This July will mark the 5th edition of the 97 Song Sessions, highlighting the craft of song writing over a weekend of musical performances.
The weekend provides an intimate setting for performances with major artists, who are invited to tell stories and reflect on the writing of their biggest songs in addition to performing them. This year has a “Spotlight on Nashville” theme, featuring country artists from both sides of the border. The event will be hosted by Canadian broadcaster Paul McGuire and Grammy-winning Nashville songwriter Tim Nichols. Main stage performers include Triumph frontman and songsmith Rik Emmett, Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer Paul Brandt, and country hitmaker Lee Thomas Miller.
In addition to the main stage, there will also be a Discovery Series featuring up-and-coming songwriters from Western Canada. Confirmed names include Kelowna’s Teigen Gayse and Calgary’s Cole Bradley. The weekend will also feature VIP events at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. This kind of hybrid of concert and storytelling has become a popular way to highlight veteran artists, often promoted through tools such as brochure printing and local radio advertisements. The 97 Song Sessions organizers also release a podcast called Storytellers featuring interviews with festival guests and other songwriters.
The 2023 instalment of the 97 Song Sessions will take place at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre on July 21 and 22.
