ABOUT US      
By Cyndy Montgomery Reeves (Founder)

 I attended the 16th Annual Key West Songwriter’s Festival while I was in Key West Spring of 2011. When I first saw a banner promoting the Key West Songwriter’s Festival I thought to myself, “what is this? A songwriters’ festival doesn’t belong in Key West, it belongs in the Smoky Mountains where bluegrass, country and old time music originated”. Even all the songwriters I met in Key West asked me, when I told them where I was from, why didn’t we have a songwriter’s festival in the Smoky Mountains?

Gatlinburg is the perfect place for such an event, especially since these Appalachian Mountains have such a long, rich and deep history of pickers, singers, and songwriters. Upon arriving home I immediately met with the City of Gatlinburg’s Special Events Director, George Hawkins suggesting that we start a Smoky Mountains Songwriter’s Festival and he agreed.

Join us in “Celebrating Our Appalachian Musical Roots” at the second Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival Aug. 15-18, 2013 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee – The Gateway to The Great Smoky Mountains where bluegrass, country and ole time music originated!
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The Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival will be held during August every year to "Celebrate Our Appalachian Musical Roots". The craft of songwriting from the songwriters themselves will fill venues with ongoing performances for three days in downtown Gatlinburg. There will also be a songwriting workshop, songwriting contest and even a Runnin’ & Strummin’ 5K Run. SMSWF has been endorsed by the City of Gatlinburg as a Special Event.

The Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival is a platform for songwriters to perform their original songs. You will recognize many of these songs from the “Hit” lists. The songwriter not only performs but tells you the story behind the song. It is one of the greatest entertainment venues you will ever see. Public Invited. Lots of free live entertainment in downtown Gatlinburg.

The mission of The Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival is to promote songwriters and to help their songs to be discovered not only by publishers and producers but; by all of us, who simply love the songwriter’s songs that the stars perform. Bring your instruments and your songs or just yourself as one who appreciates good music. There will be open jam spots available for all musicians.

Participation in the Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival can come about three different ways.
1. By Invitation
2. By purchasing a SMSWF Stage Spot thru an Audition process
3. By entering the SMSWF Songwriters Contest