Jessi Alexander, Kyle Jacobs, Kelley Lovelace, and Neil Thrasher Share the Stories Behind Their Hit Songs
NASHVILLE – The CMA Songwriters Series returns for its 11th season and second decade kickoff with the announcement that the first shows of 2015 will be part of the Sundance ASCAP Music Café at the world famous Sundance Film Festival on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 28 and 29.
The CMA Songwriters Series has been presenting the very best of Country Music’s songwriters, whose hits are known worldwide, since 2005. CMA Songwriters Series shows are intimate presentations where songwriters can exhibit their craft and share many of the stories behind the songs they have penned. The January performances of the Sundance ASCAP Music Café’s CMA Songwriters Spotlight will feature special guests Jessi Alexander, Kyle Jacobs, Kelley Lovelace, and Neil Thrasher.
“We are honored that the CMA Songwriters Spotlight will return for the second year as a highlight of the Sundance ASCAP Music Café, an official part of the Sundance Film Festival calendar,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Nashville’s songwriters deserve to be showcased at the world’s premier stage for storytellers, Sundance.”
Through CMA’s partnership with ASCAP, some of Country Music’s premier storytelling talent will present two feature performances as part of the official Sundance Festival calendar at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café’s CMA Songwriters Spotlight. The shows will be on Jan. 28 (3:20 PM/MT) and 29 (4:00 PM/MT).
Alexander is one of Nashville’s most prolific and talented songwriters. She has co-written hit singles for Reba, Blake Shelton, Miley Cyrus, and more. She won the 2013 CMA Song of the Year Award for co-writing “I Drive Your Truck,” a No. 1 hit for Lee Brice.
Jacobs has hits on his resume as both a songwriter and a producer having produced the No. 1 hit “Hard to Love” for Brice. As a songwriter he has scored hits with artists such as Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, Kimberly Locke, Tim McGraw, Craig Morgan, and Kellie Pickler.
Lovelace is best known for his string of No. 1 hits with Brad Paisley that include “He Didn’’t Have To Be,” “The World,” “Ticks,” “Online,” “I’m Still a Guy,” “Start A Band,” “Water,” and “Remind Me.” Additionally he has written Top 10 singles for Jason Aldean, Terri Clark, Joe Nichols, and Carrie Underwood.
Thrasher has a long list of singles familiar to Country Music fans. Hit songs such as “What Do You Say” recorded by Reba, “Fly Over States” and “Night Train” recorded by Aldean, as well as “There Goes My Life” recorded by Kenny Chesney have highlighted Thrasher’s prolific career.
Since 2005, the CMA Songwriters Series has presented more than 90 shows in 15 cities, including Austin, Belfast, Chicago, Dublin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. at the renowned Library of Congress.
Some of the artists that have been part of the series include Dierks Bentley, Clint Black, Kix Brooks, Chesney, Billy Currington, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap, Kip Moore, David Lee Murphy, Gretchen Peters, Pickler, The Band Perry, Josh Turner, Underwood, Phil Vassar, and Chris Young.
The 17th annual Sundance ASCAP Music Café – running during the daytime Jan. 23-30 – will present a dynamic mix of both emerging and established songwriters and artists, specially curated by ASCAP. The Music Café will be located at Rich Haines Gallery (751 Main Street, Park City, UT) and will be open to all Festival credential holders (21 and older). Performances are scheduled to begin each day at 2:00 PM/MT.
Following the prestigious launch at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café, the CMA Songwriters Series will return to London in March as part of C2C Music Festival in the U.K. Additional shows in 2015 tentatively include Chicago, Nashville, and New York with talent and show dates to be announced at a later time. For more information on the CMA Songwriters Series, visit CMAsongwritersseries.com.
**Suggested Tweet**: #CMAsongwriters Series kicks off the new year @ASCAP #MusicCafe at the @sundancefest Jan. 28 and 29! {link URL}