Songwriters Circle SHOWCASE

2026 Songwriters Circle Showcases April 11, 2026 November 14, 2026 Location: Performance Theatre, Birthplace of Country Music Museum Cost: Free and open to the public, donations encouraged to benefit the artists and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum The Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia are proud to continue these events designed to highlight the talents of songwriters in our region. The Songwriters Circle Showcase will be held twice a year in 2026 at 2 p.m. ET, April 11 and November 14, in the performance theater at the museum. These two Showcases accompany the monthly Songwriters Circle events on second Saturdays. The event is free and open to the public; donations are appreciated. Donate to support the Songwriters The quarterly Songwriters Circle Showcase is an extension of the monthly Songwriters Circle program, organized by Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, and will consist of artists who participate in the monthly Circle. The Showcase event is structured similarly to “in the round” events, with each songwriter introducing themselves and their song, which will be performed with or without accompaniment. The songwriter will then hold a discussion about the piece–the origins of the song, its structure, and inspiration–and take questions. About the featured Songwriters on November 14 Clay Blevins is a singer-songwriter based in Virginia’s New River Valley who plays venues from Floyd, Virginia, to Bristol, Tennessee, to Charleston, West Virginia. Performing original songs mixed with pop, classic rock and a little country. He has been writing songs since the 1990s, and has spent years honing his craft on local stages, including Buffalo Mountain Brewery and Outer Space in Floyd and the Outpost in Fancy Gap. He performs with the group Dads Rock and recently performed at the Highlands Festival in Abingdon with the SOHA songwriters group. Chris Long is a performing singer-songwriter out of Kingsport, Tennessee. He grew up around music and performed in bands with his father in Southwest, Virginia, but transitions to solo acoustic shows about ten years ago. Now, Chris performs regularly all over the southeast in venues ranging from theatres to intimate listening rooms. Chris blends his roots rock musical style with Americana storytelling to produce a sound dubbed by some as Appalachiacana. Sometimes with a little gator infused swamp rock thrown in the mix. His music has resulted in numerous radio and television appearances as well as features in music publications and print media. For Chris it’s all about being out playing and sharing his music. Melissa Johner is a singer, songwriter, and powerhouse vocalist whose musical journey began at just 14 years old, when she hit the road touring with a full-time bluegrass band. By 16, she had already recorded two albums and earned multiple regional awards.Originally from Dothan, Alabama, Melissa’s musical foundation was shaped by the sounds of the South—from the soulful influence of Muscle Shoals and the storytelling traditions of classic country and bluegrass. Those influences have stayed with her throughout her career, while her songwriting has continued to evolve across genres including country, bluegrass, americana, roots, blues, and rock. Melissa is known for pairing strong vocals with heart-driven songwriting. She’s known for using the stories of others’ experiences as inspiration for her songs that make them feel honest, emotional, and relatable. Whether writing for herself, collaborating with other artists, or performing with a band, Melissa brings the same thing to every song: a love for a great story, a strong melody, and the kind of emotion that stays with you well after the song ends. Chase Johner is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and performer whose professional music career began as a teenage prodigy. By 16, he was touring the U.S. and Internationally, and at just 18, he had the distinction of performing at the White House. Over the years, Chase has shared the stage with some of bluegrass and roots music’s most influential artists, including Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crowe, and Chris Stapleton. His early career was marked by competition success as well, leading first-place bands at the prestigious Galax Fiddlers’ Convention in both 2008 and 2009 and winning the Richmond Folk Festival Mandolin Contest in 2012. A founding member of The Great Big Hug, Chase has written many of the band’s most popular songs and is known for his skills in musical arrangements. He has a talent for making songs come alive through ear catching melodies that stick in your mind. He reaches well beyond traditional bluegrass boundaries, drawing from country, roots, rock, Americana, and other musical influences. Whether playing mandolin, guitar, or another one of his many other instruments, Chase brings the same instinctive musicianship and storyteller’s approach that have defined his career from the beginning. His ability to move effortlessly between styles has made him not only a distinctive performer, but a songwriter whose work continues to evolve. Led by Mary Munsey, a local musician, educator and founder of Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, the weekly Songwriters Circle is open to songwriters of all ages and skill levels. The Circle encourages participants to share songs, brainstorm ideas, and support one another in their creative endeavors. Songwriter Circles are held the second Saturday of each month at the museum, 2-5 p.m. There is no cost to participate. “The Songwriters Circle aims to foster a collaborative environment for songwriting,” said Munsey. “Importantly, aspiring songwriters do not need to play an instrument to join in the fun.” The Songwriters Circle not only provides an opportunity for performance and networking, but also emphasizes the importance of clarity and storytelling in songwriting. The group’s mission is to encourage creativity, introduce songwriting shows to regional audiences, and elevate the appreciation of songwriting as a valuable art form. About Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia is led by Mary Munsey, a local musician and educator, recently retired from Virginia Highlands Community College. The program offers a great deal of flexibility in its format for attendees, with varied songwriting interests and abilities. Some of the attendees play instruments and some are curious about songwriting and the process. Lyrics can sometimes only pare up with others that play instruments and put music with the words. Some writers don’t sing, but enjoy hearing others perform their songs. Some of the performances can be a cappella. Some members of the group write one to three songs between sessions and some write more. Sometimes as busy as life gets, writers don’t get to write new material between meetings. We don’t pressure anyone to write, and we don’t criticize anyone. We treat each other with respect. We don’t discuss politics, use profanity, or write antagonistic lyrics. The focus is not on the beauty of the voice or skill of the instrumentation, but the clearness of the pronunciation and the effect of the song. We work on making sure the audience can hear every word. We are not professional musicians but we are creators of musical stories and that is the beauty of it. The sessions are open to anyone visiting the museum. Genres are not specified. Songs can be instrumental, folk, country, bluegrass, Americana, blues, humorous, jazz, R&B, electronic, and even pop, to name a few. Writers are allowed to bring CDs for sale and to accept tips after performances. For more information about the Songwriters Showcase and Songwriters Circle programs, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org. For more information on Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, HighlandsAppalachia.org.