Sharing Our Songs:
The Songwriter's Open Circle & Lyric Party

Since February of 2023, I've been hosting an even I've called the Songwriter's Open Circle & Lyric Party at a local venue called The Casbah.

After a painting possibly by Emmanuel Noterman, portrait, genre and animal painter and etcher, 1808-1863, or by Zacharias Noterman, genre and animal painter and etcher, 1813-1874; printed by Lemercier et Cie, Paris

The idea is essentially an open mic for singer-songwriters, but one where you not only get to play your original music for an appreciative audience, but you can also talk about the songwriting process, and what went into each song. 

You can crowdsource help for lyric ideas, if you want - and people have done that.

When I started out, I was honestly expecting a lot of showboating - you know. You've seen them. Those people who go to open mics to show off, and they inevitably have some interminable folk-ish songs with 12 verses... 

You know.

But, that's not what happened at all.

Instead, people have come out and shared their thoughts and their lives along with their art, and it's been truly wonderful. 

• They've had sing-alongs;
• They've tried out works-in-progress for feedback;
• They've come out to share their music for the very first time in front of people.

It's attracted 20-somethings who've been creating and producing work online and via livestreams, and oldsters who've been on stage for four or five decades.

I'm really grateful for the response. If you're in Hamilton, we're at it the second Saturday of the month from 2 til 5.

This is my opening set from the third one in June, 2023: