Tullahoma Songwriter's Circle
Welcome! Here is our Promise! We at the TSC will support and promote our local songwriters in their songwriting endeavors. If you are writing, we are listening!!
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Please patronize our most generous hosts, The Sweet Aroma Cafe, The Celtic Cup, and the Viola Valley Country Store & Restaurant. They have wonderful menus and are allowing us to hold our Circles at their establishments. Please treat them well!
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A circle, defined, is never ending As hands on the face of a clock, ticking strong And words can take on different meanings It's how you interpret the song
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And so when our circle gathers This place where we all can belong We can learn and nurture and know each other As we grow our circle of songs
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So let the music move your soul As we let the lyrics flow and let us make it very clear you're always welcome 'round here!
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The Tullahoma Songwriter's Circle was started by Sherry Lawson and Kathy Martin, two singer/songwriters who were living in Tullahoma and felt there was a need for a better outlet for songwriters -- one that would give them a chance to try out their material and perform their songs in public. So they approached Pat Wimsatt, who at the time ran Sweet Aroma Cafe, and the rest, as they say, is history. Inception began December 6th, 2006. We proudly support our local songwriters and urge all who are in the area to drop by on any Circle night and please cheerfully and enthusiastically do the same! Now being hosted by Kathy Martin and James Bell.
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Calling all Local Songwriters
Tullahoma Songwriter’s Circle
Every first (1st) FRIDAY evening of the month, 5:30 to 7:30pm
at the Viola Valley Country Store and Restaurant, 8852 Viola Rd, Viola, TN
Every second (2nd) FRIDAY evening of every month, 6 to 9pm
at The Celtic Cup Coffee House, 106 North Anderson Street, Tullahoma, TN
Every third (3rd) TUESDAY evening of every month, 6 to 8pm
at The Sweet Aroma Café, 401 Wilson Avenue, Tullahoma, TN
 | | These "meetings" are open to the public! Performances start promptly!
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 | | We will make every effort to get songwriters who show up a chance to play! But DO let |
| | us know if you want to play! If we have to guess, sometimes we're distracted with other people or performing ourselves... we sure don't want to miss anyone -- so speak up to one of us that's running the Circle that night. :)
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 | | A $1 donation will be appreciated from all who attend (there's a jar); this is to defray |
| | administration and advertising costs in support of The Tullahoma Songwriter’s Circle. Circle nights are open to everyone!
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 | | We are listening! So we respectfully ask that YOU respect the performers and please |
| | refrain from talking during the performances! It's hard enough to get up in front of people and play, it would be nice if everyone could hear what the players have to offer! That also means – please try to turn the cell phones off!! We realize there are emergency situations, but please refrain from holding loud conversations during the music!
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 | | FYI - the Coker’s Building is a non-smoking establishment, so at Sweet Aroma - take it |
| | outside!
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 | | We want to keep these live music situations... so... bring your own instruments! We |
| | do not usually have a set up to play taped accompaniment. Although we will provide the mics and cords and a music stand, as far as instruments go, please bring what you intend to play.
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 | | If you do not play an instrument and are a lyricist and would like to read your lyrics, we |
| | are open to that! Tullahoma Songwriter’s Circle is a networking organization and you will meet some songwriters who would be interested in partnering with you to turn your lyrics into songs! Have some nice music but no lyrics? Same works....
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 | | Applause is definitely allowed! :)
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 | | Please take care of our hosts - they are generously providing us a place to hold our |
| | Circles! They have great foods and beverages so come hungry & thirsty! :)
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On the Horizon…
We may need minimal yearly dues fees at some point in the future, however, for now, the $1
at the door will hopefully be enough. Some ideas for member’s privileges:
 | | Songwriting "round tables" -- Ask us more!
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 | | Access to our members info/websites available to The Circle
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 | | Opportunities to perform in Showcases at The Circles or at chosen places set up |
| | specifically for TSC performances – Showcases would require you to do several of your songs as a "program" – with guests if you’d like - basically, the stage would be yours! Something to work toward.
