The Fifth Annual Ozone Songwriter Festival takes place this weekend. Local, regional and national songwriters will gather in Mandeville and Slidell for a celebration of songwriting and educational sessions to school local musicians and songwriters in the art, craft and business of songwriting.
New Orleans-born, Emmy-winning, and Grammy-nominated recording artist songwriter Greg Barnhill created the concept for the Ozone Songwriter Festival. Barnhill has written songs for Tim McGraw, Martina McBride and Lee Ann Womack. He also worked extensively for WWL-TV, creating some of their most well-known jingles. A well known Barnhill song “Walkaway Joe” was recorded by Trisha Yearwood.
Barnhill will conduct a discussion with other songwriters about the art of songwriting and the inspiration behind some of their music on Thursday, November 3 at the Wine Garden in Olde Towne Slidell.
Greg Barnhill. (Photo from his Facebook page).
The festival continues in Mandeville on Friday, November 4, featuring songwriters such as Jim Peterik, known for his songs “Vehicle,” “Eye of The Tiger,” “Hold on Loosely” and “Is This Love That I’m Feeling?” Peterik has written 13 number one hits.
On Saturday the festival features 140 songwriters performing on four stages. Of the many songwriters, here are just a few:
Al d’Aquin – born and raised in New Orleans has been playing music and writing songs for over thirty years.
Caroline Tebbs – 16-year-old singer songwriter from Slidell. She has written over 200 songs and started publishing worldwide March 2022.
Douglas Stepanek – his full band is The Huey Ps. Stepanek has writing songs in various styles steeped in New Orleans musical culture.
Mary Broussard – from Scott, Louisiana, she comes from a family of musicians. She has written over 100 songs, played with seasoned performers from across Louisiana, and put out her first original single “The Young Heart” in 2019.
Ocie Crowe – songwriter, musician, and producer based out of New Orleans. He is better known as the lead singer and front man for the band “Crowe Boys.”
Ricky Windhorst – Windhorst was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2014 for his original work with the J.J. Muggler Band.
Serge Villanova – Villanova music is an eclectic mix of hook-heavy pop rock. Villanova will soon release his debut record The Rhythm of New Orleans.
Travis Garrison – guitarist and banjo player from Abita Springs, Louisiana. His songs are influenced by traditional American folk, bluegrass, and country.
Ted Hefko – singer songwriter Ted Hefko leads his Thousandaires blending jazz and folk roots with a electric Americana sound.
Local food and drink will be available.
Songwriters can also submit their songs in the Ozone Songwriter Song Contest. The 2021 prize was a co-writing session with Emmy-winner, Grammy nominated recording artist, Greg Barnhill and a one song record deal with Rabadash Records Recording Studio.
Music will be performed on 8 stages as follows:
Mandeville Trailhead Amphitheater: 675 Lafitte St. (facing Girod St.)
Mandeville Trailhead Cultural Interpretive Center: 675 Lafitte St. (facing Lafitte St.)
Old Rail Brewing Company: 639 Girod St.
Pyre BBQ: 2020 Woodrow St.
Ruby’s Roadhouse: 840 Lamarque St.
The Wine Garden: 300 Robert St, Slidell.
Northstar Theater: 347 Girod St.
Fifth Annual Ozone Songwriter Festival takes place on November 3-6, 2022. The full schedule of performers and show times, plus festival map with stage locations, is here.
