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Songwriters Showcase

July 23, 2011
Bedford Main Library, Bedford, VA

The Performers:

  • Mike DeGiorgi
  • Frank Dieter
  • Mike Franke
  • Josh Jones
  • Marian McConnel
  • Larry Sakayama
  • David Simpkins
  • Randolph Walker

With backup provided by:

  • Kathy Acosta
  • Britt Mistele

Southwest Virginia Songwriters Association
and the
The Friends of the Bedford Public Library

Songwriters in the Round - Concert

When: July 23, 2011d 7:30 pm
Where:
The Friends of the Bedford Public Library, Inc.
321 North Bridge St.
Bedford, VA 24523

Donation: $10

Want to hear a bunch of great songs, written right in the back yard of the Blue Ridge Mountains? On July 23, 2011, come see 8 members of the Southwest Virginia Songwriters Association (SVSA) performing, in the round, a collection of original tunes that range from folk to jazz and funny to poignant.

The SVSA is an organization of talented songwriters, performers and musicians who live in and around the Roanoke area. SVSA brings together songwriters from a wide range of musical genres. The group includes professional songwriters with recording and publishing credits, and amateur songwriters looking to hone their skills and learn more about the music business.

About the Performers

Mike DeGiorgi Mike DeGiorgi has been writing songs about life around Smith Mountain Lake since he, his wife Kay and their dog Scooter, moved there 4 years ago. Many area residents have heard Mike’s song, “There’s No Dancin’ At The Dudley,” a funny tune about the Dudley Mart and Franklin County laws that still prohibit dancing. An avid vintage guitar collector, Mike is currently on guitar probation, until his wife decides to release him.
Mike can be contacted at Mikedegi@aol.com.
His website is http://www.AEGtraining.com/.

Frank Dieter Frank Dieter has been a featured artist in numerous songwriter showcases in the Northern Virginia area and was included in the line up for the January 2009 edition of the Fredericksburg Songwriter’s Showcase at the Picker’s Supply Music Store. His song “My Parents Hands” earned Finalist honors in the 2008 VH-1 Song of the Year contest and “Fireflies in a Jar” was one of 100 Finalists from 1780 contestants in the 2008 Great American Song Contest. Neil Young chose the song “I’m An American and I Won’t Be Treated This Way” to be included on his website, Living With War Today and he has many songs posted on FolkAlley.com’s website at the Open Mic section.

Mike Franke Mike Franke was ruined musically by a middle school teacher who tried in vain to get him to play bari sax, and then trombone. Not until college did he pick up a guitar and teach himself to play it while manning an all-night gas station. Mike started performing in San Francisco, where he ran an Open Mic night and hatched his fantasy of someday "getting paid to sit in a coffeeshop." Mike recently released his first CD, "What's Done Is Done," an all-original collection of fingerstyle blues and slide guitar tunes about regular stuff. Check him out at mikefrankemusic.com.

Josh Jones Josh Jones grew up in Bluefield, West Virginia on the skirts of East River Mountain. He hasn’t played with anyone widely famous. Nobody’s reviewed him. Some well-known musicians have heard him play, though, and said some very nice things with straight faces. He’s played in bands around Roanoke and, on rare occasions, at Third Street Coffeehouse and the Kirk Avenue Music Hall. He’s released four sets of songs as CDs in his project studio, The Shop. He wrote, arranged, played, sang, recorded and mixed nearly all of them. Josh’s songs tell stories of the people and places he’s known, studied or passionately imagined. Some are haunted, some are tales of love, redemption, loyalty and friendship.

Marian McConnell Marian McConnell of Troutville, Virginia, finds inspiration for her songs by living life to the hilt -- exploring caves, riding her motorcycle, helping run the Third Street Coffeehouse, hiking or just hanging out with friends. Marian and her husband, Dan, often perform together; their CD, "Land of My Dreams," is a collection of all original music. She enjoys telling stories with her songs, which lean towards folk and country style. Many of her songs have won awards at the national caving convention; most recently, "Why, Why, Whitenose," about whitenose syndrome; a fungus that is killing bats. In addition to serving as the booking agent for Third Street Coffeehouse, she works full time as the Public Affairs Officer at the Salem Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. Marian can be reached at marian.mcconnell@gmail.com or (540) 309-4707.

Larry Sakayama Larry Sakayama started playing guitar when he was in high school. After playing for two months and not being able to make that F chord ring, he thought it was hopeless – until, at a school dance, he saw a classmate playing that F chord. He thought, “if that guy can do it, anyone can,” and he’s been playing and writing ever since. Larry’s playing style runs from folk to rock, jazz to classical. His songs are sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, but mostly irrelevant. Today, when he’s not playing a guitar, he’s making one (www.blackwaterriverguitars.com). He lives with his wife, Sally, in Wirtz, VA. Larry is the current president of SVSA.

David Simpkins Radford, Virginia-based performing songwriter David Simpkins has been actively entertaining audiences for over 35 years — starting with 22 years in cover bands. Since 2000, David has been focusing on writing and performing his own Americana-style songs. He was a finalist in the Appalachian Fair "Best Unknown Country Songwriter" contest in 2000 and was the winner of the Floydfest Showcase Stage "Best Song" in 2002. David plays regular solo acoustic gigs, and has performed at numerous songwriters-in-the-round events, festivals, benefits, celebrations, songwriters’ nights, and open mics. His music has been played locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on a number of commercial, public, and internet radio stations. David's web site is www.davidsimpkins.com.

Randolph Walker Randolph Walker was born in Richmond, Virginia and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His musical taste was formed by the popular music of the mid to late 60s. A singer, songwriter, arranger, audio/video producer, poet, and multi-instrumentalist, Walker has recorded a solo guitar/harmonica CD, "Across the Blue Mountains," featuring folk tunes of the British Isles along with his own compositions. With his folk-rock band he has recorded a CD, "City of Statues," featuring his own songs as well as songs by other SVSA members. Randolph's website is www.randolphwalker.com.

Visit the Southwest Virginia Songwriters Association at www.svsasongs.com.