them again soon.

After the panels, after the stages, after the almost-rain and after the song circles, it was time for me to drive Mosno home to his kids and from there back through the darkened woods of Ellicott City to my little house, wife and waiting cat. On the long drive back from Frederick, Mosno had mentioned how much he liked Rebecca Berlin’s music and I was like “just so happens I did her CD and I’ve got one of the rough mixes in my car, wanna hear?” I did one of Mosno’s albums many years ago and it was interesting to hear how far I’ve come in some ways…

Two women stand outdoors near a tree, one with sunglasses and a colorful striped jacket poses confidently while the other points at the camera, wearing a black t-shirt and a straw hat.
Eryn Michel and Jillian Matundan.

But man, her song “Grand Canyon” still breaks me. After dropping Mosno off, after hitting that song, I turned off the music, rolled down my windows and drove through the honeysuckle-scented darkness, twisting and turning in the black. I miss being lost on these roads, but they have long-since become familiar, and I guess in some ways, I’m a little old to be lost.

There’s probably a metaphor for the songwriter gathering / festival in there, but I’m too tired to get explicit.

A musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a hoodie and a beanie, with a microphone in front and a tree in the background.
Mosno Al-Moseeki performing at the 21 Songwriters Festival in Frederick, MD.
A musician sitting on a stool under a tree, holding a smartphone to record while playing an acoustic guitar.
Wayne Unchained.
A guitarist standing by a fence, playing an acoustic guitar and smiling, with parked vehicles and greenery in the background.
Shawn Taylor.
A smiling musician with an acoustic guitar sits on a blue stool in an outdoor setting, surrounded by greenery. There is a donation box nearby with a QR code and a sign encouraging donations.
Two musicians playing acoustic guitars outdoors, surrounded by green foliage.
A female musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, smiling and wearing a lace top and jewelry, surrounded by greenery and a blurred background of a building.
Annette Wasilik.
A musician performing live outdoors, playing an acoustic guitar while singing, surrounded by lush green foliage.
A woman singing passionately while playing an acoustic guitar, with a guitarist and a drummer in the background, surrounded by greenery and string lights.
A live music performance featuring four musicians on stage. One musician plays a keyboard, while others engage with the audience. The setting is outdoors with trees in the background.
A group of four musicians performing on stage under a leafy canopy. One woman plays a keyboard, while others engage with the audience. They are surrounded by music equipment and have a relaxed, lively atmosphere.
A group of three musicians on stage, one is holding a guitar and another is clapping while the third covers his face, surrounded by green leaves.
A male musician wearing a beanie and holding an acoustic guitar smiles while performing on stage. A female musician sits nearby, clapping and enjoying the performance. The scene is set outdoors with trees and vehicles in the background.
A woman enjoying a hammock in an outdoor setting, laughing while another person interacts with her, and a second woman sitting nearby, with a large connect-four game in the background.
A woman laughing while relaxing in a hammock, wearing a colorful top and ripped jeans, with a drink in her hand. In the background, another girl sits on a bench, and a man stands nearby holding a drink and a game.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar on stage, wearing a beanie and a hooded sweater, with a microphone in front and various bracelets on his wrist.
A live music performance featuring three musicians on stage: one on keyboard, one sitting thoughtfully, and one playing guitar, with a vibrant green tree in the background.
A live music performance featuring three musicians: a woman playing a keyboard, a man seated with long hair, and another man singing and playing guitar, all set outdoors under a leafy tree.
A trio of musicians performing outdoors on a stage, with one on a keyboard, one playing guitar, and one sitting nearby. The backdrop features trees and a building.
Two male musicians perform on stage. One is seated with a small guitar, and the other is singing while playing a larger acoustic guitar. The stage is outdoors, surrounded by green trees and soft lighting.
Two musicians perform on stage, one playing a ukulele and the other with an acoustic guitar, under a large tree with greenery in the background.
A musician performing on stage with a keyboard and microphone, gesturing expressively while a guitarist sits beside her, surrounded by a leafy backdrop.
