The third annual Livingston Songwriter Festival kicks off in historic Downtown Livingston on Thursday, October 1st. Headliners for the returning festival include Matraca Berg, Radney Foster, Will Kimbrough, Gretchen Peters, Jim Photoglo, and Kim Richey. They’ll be featured in evening shows on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2nd–3rd, at the Livingston Depot and The Attic.
Troubadours will perform daytime shows all over the downtown area on both days, as well as night shows on Oct. 1st and late night shows on Oct. 2nd and 3rd. Troubadour performers include Katrina Cain, Marcedes Carroll, Jackson Emmer, Anthony Garcia, Abbie Gardner, Susan Gibson, Goldpine, Erik Koskinen, Whitney Mongé, Sarah Pierce, J. Plank, Eric Ramsey, David Starr and Erik Stucky.
“The lineup for this festival is absolutely amazing,” said Mike Booth, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Songwriter Festivals organization that co-produces this festival with Livingston producers Joanne Gardner Lowell and John Lowell. “There is truly something for everyone this year, with musicians coming in from all over the country to be in Montana. They can’t wait to be in Livingston, and we can’t wait to share them with all of the audiences.”
Between them, the headliners have eight Grammy nominations, three Americana Music Awards, three CMA Song of the Year wins, and accolades including two Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame inductions (Berg and Peters), one Texas Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee (Foster) and a winner of both the International Album of the Year and International Song of the Year (Peters).
The troubadours include performers/writers from Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, British Columbia, California, Arizona and Montana. There is a two-day “Master Class” scheduled to be taught by Jackson Emmer and Susan Gibson to help interested songwriters polish their skills.
Further information about the festival can be found at www.livingstonsongwriterfestival.org. The nonprofit makes contributions to local music programs each year and donated $5,000 worth of online music lessons to benefit students at Park High School in Livingston after last year’s festival.
“The streets of Livingston will be full of song the first weekend in October, don’t miss your chance to enjoy it!” added Booth. •
