What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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COVER STORY 8 WHAT'S UP! APRIL 22-28, 2018 Festival elevates aspirations in second year JOCELYN MURPHY NWA Democrat-Gazette I n 2017, a new music festival brought songwriters and music executives from around the world — plus some 2,800 fans — to Bentonville to celebrate the art of songwriting and support the I'll Fly Away Foundation. Coming into its second year, the festival's approach has shifted just slightly, says organizer Betsy Brumley. "So we learned last year that we need to remember why we're doing it," shares the granddaughter of Albert E. Brumley, writer of the most recorded song in history, "I'll Fly Away." The festival serves as a fundraiser for the foundation's "You Can Fly" school songwriting program — influenced by Brumley's own experience with dyslexia and the difference music made in her life. "The children actually write the songs about what they're learning. We don't come in and teach them songs," Brumley explains. "They're learning songs and don't realize that they're learning." "The cause is close to my heart because the linking together of children and music I think is very important," offers songwriter and record producer Roger Cook. Cook returns to the festival for an April 28 show with fellow Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Dennis Morgan and Richard Leigh. "[Children] can't write about love in the way an old man can, that's for sure. But they know what love is. They know what family [is]. And there's other things very important to kids that we don't cover anymore as songwriters because we've grown out of them, we've grown beyond that. "It's a very sociable thing to get together with another writer, sit down and trade thoughts until you've got a song on paper. I think it must be very nice for kids to be able to do that," he muses. That spirit of collaboration and exchange of ideas is another pillar of the festival. In addition to performances, the Power of Music Festival also hosts an industry conference — two days of master classes, panel discussions and expert speakers on topics like music publishing, performing rights organizations, social media and more. Brumley says the hope is to establish a healthy ecosystem everyone in the music community of the area — and the region — can benefit from. "We knew that we could build an economic driver with this festival, and make it into something that would bring people to visit Northwest Arkansas. When you start adding people, it's amazing the knowledge that comes with people, even when they just visit," she enthuses. Dennis Morgan Roger Cook FAQ Power of Music Festival WHEN — April 26-29 WHERE — Venues across Bentonville COST — Free to $199 INFO — 696-9876, illflyaway foundation.org/pomfest