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 | | The ability to promote your personal websites via links on the TSC website pages. Also |
| | to promote CDs or current projects via those links.
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 | | Looking to the future, after some time, we plan to do a “Best of the Circle” CD and |
| | choose some of our best and brightest members to do cuts on a compilation CD recording to commemorate our time together!
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 | | More great ideas to come from YOU, Circle members. We would love to know your |
| | thoughts and comments!
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I hope you realize you are ON my website! :) but in case you are lost, click here and go to my home page or send me an email at the address below.
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TSC News...
- 03/07/10 - I have VERY SAD NEWS to pass on.... :( Our friend and host from The Sweet Aroma Cafe, Barbara Burch, has passed away. She was ill with cancer, and succumbed at Harton Hospital on
Sunday. Our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt sympathies are with Barbara's family and friends. Visitation is at Tullahoma Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 9th from 5-8pm. The funeral will be on Wednesday. She will be missed!!
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- 03/05/10 - What a wonderful evening at The Viola Valley Country Store & Restaurant! We had an amazing time, the food was GREAT! :) and we even surprised James with some new "groupie" T-
shirts! :) A really fun time was had by all, and we can't wait to be back again. Thanks to Judy & Harold for the hospitality!
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- 03/03/10 - Check out the pics from the night at THE TATER BOX (scroll to the bottom of the page). :) :) :)
- 02/27/10 - We had a wonderful night of songs and fun at THE TATER BOX! Thanks to the crew there that made us feel so welcome! And the great news: They'd like us to come back to visit! So we
are schedule to be there again on Friday, April 30th. As soon as we get the pics that were taken that night, we'll be posting them on this page, and THE TATER BOX will post on their website as well! :) :) :)
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- We've been invited to play on Saturday, February 27th, 6 to 8pm, at a new venue: THE TATER BOX. It's another out-of-the-way little place (directions are listed above - look for the potato guy!) with great
food and nice people! They are really looking forward to us being there, and have promised an enthusiastic crowd! :) We'd love to make a good impression on this first performance - and they are willing to work with us as to finding a better day to hold our Circle (Saturday nights are bad for some of us...) Please make an effort to come out and support the TSC at THE TATER BOX.
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- Ok - I'm a little behind on the updates here - I'm blaming it on the snow! :)
- 02/05/10 - Viola was wonderful - as usual! Trapper popped in and sang us a song before he and James were scheduled to perform at a benefit for Haitian relief down the road. Shawn was able to
sing go a few rounds with us before she was called away for her day job. I have to give a big THANK YOU to Audrey, who gave me a lift to my truck! :) If you haven't come out to The Viola Valley Country Store and Restaurant yet - please make the effort! They have great food, and the staff could NOT be nicer to us! :)
- 02/12/10 - Our Friday at the Celtic Cup went very well, even though only James and I were there to perform. But the crowd was attentive and generous! Members: don't forget us on that 2nd Friday --
The Celtic Cup is a wonderfully intimate place to play -- a very conducive venue! Please check it out!!!
- 02/16/10 - Sweet Aroma was so much FUN!!!!! Our newest member, Jerry, came and wowed us with his guitar work. We had 6 other songwriters in attendance and we had the best time playing,
singing harmonies, and listening to the back-stories!!!! Those of us that were there are really looking forward to our SA session next month!! Come on out - bring some friends! :)
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- 01/19/10 - We had a great night at Sweet Aroma! Songwriter favorites, prospective new members, and loyal listeners! :) Let's keep it going!
- The Tullahoma News came before the night started and did an interview for the Circle. The article appeared in the paper on Sunday, 1/24/10. Check it out in the TSC News below!
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- 01/01/2010 -- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! We're beginning our 3rd year as the Tullahoma Songwriter's Circle! We invite you to invite all your friends to come out and support local songwriters on any Circle
night we are performing! Of course, we hope YOU will be performing as well! Best Wishes to all for a wonderful 2010! See you soon!
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TSC Press...
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the photos. Some of our first press!
This was our first ad in print! It was in Tullahoma's
Monday Market for the week of December 6th.
