TN Songwriters Week Recap Pt. 2
Read Part 1 of my Recap here.
After being chosen to advance from the Qualifying Round at The Commodore Hotel in Linden, TN, I had a few weeks to prepare for a trip down to Franklin, Tennessee for the Showcase round. The six Showcase rounds actually take place during the official, state-recognized “Tennessee Songwriters Week” and are held at six historic music venues across the state.
Pucketts Grocery in Franklin was chosen as the single venue that would host the 15 qualifying round winners for Middle Tennessee. Pucketts is known as a premier music venue for songwriters and has become famous for being the place that pop culture and country music star Jimmie Allen was discovered.
The Showcase - February 20th @ Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant in Franklin, TN
On February 20th, we made our way down to Franklin (about 40 minutes south of Nashville) and I was more anxious than I’ve been in a long time. It was a pleasant surprise to see my friend, Amber Sweeney, had made it to the Showcase by way of a different qualifying round. We checked in with Jill Kilgore, the visionary behind the entire week and contest at the TN Department of Tourist Development.
Just like the previous performance, I was billed as fourth to perform. After the first three performers got up and presented their song, I quickly realized this would be a very difficult round to come out on top. Throughout the performances I was trying to slow down the runaway freight train that was my breathing. When it was finally my turn, I strapped up my acoustic, winded my way through crowded tables, and stepped onto the stage.
The bright stage lights were shining and the room fell silent. I told my story of how I wrote “I Will Remember” and who I wrote the song with before dedicating it to my grandmother. From the moment my fingers plucked the first note I was in the zone. Sometimes as an artist you fall into this euphoric dance with an audience when you know you have them wrapped around your finger. You’re able to bring them high and low with you, side to side, and dry eyed to teary. My voice held strong, my playing was tight, and my heart sang. As my performance came to an end it was as if the entire room needed to exhale from the ride we took together. Then… a huge applause erupted from the crowd. The MC came over and hugged me, thanking me for the song and I was given the nod of approval by each competitor which is songwriter code for ‘respect’. Now we wait.
Last to perform was my friend Amber Sweeney (@theambersweeney) who I’ve performed with at The Listening Room Cafe and has a voice as soulful as church on Sunday morning. She let her soul sing with incredible power and range. Amber brought down the house one final time.
And then it was time for the judges to deliberate.
Once again the five minutes it took the judges to make a decision felt like an hour, but a winner had been determined. BUT then the judges couldn’t decide who was going to deliver the news to the audience! At first the MC got on stage, then Jill, then the judges reconvened quick while we all sat impatiently waiting. Finally, Liana Alpino from the Bluebird Cafe got up on stage and began her long finale speech. After she went down a long list of sponsors and thank you’s, and other Bluebird Cafe news, the words finally came, “The winner of this showcase round is… Jacob Rice!”
I was immediately swept onto the stage and presented with a brand new, commemorative Taylor guitar. I was asked to perform an encore song, and then took photos with a group of state employees, representatives and event organizers.
Francesca and I went home and popped open a nice bottle of champagne to mark the special occasion!
The Finale - March 20th @ The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, tn
On March 20th, we celebrated with the other 5 Showcase winners at the legendary Bluebird Cafe. We each played our winning song as well as two others in a room full of state employees, event organizers, the venue owners of the qualifying rounds where we each won, music industry heavy-weights, and our dear friends and family. I invited a new friend from the Alzheimer’s Association TN Chapter to attend the Finale with Francesca. Because of this competition, I have been connected with them and hope to become an advocate for awareness and fundraising for Alzheimer’s research and treatment. (You can read more more about what I am doing with them here.)
It was a night I truly will not forget.
With the close of this amazing experience I would like to send a big thank you to my dear friend and co-writer Mark Elliott (@markelliottcreative) who helped bring this song to life. I will never forget that warm sunny day in April, sitting on his back porch enjoying one of the most beautiful days I’ve ever experienced in Nashville. It’s almost as if God was listening in.