A man with glasses and a brown hat operates a sound mixing board outdoors, holding a glass of water in front of his face.
A woman smiling and relaxing in a hammock with sunglasses on her head, surrounded by a warm outdoor setting.
Two women performing music outdoors. One is singing and playing an acoustic guitar while the other accompanies with a guitar. Lush green foliage serves as the backdrop.
A female musician sings while playing an acoustic guitar, accompanied by a male guitarist sitting next to her. The performance takes place outdoors under trees with string lights, creating a warm atmosphere.
A musician performs on stage with two guitarists in an outdoor setting, decorated with string lights and surrounded by greenery.
A woman with long hair smiles while holding an acoustic guitar, sitting under string lights in an outdoor setting. In the background, a man with a beard also plays an acoustic guitar.
Three musicians performing on stage under string lights in an outdoor setting, with two women playing acoustic guitars and a man sitting between them.
A live music performance featuring two women playing acoustic guitars, with a man in the background. The setting is outdoors under string lights and trees during twilight.
A woman playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone at an outdoor venue, surrounded by trees and evening lights.
Three musicians performing outdoors during twilight, with one singer holding a microphone and two guitarists seated on blue stools. A banner for a political campaign is visible in the background.
A live music performance featuring three musicians on stage, with one female singer playing an acoustic guitar and two guitarists beside her, set outdoors in the evening with string lights and a casual audience.
Nicole Belanus, Eryn Michel and Frank Viele closing out the amplified portion of 21 Songwriters.
A group of five people smiling for a selfie outdoors, surrounded by greenery and a parked vehicle. Two individuals are wearing hats, and the group appears cheerful and friendly.
Is the order of the photos weird? Deal with it. First was my DSLR and now’s my phone. Selfies are all from my phone. Have you TRIED to point a DSLR with a 105mm lens on it back at your own face? Leave me be.
A group of people sitting in a circle in a casual setting, engaging in conversation and music. One person is playing the guitar while others listen and participate. The space features wooden furniture and a colorful wall.
A woman sits playing an acoustic guitar while two men listen attentively in a casual indoor setting with wooden chairs and a brewing company backdrop.
A cozy brewery interior with a group of people seated around a table. Two women are engaged in conversation while others listen attentively. The walls are painted orange with a large brewery logo, and there are bookshelves and plants in the background.
A display of merchandise and promotional items on tables in a brewery, featuring t-shirts, postcards, books, and crafts, with large stainless steel brewing tanks in the background.
A live musical performance featuring four musicians on a small outdoor stage, surrounded by greenery and parked cars. Two male guitarists are seated, while a male vocalist stands holding a microphone, and a female vocalist stands with an acoustic guitar, smiling. The scene is bright and sunny.
Four musicians perform on a stage outdoors, with guitars, under a leafy tree. A sign for 'Bigger Beast Records' is visible in front of them.
A smiling woman holding three knitted figurines, surrounded by a busy event setting.
Emotional Support Potatoes.
A cozy venue with patrons seated at tables enjoying a live music performance. Two musicians are playing guitars on stage while an audience watches and listens. There's a large window with outdoor views and string lights illuminating the space.
A live music event outdoors featuring three performers: a woman singing at a keyboard, a man playing guitar, and another man standing with a microphone. An audience member relaxes in a hammock while others sit nearby.
An outdoor dining area at night, featuring patrons seated at wooden and metal tables under large red umbrellas. The atmosphere is lively with people enjoying drinks and conversation amidst trees and ambient lighting.
A group of musicians gathered outside at night, sitting in chairs and playing acoustic guitars, while one person plays a keyboard. There are string lights illuminating the area, with a tree nearby and buildings in the background.
I left a little after the songwriter circle got through it’s first round after carrying about an ilyAIMY’s worth of gear to various waiting vehicles. It was time to get Mosno home to his kids.
robilyaimy

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