By: Rick Landers
John McCutcheon teaching song form and structure with (L to R) songwriters, Kristine Gildersleeves and Karen Shaffer listening to a song example – photo credit: R. Landers
With its panoramic view of the Smoky Mountains, the Highlander Research and Education Center in Tennessee was a magical spot for multi-instrumentalist, John McCutcheon, to present his four-day songwriting camp that immersed a group of songwriters deep into the heart of lyrics, melody and soulfulness.
The group of troubadours arrived from around the country with a broad array of experiences. There were participants with experience performing at or running music festivals, playing coffee house gigs, busking, recording and producing; all channeling lyrics from their hearts and from mysterious places unknown.
Six- time Grammy nominee, McCutcheon facilitated sessions and kept the camp environment informal, informative and fun. And it became apparent during the week that he helped the songwriting troupe grow as songwriters, while being entertained with samples of John’s songs that were always captivating and musically intriguing.
The Highlander Research and Training Center embraced the group with its historical presence, the beautiful grounds and a professional and warm-hearted staff.
The Highlander has a history as a training ground and center point for progressive thinkers and activism, where Rosa Parks was groomed for her role in standing tall in 1955 by refusing an order to leave her seat in a colored section of a Montgomery, Alabama, bus for use by a white person, and where Dr. Martin Luther King first heard what was to become the civil rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome”.
Kristine Gildersleeve grabbed a washboard to add to the traditional sound of the group – photo credit: R. Landers
The Highlander also became a second home for a young folk singer named John McCutcheon and a place where he was befriended by the legendary folk artist, Pete Seeger.
Today, John McCutcheon is a national treasure with thirty-six albums, six Grammy nominations and hundreds of songs in his satchel to offer his fans around the world. Among his latest releases is his 2006 album, Mightier than the Sword, with songs co-written with some of his favorite authors including: Wendell Berry, Lee Smith, Rita Dove, Carment Agra Deedy and Barbara Kingsolver.
Left to Right: Walt Webb, John McCutcheon and Jim Carlson – photo credit: R. Landers
His Highlander songwriter group were gifted with John’s playing and singing many of his songs, including his classic, “Christmas in the Trenches” and a new song that will become one, “Joe Hill’s Last Will”.
At first blush, many of McCutcheon’s songs seem woven homestyle, some exquisitely so, yet the impressions run deep with lyrical precision and heartfelt complexity. Some are jovial, clever and lampoon our common human foibles in ways that delight. And when he sings, his music never wafts into the background. We listen, as the melodies and lyrics conjoin to tickle our funny bones or plow deep into our emotions and render us vulnerable, touching our souls.
“One of our country’s best songwriters” – Pete Seeger
The small group studied song form and structure, were advised to authenticate their lyrics with solid research, learned and practiced “zipper” lyrics, and began the process of incorporating what they learned into their own music. New borne songs were written in intense “compression” mode with tight deadlines, then sung to the group.
A hiking spill didn’t stop Doug Peters from showing up at The Highlander songwriting camp – photo credit: R. Landers
There was much, much more, but why divulge when the experience at McCutcheon’s songwriting camp offers the best setting for learning, a collaborative platform with other songwriters, immediate and candid feedback, as well as an entertaining treasure trove of information, anecdotes and humor conveyed by a major artist?
Many showed up with stage experience and well-honed songwriting skills, but all grabbed new ideas and insights from McCutcheon and friendly feedback from their songwriting peers. And there were many guitarists on board carrying their instruments made by Guild, Martin, Gibson, Huss & Dalton, Taylor and more.
Song circles were held during the workshop, as well as after hours where the group would sing their original songs. One night the group stepped outside to congregate around a campfire, where John and others poked marshmallows onto found sticks for a little feast of those old Girl Scout staples…S’mores. Next year, it might be nice to add some Banana Boats to that camp experience.
