MUSIC NOTES

 TENNESSEE SONGWRITERS WEEK INVOLVES HUNDREDS OF SONGWRITERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE

in 2023. With their support, this year’s concert will help hundreds of children have the opportunity to hear the Good News of God’s love.”

The work of the CEF involves several programs, including its most notable, the Good News Clubs. In partnership with local churches, Good News Clubs are held in local schools and other community venues to bring the Gospel to children who may not have the opportunity to hear about God’s love in any other way. A typical club includes a variety of activities such as engaging Bible lessons, songs, crafts and missionary stories, all focused on teaching children Biblical principles in a way that they can clearly understand.

Admission to the Feb. 25 Nashville Praise Symphony concert is free, but a love offering will be collected in support of local Good News Clubs and other CEF of Middle Tennessee ministries.

For more information, contact Joy Evans at 615244-4373 or info@cefmiddletennessee.com or visit cefmiddletennessee.com.

QUALIFYING ROUNDS IN 50 LIVE MUSIC VENUES throughout Tennessee will determine the final participants in the fifth annual Tennessee Songwriters Week showcase events, to be held Feb. 19–25. The project gives songwriters in all musical genres the chance to perform their best original works before a live audience and panel of judges.

Harvester Event Center in Smithville will host a qualifying round concert on Thursday, Feb. 2, and Common John Brewing Co. in Manchester presents its Tennessee Songwriters Week preliminary contest on Saturday, Feb. 4. Hop Springs in Murfreesboro and Carpe Cafe in Smyrna will also participate as 2023 qualifying round venues.

Select songwriters from qualifying rounds will advance to seven showcase events in Memphis, Franklin, Gallatin, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Gatlinburg and Johnson City during Songwriters Week, Feb. 19–25.

Then, one winning songwriter will be selected by a panel of judges to play their original work at The Bluebird Cafe on March 26. In 2022, Maura Streppa received top Tennessee Songwriters Week honors.

Presented by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Tennessee Songwriters Week celebrates arguably the state’s biggest export to the world—music. For more information, visit tnsongwritersweek.com.

 SIX AREA GROUPS PLAY BATTLE OF THE BANDS AT WASHINGTON THEATRE, FEB. 4

WASHINGTON THEATRE at Patterson Park will present the Murfreesboro Battle of the Bands on Saturday, Feb 4. The one-night competition will feature live performances from six local bands: Kid Romantic, Water Street, Juliet’s Apartment, Hexproof, Racecars and Outpost.

“Our goal is to help promote the local music scene with a show full of original music,” according to Dale Shackleford with the Washington Theatre. “This is our second battle; we are setting it up to be an annual competition.”

The six local bands will compete for a grand prize of $500.

Music kicks off at 7 p.m., with doors at 6:30. Tickets are $10. Washington Theatre is located in Patterson Park Community Center, 521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Murfreesboro. For more on this and other upcoming performing arts events at the community theater, find The Washington Theatre Murfreesboro on Facebook.