YOUR AD HERE »

Aspen Songwriters Festival debuts in September

Aspen Times staff reportAspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN – Acoustic music pioneer Sam Bush, Psychedelic Furs singer Richard Butler, New Orleans icon Allen Toussaint and legendary writer Jeff Barry will join Woody Creek musician John Oates in the inaugural 7908′: The Aspen Songwriters Festival (the number is a reference to Aspen’s elevation). The festival, presented by the Wheeler Opera House and hosted by Oates, is set to debut Sept. 16-19 at the Wheeler, with additional concerts at other Aspen venues.Among the feature presentations are individual concerts by Butler and Toussaint; an evening featuring Bush, Oates and singer-guitarist David Bromberg; a Nashville Songwriters Circle with Jeff Black, Gary Burr, Jim Lauderdale and Suzi Ragsdale; and a tribute to Barry, whose songwriting credits include “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “Then He Kissed Me” and “River Deep, Mountain High.”Also scheduled are the New Voices Songwriting Circle, with Jill Andrews, Nathan McEuen, Reed Waddle and Mason Reed; a songwriting workshop with Jeff Barry; and performances by singer-songwriter Tift Merritt, and by the duo The Bird & the Bee, whose latest album is a tribute to the songs of Hall & Oates.For further information, go to 7908aspensongwritersfest.com.