Eb Eberlein plays one of his originals while Allan Maki sits back to enjoy the tune – photo credit: R. Landers
During the four-day songwriting camp, John managed to find time to sit down with each participant to discuss their songwriting, their ambitions, the strengths and weaknesses of their craft and to learn how to better write their songs or sing their tunes. Later, he allowed the group to videotape him illustrating several fingerpicking styles, to enable the guitarists to continue to improve their craft, well after camp ended.
As the week flew by, it became more and more evident how very talented this group was, as well as the sheer power of music to make us laugh, make us cry, help us heal and move us with unspeakable beauty.
Eb Eberlein, past president of the Tuscon Folk Festival, sang his songs that drew from traditional folk, yet peppered his sound with a touch of bluegrass. Eberlein leads a group called Eb’s Camp Cookin’ that plays gigs and festivals around Arizona, and the group’s CD is a well-crafted mix of entertaining and finely produced music – well worth a listen!
Walt Webb sings his clever songs to the group like “I Got a Cold One in One Hand…A HOT One in the Other” – photo credit: R. Landers
Allan Maki, Walt Webb and Doug Peters all had us laughing with such clever lyrics and comedic pauses that our bellies ached.
There’s a certain genius gene involved in writing songs that are not only clever, but straddle and tickle our funny bones. All of these guys proved they have musical chops and overflowing tanks of comedic IQ.
Carrie Decker strummed her guitar while singing her delightful lilting tunes about berries and other sundries from her past farm life.
Having worked for years on her Ohio farm, her tunes were earnest and reverentially deep, and rich with ecological mettle. And, if you find yourself in Canton, Ohio, on August 17th, you can catch her cornucopia of songs live at the Canton Farmer’s Market.
It was Tom Techman’s second songwriting camp and he explained how valuable he’d found the first camp and later explained how he drew even more inspiration from this second Highlander group.
Tom’s generosity of spirit and his interest in the cathartic healing value of music opened everyone up to the true gift music conveys to us all. His solo contributions were earnest, heartfelt and drew us in like a magnet.
Jim Carlson and Mary Newman were a team with Jim playing his sweet little mahogany Martin acoustic and Mary armed and ready with her violin.
During one of the off-hand jam sessions, classically trained Newman pulled out her violin joined her new-found songwriter friends, adding nuance and the cool curvy melodies that only a good fiddle master can…well, master.
Multi-instrumentalist Mary Newman poses with a smile – Photo credit: R. Landers
The couple performs together around the country, as well as in Jim’s home base of Wausau, Wisconsin, where he’s a local musical force. The two are a good fit, with Mary’s steady groundwork on her violin and Jim’s punchy sense of fun and play working together to entertain any crowd.
Carlson’s first CD, Out of Fashion, finds the singer-songwriter in great form with toe tapping melodies and cool lyrics and in the works this summer is a new album, Jim is working on his second CD, “Further Out” which will feature more of Jim’s fingerstyle guitar and memorable lyrics.
Jim Carlson performing with John McCutcheon recording – photo courtesy: Allan Maki
Vietnam vet, Tom Smith, from Ashville, North Carolina, reinforced our faith in the healing force of music with his raw poignant lyrics and his singing style that ached with emotion. Smith honors both his service and the service of others by entertaining vets being cared for by the Veterans Administration, both in the hospital and wherever else he can be of service.
Tom Smith offered songs of healing for those challenged by PSTD – photo credit: R. Landers
Smith informed the group of the high suicide rate of veterans compared to the rest of the country’s population. It’s estimated that the rate sadly and tragically continues to unfold from 23 to 35 suicides each day.
He told the group that Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PSTD) can and does wreak havoc on people in all walks of life who suffer from life’s tragedies and he works to relieve such suffering through his music.
The Highlander campers also enjoyed the very fine a cappella renderings of Karen Boldis, Audrey Ward and Karen Shaffer and the earnest beauty of songs, sweetly sung by guitarist-songwriter, Kristine Gildersleeve, who hails from Southern California.
