Songwriting Workshop with Sue Trainor

Explore the art of songwriting with Hot Soup member Sue Trainor. Maybe you've been writing for years – maybe you've never tried making up your own song – it doesn't matter. Maybe you play an instrument – maybe you don't – it doesn't matter. Sue will tickle your creativity with exercises to help boost your thinking outside-the-box, and she will help you focus on techniques for expressing your ideas and feelings clearly, effectively and musically. The workshop takes place at the Avalon resort* in Paw Paw, WV, during the week preceding the Avalon Folk Festival. (Sam and Joe Herrmann will be offering instrument workshops as well.) Classes will meet each morning, Monday through Friday (August 6-10). Avalon Folk Festival performances begin on Thursday afternoon (8/9) and continue through Sunday (8/12), concluding with an open mic. Festival headliners include Hot Soup, Vance Gilbert, Bryan Bowers, Debi Smith, Critton Hollow String Band, Bill Danoff, and more. Songwriting workshop participants may choose to sign up for the Festival open mic, individually and/or as a group.

The fee for the 5-day songwriting workshop is $75. Call Avalon at 304-947-5600 or visit their website at www.avalon-nude.com to register and for more information about lodging, meals and festival fees.

*Avalon is a cozy resort in the mountains of West Virginia, about thirty minutes from Berkeley Springs. It features a gourmet restaurant, comfortable lodgings, camping, swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis, and some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet. The thing you want to be aware of is this: Avalon is a clothing optional resort. The emphasis is on "optional" – nobody cares what you wear or don't. Packing is easy. Bring towels (and sweatshirts – it gets chilly at night), a hat, sunscreen, and a fanny pack. ; )

For more info about Sue, visit the Hot Soup website at www.hotsouptrio.com.

Fixed your links - Bert