Host & Workshop Instructor
Workshop Instructor
Workshop Instructor
*Participants are encouraged but not required to perform a piece of work at the festival.
Friday 4/25/25 | What | Location |
|---|---|---|
10 – 10:15 am | Check-in | Lobby/ Gallery |
10:15 – 10:30 am | Participant Meet & Greet / Ice Breaker / Tour | Lobby/ Gallery, Studios, oCS |
10:30 am – 12 pm | Loop It w/ Rita Hosking | Studio 1 |
12 – 1 pm | Lunch | Lobby/ Gallery |
1 – 2:30 pm | Receiving Song w/ Ayla Nereo | Studio 1 |
2:30 – 3:30 pm | Practice/ Free Time | Studios |
3:30 – 5 pm | Learning To Audit Your Creative Process w/ Justin Farren | Studio 1 |
5 – 7 pm | Free Time | Studios |
7 – 8 pm | Doors open to public | Lobby/ Gallery |
8 – 10:20 pm | Concert: Ayla Nereo w/ Child Mosey opening | Main Stage |
Saturday 4/26/25 | What | Location |
|---|---|---|
9 am – 7 pm | Practice Rooms Open | Studios |
10 am – 12 pm | Small Group Song Workshopping | Studios, OCS |
12 – 1 pm | Lunch | Lobby/ Gallery |
1 – 2:30 pm | Getting Unstuck w/ Laurie Lewis | Studio 1 |
2:30 – 3 pm | Movement break | |
3 – 4:30 pm | Getting The Song Across w/ Laurie Lewis | Studio 1 |
4:30 – 7 pm | Practice/ Free Time | |
7 – 8 pm | Doors open to public | Lobby |
8 – 10:15 pm | Concert: Iris DeMent w/ Ana Egge opening | Main Stage |
Sunday 4/27/25 | What | Location |
|---|---|---|
9 am – 5 pm | Practice Rooms Open | Studios |
10 am – 12 pm | Small Group Song Workshopping | Studios, OCS |
12 – 1 pm | Lunch | Lobby/ Gallery |
1 – 2:30 pm | Technical Production and Stage Orientation w/ Conrad Sisk | Main Stage |
2:30 – 4:30 pm | Practice/ Free Time | Studios, OCS |
4:30 – 5 pm | Doors open to public | Lobby/ Gallery |
5 – 7 pm | Songwriters Stage Time Performances | Main Stage |
Finding new sounds with the help of your new friends – a group activity that explores rhythm, lyric, melody play, together.
In a wavy world where we often struggle to swim, singer-songwriter Rita Hosking paddles up and canoes us through black holes, sinks of dirty dishes, demo-derbies, and wildfires until we’re safe at shore. She’s got the spirit, and she knows how to reach ours through her grace, heart, chops, and spunk. With award-winning music spanning 9 albums and 20 years of touring, this country-folk troubadour is a heavy hitter in the Northern California songwriting scene.
An in-person workshop with international artist Ayla Nereo, who will share her vast array of tools and practices for expanding the creative channel, sparking inspiration, getting into receptivity, and co-creating songs in the moment. Included is a very special demo from Ayla, sharing a unique behind the scenes look into her process of songwriting in real time, and collaboratively creating a song together, live.
Bring your snippets of songs and let’s see what might happen to them if we let them go. Bring paper, writing utensil, and instrument of your choice.
We will delve into the aspects that can make a song sink or swim, when it’s time to share it with the outside world.
For nearly four decades, Laurie Lewis has gathered fans and honors for her powerful and emotive voice and her versatile, dynamic songwriting. She is a sought-after recording producer and an equally skilled teacher and mentor.
And she is an inspiration and a ground-breaker – across genres, across geography and across gender barriers.
“Audit” doesn’t have to be a scary word. Creating something new involves making countless small decisions. Let’s spend some time figuring out WHY we make the decisions we make. Stuck in a rut? Let’s see if we can find a fun way out. We’ll focus on strategies to open ourselves up to new directions on guitar and in our lyric writing. No shoebox of receipts required.
Justin Farren writes multidimensional songs that are both enchanting and seemingly effortless. Songs that are uniquely personal but endlessly inventive and highly relatable. Songs filled with the kind of sudden twists and turns that you never see coming but will never forget. Rich Warren of Folk Stage Chicago said “Justin Farren is an incredibly original artist with a lot of verve and energy and a terrific guitarist. He will absolutely charm you with the strange humor and cleverness of his lyrics.”
Learn the basics of what it takes to perform on a professional stage with the assistance of technical staff. This workshop is a practical introduction to prepare for the New Songs Stage Time performance on Sunday evening.
Jim Bruno’s songs have been recorded by Grammy Winner Shawn Colvin, Chuck Prophet, Thad Cockrell, Mary Lou Lord, Cliff Eberhardt, Maurice Tani and Laurie MacAlister. He’s shared the stage with Shawn Colvin, Timothy B Schmidt, Graham Parker and more, and he taught songwriting at Foothill College and at the Freight and Salvage. One of his students at Foothill College was Mult-Grammy Winner, Molly Tuttle.
Bio coming soon
Eli Conley is a folk/country singer-songwriter, teaching artist, and activist based in Sacramento. He makes music for queer and trans folks, justice seekers, and anyone who doesn’t fit in a box. Eli’s voice is tender and heartfelt, with melodies that can leave you teary-eyed yet hopeful. As a queer transgender man from the South, his songs tell stories that aren’t always reflected in roots music.
Juliet’s original songs range from tongue and cheek, to socially relevant, to love and loss. A mulit-instrumentalist, she’s performed at many of California’s premier music festivals, and taken part in several songwriters’ workshops, sharing her insights and methods. Juliet has recorded five CDs of heartfelt original tunes and is on stage in several groups ranging from Old Time Celtic, Back Porch Americana, Vintage Rock n Roll and Grateful Dead covers.
Jim Bruno
Peter Wilson
Hannah Jane Kile
Velvy Appleton
Paul Kamm
Royal Wood
Festival Cancellation / Refund Policy
Due to limited attendance and availability, we cannot guarantee refunds for attendee cancellation requests. Under no circumstances will we be responsible for refunds for airline, hotel, or car reservations. We reserve the right to change or cancel any speaker, instructor, performer or session without notice.
