About the Workshop Weekend
With hosts Josh Rose, Sammie Hershock, and Nicholas James Thomasma, this three-day songwriting event is geared towards beginner and seasoned musicians who wish to converse and collaborate with other songwriters. The weekend will end with a public performance at Sound Check.
The weekend features three one-hour workshops from each instructor, ample work time, light snacks, and a taping of the final performance for the participants. Also at the performance, a panel of judges will award three prizes for a light-hearted songwriting competition.
All ages welcome. Individuals under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Workshop Fee: $100. Preregistration required to participate.
Event Sponsors:
Hop Hog, Chimera Design, & Upstairs, Man Studios
Dates & Times
Friday, October 23, 6:00-9:00pm
Saturday, October 24, 9:00am-3:00pm (lunch not provided)
* Saturday, October 24, 6:00pm-9:00pm | Open Mic at Hop Hog
of Lowell (2nd Floor Conference Room - food provided)
Sunday, October 25, 3:00pm-6:00pm | Performance
Location
Sound Check | United Methodist Church of Lowell, 621 E Main St, Lowell, MI 49331
About the Instructors
Sammie Hershock
Sammie Hershock is a multi-award-winning songwriter known for her captivating melodic lines and heartfelt lyrics. A classically trained music teacher who writes piano-and-poetry-driven folk, Hershock's shows are full of heartfelt songs about the human experience, splashed with playful banter and a deep love for music and the magic it creates.
Workshop: Writing Songs from the Heart, and for the Heart - Lyric Composition
Saturday, 9:30am
Josh Rose
Every Josh Rose concert is a conversation we all crave in today’s uber-connected world. His songs and performances will make you feel, make you energized, create a sense of community, and make your horizon more broad, real, and beautiful. His genre defying approach and powerful, authentic writing make each of his shows unique, fluid, and moving. The musical buffet Josh offers will always be accompanied by stories, humor, poetry, and fun. Josh’s shows are in a word, unforgettable. In his twenty one year career with four studio albums, Josh has shared the stage with Styx, Ziggy Marley, KT Tunstall, G Love and Special Sauce, Jill Andrews, and hundreds of musicians from around the Midwest. Welcome to the mesmerizing Head in the Clouds Folk Music of Josh Rose.
Workshop: Opening the Toolbox - Chord Progressions & Melodies
Friday, 6:30pm
Nicolas James Thomasma
Nicholas Thomasma is a musician, songwriter, and arts advocate based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He believes in supporting local artists through education, collaboration, and community events that empower Michigan's vibrant music scene. Nicholas is an instructor at several songwriting retreats including HuCo Songs: The Port Austin Artist in Residence Songwriting Retreat Weekend in September, the Earthwork Music Song Summit in January and Buckwheat Music Camp in June. The Executive Director of the Michigan Music Alliance, Nicholas is also a lifetime member of Folk Alliance International, a member of the Earthwork Music Collective and serves on the Arts and Culture Council of Grand Rapids.
Workshop: Performing Original Songs - Making the Most of Your Time on Stage
Saturday, 1:30pm
About the Venue
Sound Check, located at 621 E. Main Street in downtown Lowell, connects to the United Methodist Church of Lowell and was designed specifically for live performance. The venue features acoustic stage curtains for enhanced sound clarity, comfortable seating for up to 100 guests, concessions, accessible entry, and ample free parking.
Workshop Registration
What to Know
Seating is first come, first served. Free parking and accessible entry are available on-site, with light concessions available for purchase. Sound Check is a drug and alcohol-free zone—violators will be asked to leave with no refund.