The Mississippi Songwriters Festival will feature hit songwriters Bryan Kennedy and Ken Hart and more
The Mississippi Songwriters Alliance is returning to the Delta for the fourth Mississippi Songwriters Festival – Delta Region satellite festival in Cleveland on May 15-16 at GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi.
The Mississippi Songwriters Festival – Delta Region, with support from Visit Mississippi and Visit Cleveland, will feature hit songwriters Bryan Kennedy and Ken Hart along with 20+ regional songwriters, performing original songs in an ‘in the round’ setting at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. Regional songwriters will perform from 6:00-9:00 pm on Friday evening and 3:00-6:00 pm on Saturday afternoon, with each ‘round’ lasting 50 minutes showcasing 3-4 songwriters. The finale round, featuring two professional songwriters from Nashville, begins at 7 pm on Saturday night. All the songwriter shows are free and open to the public.
The parent Mississippi Songwriters Festival was founded in 2010 and is presented annually on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “We’re excited to return to the Delta, as they launched the first of our ‘satellite’ festivals, recognizing and celebrating songwriters in all the areas of our state,” says George Cumbest, president and co-founder of the Mississippi Songwriters Alliance.
This year’s Delta festival will feature pro songwriters Bryan Kennedy and Ken Hart in a finale performance on Saturday evening at 7:00 pm at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi.
Bryan Kennedy is a storyteller at heart. A former college football player at Ole Miss, he’s penned over 15 songs recorded by Garth Brooks, including three #1 hits, and spent over a decade on tour as Garth’s road manager and opening act, performing for sold-out arenas around the world. Bryan holds a degree in journalism with a minor in recreation, and as the founder of The Bellwether Way, he now channels his experience into life coaching, offering leadership and guidance beyond the field, stage or court. Where others focus on stats or game plans, Bryan focuses on the soul, helping people find clarity, courage, and purpose.
Originally from Mississippi, Ken Hart moved to Nashville to pursue his songwriting career. Hart has written songs for Lee Brice, Jake Worthington, For King & Country, Leah Blevins, Marshall Tucker Band, and recently had his song “The Door” recorded by Little Big Town. Hart has recently authored a book titled Jesus Is Cool, But Christians Creep Me Out.
“The old saying is so true…’it all begins with a song,’” says Tricia Walker, music ambassador for Cleveland. “The entire music industry is built on great songs and the writers who create them. Partnering with the Mississippi Songwriters Alliance for this festival is a great way to celebratemany of the songwriters who live and work right here in the Delta region.”
Songwriters will perform “in the round” on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi at 800 W. Sunflower Road in Cleveland. Performances are free and open to the public and limited concessions will be available for purchase.
A complete festival schedule can be found online at https://www.msafestival.org/live- events/delta-region. For more information about the Mississippi Songwriters Alliance, visit https://www.msafestival.org.
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