Article in The Saturday Independent out of
Manchester, TN, dated December 9, 2006...
Article in The Tullahoma News, LifeStyles
section, dated December 15, 2006...
TSC Member Links
As we get them, I will be adding member links to this part of the Circle page on my website. Sherry has a link on her website to this page.
Members who want them listed will have links on both our websites and so two different places people will be able to find them! Two -
Two - Two links in one! :) If you have a bio and/or a photo that you would like posted, please send that to either Sherry or me and we will
be glad to add that info to your listing!
Official Number of Members: 55
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Richard has some lyrics... he'd like to see if anyone
would be interested in putting some music to
them.... click on the thumbnail to view, and contact
Richard directly if you have any interest.
Zach Kerber
Singer/Songwriter
email: tba
931-581-8545
Other Helpful Links/Phone #s/Information
for TSC Members
KK's Music - Tullahoma: 931-455-2255
Horns, Strings & Things: 931-455-1002
Monday Market: 931-455-8584
Channel 6: 931-393-0081
The Do's & Don'ts of Music Row by Liz Hengber... this is a picture of the
cover of a book one of our members recommends as having helpful info.
K. Martin & S. Lawson©2007
Daryl Speights
"Pseudo" singer/songwriter/guitarist
email: N/A
931-968-5064
Mark Woodard
Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist
email: N/A
Phone: N/A
Ad in the Monday Market for the week of
March 5th, 2007 for Sweet Aroma,
mentioning the Songwriter's Circle.
If you're looking for a great place to get your
demo recording done, Azalea has great rates
and a wonderful staff! Check out their
website and give 'em a call!
(The copyright office at the Library of Congress)
Flip-ad that ran on
local Channel 6...
Michael Nelson
Songwriter/Sound Engineer, Guitar, Bass, Percussion/Drums
mnelson0913@hotmail.com
615-584-5840 (mobile)
Sherry and I had a very nice time at Meyers Pond a family owned catch-and-release pond on Saturday, May 5th Here's their website for more details about their place: www.myerspond.com or click on the thumbnails to see their flier They have graciously offered to add our website link to their website, so we can only do the same! If you fish -- check 'em out! :)
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Sherry, James Bell and I have done a "Thunder" radio promotional jingle for Scott and Tiffany for WMSR
1320 AM, and they've asked us to help with a couple more. This is all to promote the Circle and to get the
word out to more songwriters that we're at Sweet Aroma every week and hoping they'll pass the word
along! Hope you'll listen! Click on the logo to go to the radio station's streaming on-line link! And if
anyone hears us -- LET US KNOW. We'd like to see if it's working.... =\
TSC Goes Green! Regarding
the rally held June 9, 2007...
Lee Lancaster
Singer/Songwriter/Guitar
email: tba
931-728-2356
Check out the Code Of Conduct for
Songwriters by Nancy Moran:
Flip-ad.... (07/07)
If you would like to be a member of the Tullahoma Songwriter's Circle, just send me an email with your name, email address, websiite (if you have one), phone number(s), and what you would like us to post for you (Singer/Songwriter for example). If you would like a picture posted, send that along as well! This way other members or other musicians surfing the web can contact you. Or - if you would like to be considered a member but NOT be posted here -- we can do that too. Just send me the info with a note to please NOT post your information to the website.
Send me your info at: kmmartin_7@yahoo.com
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Congratulations to David and Vickie - who were married on February 23rd, 2008 in
New Mexico! Maybe we'll see you again on your way through TN. Best Wishes!!!
Flip-ad... (09/07)
Sherry and I also did the Old Timers Day gig for WMSR on Sept. 29th, 2007. It was HOT! :) So we're hoping we are getting the word out - at least locally - that the TSC is here to stay! :)
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Flip-ad... (11/07)
The Songwriter's Resource Network - a news and education resource
for aspiring songwriters working on their craft.
Yes, this is THE Bluebird Cafe, the one you've seen in the
movies and heard about! :)
Friends of the Circle
This space is for any one who supports the Tullahoma Songwriter's Circle, and who would like to
post their information for the membership, their friends and fans.
