SONGWRITER’S SERIES 2024
FEATURING Patrick Davis, Raul Malo, Eric Paslay, JAVIER COLON, CHARLES ESTEN, HEIDI RAYE & JOHNNY BULFORD
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PATRICK DAVIS
Thursday, May 23rd | 7:30 PM
A mainstay of contemporary American roots music, Patrick Davis has spent two decades leaving his mark onstage, on record, and in the writing room. He’s a critically acclaimed solo artist. A road warrior. Founder of music festivals like Songwriters in Paradise. Most importantly, Davis has established himself as a prolific songwriter, penning tunes for his own albums and icons like Guy Clark and Jimmy Buffett.
With his latest recording, Carolina When I Die, he reintroduces himself as a Southern storyteller and classic craftsman. It’s a modern-day album steeped in the timeless sounds of his influences: the smooth soul of Ray Charles, the heartland folk-rock of Jackson Browne, the nuanced country of Lyle Lovett, and the big-band bombast of Joe Cocker & Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Tying those sounds together is a versatile musician who, having already established himself as a hit songwriter for others, is rededicating himself to his own records. Carolina When I Die may be the fifth full-length release of Davis’ catalog, but it marks a new beginning, too.
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Eric Paslay
Thursday, June 20th | 7:30 PM
Country artist Eric Paslay delivers a powerful punch as a renowned Platinum-selling, GRAMMY nominated hit songwriter, artist and performer. He’s celebrated five No. 1 hits, including his smash lead single from his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, “Friday Night.” The Temple, Texas native has earned numerous songwriter award nominations including Grammy’s Best Country Song, ACM’s Song of the Year twice and the CMA Song of The Year for “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” Eric was also honored with Grammy nomination as an artist in 2016 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “The Driver”- a collaboration with friends Charles Kelley and Dierks Bentley. And in 2022, Eric continues to see success as a songwriter, having co-penned Keith Urban’s latest hit “Wild Hearts.”
Paslay’s self-titled debut album established him as an artist of enormous potential, yielding three hits. Once his debut album hit the marketplace – and the radio – life changed significantly. Paslay became something of a road warrior as a special guest performing on many high profile tours including Tim & Faith and Garth Brooks’ tour as well as his own concerts across North America and in the UK. Eric has also played shows as part of the CMA Songwriter Series.
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Javier Colón
Thursday, July 18th | 7:30 PM
Blessed with a stunningly soulful voice, an uncanny songwriting talent, a charismatic personality, and a commanding stage presence, Javier Colon has already won the attention of an international fan base that's embraced his personally-charged, acoustic-textured blend of pop, rock, and R&B, an effortlessly distinctive style that he's dubbed "acoustic soul."
Having been introduced to millions of TV viewers as the winner on the inaugural season of NBC's The Voice, singer-songwriter-guitarist Colon is set to take his recording career to the next level with Gravity, his fourth album and his first for Concord Records.
Indeed, the 13-song Gravity, on which Colon wrote or co-wrote all but three songs, marks a creative milestone for the artist. Such musically compelling, emotionally resonant tunes as "For A Reason," "Clear the Air," "Walking Blind" and the memorable title track demonstrate the breadth of his talents, matching his distinctly expressive voice with irresistible melodies, insightful lyrics, and Colon's own distinctive acoustic guitar work, which sets the tone for the album's spacious instrumental arrangements.
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Heidi Raye and Johnny Bulford
Thursday, August 15th | 7:30 PM
Johnny Bulford won a National singing competition, The Colgate Country Showdown, moved to Nashville and signed a publishing deal at Warner Chappell. He co-wrote the #1 hit singles “A Woman Like You” by Lee Brice and “Lonely Eyes” by Chris Young, as well as several major label recording artist album cuts. Johnny has been awarded as a multi platinum selling songwriter, won NSAI's "Top 10 Songs I Wish I'd Written" and got an ACM Song Of The Year nomination.
Canadian born singer Heidi Raye has shared the stage with Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Jason Aldean, Reba McEntire and more. She wrote for a Country Music Hall of Famer’s publishing company, Harlan Howard Songs, for 8 years where she co-wrote “Working On That” recorded by NBC’s “The Voice” Winner, Sundance Head. Heidi has had 3 top 100 Radio singles as an artist and has been featured on Spotify's New Boots and Wild Country playlists and has had one #1 Radio Single, “Worth A Shot”, in the UK.
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Charles Esten
Thursday, September 19th | 7:30 PM
The multi-talented Charles Esten has made 170 appearances at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry and performed multiple headline tours in the U.S., Germany, Amsterdam, and U.K., including at famed venues like the Royal Albert Hall. In 2023, Esten returned to the stage with select Nashville cast members for NASHVILLE - The Reunion Tour with sold-out dates in the U.S. and U.K., which the Birmingham Mail described as “an evening of feel-good fun,” with the Daily Mirror praising an “impressive set of show classics and solo material.” In April/May 2024, he’ll take Love Ain’t Pretty on the road in the UK & Europe for thirteen solo headline shows.
Esten first appeared on the original British version of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” with Ryan Stiles and Greg Proops. When “Whose Line” came to ABC, he became a recurring cast member and frequent song improvisor. Since then he has appeared on Drew Carey’s Improvaganza and toured frequently, performing live improv shows with Stiles, Proops and Jeff B. Davis.
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Maggie Rose
Thursday, October 10th | 7:30 PM
Hailed for her “multi-genre talents” by Billboard and deemed a “star” by Rolling Stone, acclaimed singer-songwriter Maggie Rose has released her ambitious new album No One Gets Out Alive. Hearkening back to early ‘70s Laurel Canyon, the music deals in both dark and uplifting themes– disillusionment in relationships, ageism, female empowerment and living in the moment, among them, with Maggie’s big, soulful voice taking centerstage
Maggie successfully straddles the worlds of pop, rock, soul, Americana and folk, unencumbered by genre specifics. Recorded with a dream team including members of Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit, Alabama Shakes and Gregg Allman’s band, the record was produced by GRAMMY-Award winner Ben Tanner, mixed by Bobby Holland and arranged by conductor Don Hart (Phish, Lyle Lovett).
A respected fixture of the Nashville community, Maggie has played the iconic Grand Ole Opry over 100 times and marquee festivals including Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, and Newport Folk Fest. A true road warrior, she has shared the stage with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Heart, Joan Jett, Eric Church, Gov’t Mule, The Mavericks, Fitz & The Tantrums, St. Paul & The Broken Bones and The Revivalists among others.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SINGER-SONGWRITERS SERIES AT MCLEMORE.
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