For the last four months a group of dedicated songwriters have been meeting every Wednesday night at the downtown library. Led by Hawaii transplant Marc Allred, the members of the Rappahannock Songwriters Circle work on their craft, share songs, and give each other critical but supportive feedback.
The Rappahannock Songwriters Circle meets Wednesday nights from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. Find the group on Facebook.
Allred came up with the idea for the group as an outlet for original songs that he found lacking in the local music scene. In Hawaii he had played with the punk ska band Upstanding Youth, which opened for headline acts like Brad Paisley, Sum 41, Reel Big Fish, and Everclear. He had also formed a nonprofit organization that supported local songwriters with venues, gigs, and rehearsal spaces.
“I’ve just been thinking for years, how do I build a scene similar to what I had in Hawaii?,” Allred said. “How do I add, how do I contribute, how do I find my kind of people? So I’ve just been thinking about that for years. How do I help build up better songwriters? How do I create venues that will cater to original music? I don’t have anywhere I can play original songs so there’s no reason for me to write original music if there’s nowhere I can play them.”
His solution was to reserve a space at the library every Wednesday night and create a group on Facebook to get the word out. Four people showed up the first week and through social media and word of mouth the group grew. He’s had as many as 19 people show up, but it varies from week to week.
Allred starts each meeting by stating the group’s goals: to improve as songwriters, to share original songs, to give and receive critical feedback from the group.
“This is not for performance,” Allred said. “The point is to come here to bring stuff that you have in progress so you can receive feedback and make it better. That’s the entire point. If you want to perform, go to open mic night. So learn how to ask for feedback, to give feedback well, and how to take feedback well. Some folks have kind of struggled with that because I just want to know, ‘what do you guys think of my stuff?’ I need you to be a little more specific. Are you struggling with the chorus? Are you struggling with the hook? Are you struggling with the verse structure? Are you struggling with the title? I’ve done things to teach people how to ask for and how to give feedback in a constructive way.”
Mark Allred (far left) with members of the Rappahannock Songwriters Circle.
Each month Allred chooses a theme focused on a specific songwriting skill. In June the group worked on lyrics and rhyming schemes, breaking down song elements to help members understand the difference between sensory observations and interpretation — practical tools for writing songs that stick.
Participants range in age from 17 to the late 60s. Noah Joachim, the youngest member and a first-time participant at a recent meeting, said he doesn’t often get the chance to connect with others who share his interests.
“I mainly play by myself,” Joachim said. “Occasionally I find someone with similar interests. I got a lot out of tonight, skills I will definitely use in the future.”
One of the original members is Lyn Shay, who has been writing songs for years and heard about the group through Facebook.
“I’ve been coming since it started,” Shay said. “I’ve been writing songs for a long time. It’s very therapeutic and I enjoy it. He makes you look at things differently. As a writer there’s things that you forget. It’s nice the way he approaches it. You revisit things that you think about. I find it a great class. It’s great people, everybody is very supportive. I think that’s why it’s growing, because he does a really good job leading it.”
The group meets every Wednesday at the downtown branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. The supportive atmosphere has made members comfortable sharing songs on deeply personal subjects.
“People have opened up and been super vulnerable about death and cancer and loss and love and losing a spouse,” Allred said. “In this small room it’s become so awesomely intimate with songwriters and friends now. It’s so special to me. I’m so excited for what it’s become and what it can become. It’s turned into one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever built with regards to music.”