This is The Folk Club of Reston-Herndon Virginia, to which I belonged for years.
Though I don't know if I'll ever get back there to perform on their stage, I still hope I
will... their acceptance of me is what got me back into writing... so I'm ever so
grateful to them and the membership!
If you are ever in the Washington DC/Virginia area on a Tuesday evening, you
should check them out!
Sherry and I were kindly invited to play at the Bell Buckle Cafe and we enjoyed it very much. We
encourage our songwriters to venture out and try their chops there as well! And the invitation is open
to any of the Bell Buckle songwriters to please be our guest at Sweet Aroma and come share your
talents here as well. Spread the wealth, I say!! :) :) Best way to get your material heard by different
people, and you just never know who will be there when! :)
Celebrating our 3rd ANNIVERSARY
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Another local live music venue that has an open mic type set up on Saturday nights in Belvidere, TN.
They were very gracious hosts to me when I went to visit, and they've popped in on us as well at
Sweet Aroma... Friends of the Circle, the Market is a unique and wonderfully inviting place to play!
Earth Day Celebration
April 19, 2008
This is a very cool site -- they are a not for profit songwriter's camp based in California. For any of
you who might be vacationing in that area, or just maybe want to travel out for some adventures in
songwriting... you might want to check this out! :)
Now on 105.5 FM in the mornings -- LIVE in Tullahoma at the Northgate Shopping Center! They have a beautiful new set up right in the mall! See Scott & Tiff do New & Views! Pay them a visit, and tell them THE CIRCLE SENT YOU!
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The Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra is actively recuriting all who are interested,
and after attending their First Season Spring Concert, if you have the time and
the inkling -- you'd be nutz not to participate! It was heart-warming to hear the
range and extent of the talent that Jim and Inge have gathered here! Do yourself
a favor and visit this website to see for yourself!
Sherry's long awaited 2nd CD is available at CD Baby... you can click on the links above to listen and order your very own copy!
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Get your music played! A format
similar to MySpace - make friends in
the biz... very cool site!! Check it out!!
Click these thumbnails
to see info re: a
Summer Workshop...
Look what I found while surfing the web!
Check out the site for the latest info!
Friend of the Circle, Bobby Holt, told us about this songwriting contest last year.
Here's where you can check it out for this year..... and see the great article they sent
me by email (click on the thumbnails).
Spectrum Audio is one of the Internet's leading pro audio equipment retailers. Offering
everything from professional audio equipment, recording gear, computer software for music,
musical instruments and supplies, Spectrumaudio.com is a one-stop shop for gear!
One more place for connecting....
Our good friends, David and Glenda Clark,
and their activities.... :)
Hi everyone,
Jason Shields will be interviewing me next Wednesday, July 30 at 7pm on a live online radio station. We'll be talking about my new
and old music and about following your dreams and ignoring your age. The show will be archived too so if you can't listen on
Wednesday you can tune in anytime after 9pm that night and hear it. Here's the address to go to at 7:00 this Wednesday:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Harbor-of-Light
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/Harbor-of-Light
(If the first address doesn't work, please try the second)
I'm sure I'll be a little nervous and so will appreciate you all "being there".
Thanks, Sherry
Here's
where you
can listen
to Sherry's
interview...
Click on the thumbnail to see a
newer promo flyer!
CONGRATULATIONS! James Bell took 2nd place at the Dottie West Songwriting Contest in McMinnville, TN on October 11, 2008
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PHOTOS from Previous Events
Our alternate logo... :)
LOOK!
Kathy,
I have a friend that has a really nice acoustic guitar for sale. It does have built in Fishman electronics. Sounds great and is in almost new condition. He has it posted
at the moment on Craig’s List (link included below). I was wondering if you could forward this on to the other members to see if anyone is interested or might know
someone that is. He doesn’t have the time for it and usually uses his electric to play. I have included some photos and the link the Craig’s Listing. I am sure that he
would be willing to consider any reasonable offer.
