Arts-Entertainment
The 2nd annual Livingston Songwriter Festival will fill the streets of historic downtown Livingston with music for two full days and three nights in early October. The festival debuted in 2024 with a single day of music featuring Rising Star songwriters during the day in many locations downtown and two shows of Hit Songwriters in the evening.
“We had a tremendous first year,” reports Mike Booth, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Songwriter Festivals organization. “Livingston is the perfect location for an event like this, and early October gives us the chance to help fill venues and hotel rooms with guests eager for a truly unique musical experience.”
Booth is joined in producing this year’s events by Livingston event producers John Lowell and Joanne Gardner Lowell of Mighty Fine Time Live Events. “Our evening venues this year are The Attic and the Empire Theatre,” added Booth during a walk through Livingston this week. “We have expanded the amount of daytime venues this year with events happening through all of downtown. There will be music everywhere you go on October 3rd and 4th with events open to the public starting on October 2nd."
Venues for the Rising Star showcases during the day include Katabatic Brewing, the Engine Room, Livingston Center for Art and Culture and Unwined. “We made an effort to spread the music into more parts of downtown,” said Joanne Gardner Lowell. “ Walking from venue to venue connects our guests with the best of what Livingston has to offer, from cafes and restaurants, to shops, specialty stores, and galleries. Last year, this all happened in one day, now we’ve expanded to two full days of music, with some extra events happening on October 2nd."
Featured Hit songwriters who will be performing include Beth Neilsen Chapman, Gary Nicholson, Will Kimbrough, Darden Smith, Erin Enderlin, Susan Gibson, and Helen Darling. Concerts featuring these writers in various configurations will take place each evening in different venues. The daytime schedule of Rising Star songwriters includes Mike Blakely, Jeff Plankenhorn (J Plank), Paige King Johnson, Marcedes Carroll, Chris Haddox, Anthony Garcia, Carin Mari, Imogen Clark, Bo De Peña, Wil Maring, Audrey Hall, Martin Gilmore, and Jackson Emmer.
“The Hit Songwriters are award winners who’ve written so many songs you’ll know,” said co-producer John Lowell. “Listening to the stories behind the songs is such a great way to appreciate the songs and where they came from—but spending some time with these Rising Stars is also worth your time, these writers are talented and will dazzle you. This is going to be a great event.”
For ticket information and schedules, please go to www.livingstonsongwriterfestival.org. There are limited VIP passes available, as well as single and two-day passes. Some events are free and open to the public.
The Rocky Mountain Songwriter Festivals organization is a non-profit that has donated more than $300,000 back into communities to foster music education. Last year’s Livingston Songwriter Festival proceeds from the hand painted guitar by artist Robert Spannring brought $3500, which was used to purchase new drums and percussion for the Sleeping Giant Middle School. This year’s guitar is being painted by renowned local artist Edd Enders and will once again be donated for local music education needs.
“Sponsors and patrons make this whole festival possible," added Booth. “We want to thank our primary sponsors and patrons for their support. This festival also requires a squad of volunteers and each person that works a three-hour shift gets a pass for the rest of the day’s musical events. There is info on our website about signing up for a shift. Livingston has rolled out the welcome mat for us, and we’re delighted about returning for our second year.”