Reverend Ward is pastor of the St. Helena United Methodist Church in California and her stories and insights, as well as her music, were fascinating and her life story can be found in her book, Hidden Biscuits: Tales of the Deep South Revivals Told by Heart – a memoir by Audrey Ward.
Karen Shaffer was one of the first to arrive at The Highlands earlier in the week, with her guitar in hand. And she presented some of her songs with her guitar and one a cappella 17th century Gaelic tune called, “The Parting Glass”, that was tender, touching and most memorable.
Bryan Cahall played some of his very fine folk tunes for the group – photo credit: R. Landers
And in our midst was Bryan Cahall, a Coloradan folk singer who opened up with some Dylan styled guitar strumming and harp licks enriched with his own unique lyrics and phrasing. When Bryan reached into his bag of tricks we could hear a bit of Mr. Zimmerman, but with enough twists to make the music his own – much like Dylan drew inspiration from Woody Guthrie in the traditional hand-me-down fashion of folk music.
Cahall’s debut CD, A Gate City Songbag, is filled with folk tracks that are catchy, hip, thoughtful and relevant – a perfect mix for the long drive back home. Cahall also plans to run up another album late this summer – expect to hear more of this guy, as he sets his musical sails to catch the wind.
Carrie Decker, Allan Maki and Doug Peters at a group singalong – photo credit: R. Landers
Each camp resident brought with them their unique perspectives and styles of songwriting, as well as an open-arms approach to new friendships. With John’s guidance and inspiration, each and every participant grew as musicians, singer-songwriters and performers. And they all found, in subtle and powerful ways, they grew as people.
By the end of John McCutcheon’s Highlander songwriting camp, the full complement of those who joined together the previous Thursday had formed into a magical troupe of songwriters.
During their last evening with John, everyone formed a circle and sang “We Shall Overcome”. The musical choice was perfect for honoring The Highlander Center and its history. Of course, none of the group would have been surprised if any one of the comedic trio of Allan, Walt and Doug had hollered out “stagefright” at the end of the song’s title…just for a laugh.
John McCutcheon, Audrey Ward and Tom Techman singing a jovial song – photo credit: R. Landers
It’s important to highlight that many of the songwriters who showed up for the week are part-timers who have day jobs as lawyers, IT specialists, teachers and other professional positions. Still, they all had the gumption and the sheer courage to bring along their songs and sing in front of complete strangers.
So, don’t fear showing up next year with your book of lyrics and your favorite musical instrument – you will be welcomed and you will find encouragement and a new group of friends who share your passion for music and music making.
Sunday morning arrived and the group got together for a hearty breakfast and a final brief session where they thanked the Highlander staff for the great cuisine and their friendship, profusely thanked Mr. McCutcheon and pulled together one last time for a group photo.
John McCutcheon’s Highlander Songwriting Camp – Summer 2015 – (Back row left to right): John McCutcheon, Bryan Cahall, Kristine Gildersleeve, Doug Peters, Karen Boldis,Walt Webb, Tom Smith (Middle row left to righr): Mary Newman, Carrie Decker, Audrey Ward, Tom Techman (bottom row left to right): Jim Carlson, Karen Shaffer, Rick Landers, Eb Eberleine and Allan Maki (photo courtesy: John McCutcheon)
Rain was threatening and the Smoky Mountains were fogged in, mostly hidden from view. Everyone began to haul their luggage, instruments and other gear to their cars for the long drive home. There were hugs, laughter and a few songsters singing or humming tunes to themselves as they shuffled to their cars with their heavy loads and some trepidation that they had to leave their new found friends.
But, there was talk about next year and how everyone looked forward to meeting again for one of McCutcheon’s songwriting camps expected to be offered in the spring and summer of 2016.
May the circle be unbroken, indeed.
LINK: McCutcheon’s Highlander Songwriting Camp