Thanks,
Mike Nelson
Sr. Systems/Network Engineer
IST, LLC
mnelson@istnow.com
CONTACT:
Clay Walton [mailto:cwalton@aerosatusa.com]
Dispatch Lead/Siebel Operations Training
ODU Validation Supervisor
W: 866-461-7638 EXT. 306
C: 931-434-0501
Craigslist link:
https://accounts.craigslist.org/post/shwpst?pii=912930874&db=lv
HOME IMPROVEMENT and YARD MAINTENANCE SERVICES Call Gary Crowell at 931-247-8501
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FYI --- 3/16/09 -- Sherry Lawson will be taking a little break from the music for a while... so don't panic if you haven't seen her around... she'll stay in touch and come back to the Circle when her schedule permits! :) In the meantime, James and I will carry on! :) :) :) See you soon! Kathy
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Sweet Aroma Cafe
401 Wilson Avenue (in the Coker's Building) Tullahoma, TN 931-461-5535
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The Celtic Cup Coffee House
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106 North Anderson St.
Tullahoma, TN 37388
931-563-7733
LOOK!
Kathy was on stage at The Belvidere Market on Saturday, August 29th. Thanks to Ginger for all the fun and hospitality! ;) Next Date: TBA
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Kathy performs at The Second Avenue Cafe in Cowan, TN Next Date - February 25th 7-9pm
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A nod to the TSC in the Opinion Page of the
Tullahoma News and Guardian, May 13, 2009
... and a new logo just for "The Cup"
Click on this logo link to read the TSC News
Archives for comments from 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Click on this logo link to read the TSC News
Archives for comments from 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Members James Bell and Trapper Haskins appeared togehter at Jo Jo's Java on July 25th. Check it out!
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James plays solo and with other friends in and around the area... check out his MySpace page for more details and to listen to some of his great songs!
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DIRECTIONS TO THE VIOLA VALLEY COUNTRY
STORE & RESTAURANT
From Tullahoma:
Distance: 31.38 mi Time: 48 mins
1. Starting in TULLAHOMA, TN on N JACKSON
ST go toward W LINCOLN ST - go 0.5 mi
2. Turn Left on E CARROLL ST(TN-55) - go 2.7
mi
3. Continue to follow TN-55 - go 21.6 mi
4. Turn Right on TN-287 - go 4.9 mi
5. Turn Right on VIOLA RD(TN-108) - go 1.4 mi
6. Continue to follow TN-108 - go 0.2 mi
7. Arrive at the center of VIOLA, TN
Follow 108 into Viola from Hillsboro -- the store
is not in Viola proper, but about 1 1/2 miles
outside going toward McMinnville past the Viola
Valley Community Center and is on the left side
of 108.
A couple of nights at Sweet Aroma
TSC at the Celtic Cup
Shawn, Kathy and James
Marilyn, Kathy, James and Eric
Sein, Shawn, James and Kathy
James and Kathy
The Circle in Viola....
Indian Flute player (sorry - didn't get his name)
Our first Circle in Viola... with Trapper, James, Kathy and Shawn
Sherry, Aaron, and our most loyal fans :)
Lawrence Zagranis
Singer/Songwriter/Life-Saver-with-a-sound system! :)
lezzag@msn.com
931-247-7950
Feature article in the
Tullahoma News (01/24/10)
Directions to the Tater Box for Friday, April 30, 2010.
* Take Hwy 53 (Woodbury Hwy) in Manchester to Pocahontas
community-----approx 9.2 miles on Hwy 53.
* Turn Left on Hwy 280 (Gnat Hill Rd) approx 4.5 miles you will
come to a 4 way stop.
* Tater Box is on the corner of 4 way stop. Corner of Noah Rd
and Hoo Doo Rd., Gnat Hill Rd (Hwy 280) and Fredonia Rd.
(It's a total of about 20 minutes - 15 miles - from Manchester. )
Click on this Tater Guy to go to THE TATER BOX website
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A Circle night at THE TATER BOX...
Bard Fisher
Singer/Songwriter/Guitar
931-394-3343
Barbara Burch August 24, 1948 - March 7, 2010
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