River City Studios engineer Kenton Giar hopes the ‘in-the-round’ sessions in downtown Grand Rapids will help nurture West Michigan’s songwriting scene and build talent.
Songwriters Night: Holland’s Olivia Mainville will be part of the first in-the-round event at Waldron Public House in Grand Rapids. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Impressed by the musical talent produced in West Michigan, songwriter and recording engineer Kenton Giar hopes to showcase and nurture that on a regular basis.
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Seeking to Showcase Songwriting Variety: Kenton Giar
So on Tuesday night at the Waldron Public House in downtown Grand Rapids, Giar – who left Nashville recently to move back home to Grand Rapids where he was born – will host the first Songwriters Night at Waldron.
“There’s a lot of talent in Grand Rapids and this is a way for people get their songs out to others and help them build their talent,” explained Giar, studio representative and engineer for River City Studios in Grand Rapids.
Starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, the first two-hour “in-the-round” session will feature songwriters
Olivia Mainville, Kayla Miles, Phillip Bennett, Mike Schmuck and Zach & Melina.
Giar said he expect 30 to 40 people to attend the first event. Although Giar would like to host the sessions every Tuesday night, he said he may stage them every other week “until there’s enough interest to justify” weekly sessions.
The Waldron Public House
Giar worked with songwriters in Nashville for four years and he’s been a studio engineer for about six years. With his background in studio engineering, producing and collaborating as a writer, he said his intent is to help expand and build the songwriting community in Grand Rapids.
At the showcase, there will be sign-up sheets for other musicians interested in performing at Songwriters Night at Waldron, or songwriters can email Giar at kenton@rivercitystudios.com.
“I don’t want it to turn into the same people playing every week,” he said. “I like variety.”
Songwriters Night at Waldron will take place from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at the Waldron Public House, 58 Ionia Ave. SW. Admission is free. Get more details online here.
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