“I learn so much and am blossoming in your community and am beyond grateful for awakening, loving, collaborative musical family is a reality!”
— Jesse Star
Ignite your creative expression, cultivate your songwriting artistry and collaborate in community!
Are you looking to:
Learn to write songs with more ease and impact?
Up-level your skills and grow your craft?
Write your first song, or inspire your next album?
Feel deeply connected to your creative community?
Take your songwriting from your the closet to the stage?
Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out on your journey, we all share the need for the same thing: Connection, creative community, and inspiring places that support you to grow your skills and hone your craft.
We are SO excited to welcome you to a unique event hosted by the Songwriter Soiree called Songs in the City — A three day immersive songwriting experience for Songwriters of all levels!
Featuring nationally renowned songwriting teachers Shanna In A Dress, Lewis Childs,Robin Jackson, and more incredible teachers to be announced soon.
Friday November 6th — Sunday November 8th, 2026 Portland, OR
“You could not ask for a more receptive, listening, and encouraging audience to play for! It was so inspiring to see some people who had never played or performed before, or played anything before, allowing themselves to get up and be vulnerable and show themselves….The whole experience was something special!”
— Dee Wirak, Participant
WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE BY COMING
Expert songwriting guidance
Tips and tricks to improve your craft
And opportunity to workshop and co-write your song with a band!
Opportunities to connect and collaborate with others
Deep support, encouragement, and care
Vocal freedom and group singing
A super fun time!
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
Songs in the City is a two day event centered around songwriting and creative connection. The event will consist of two workshop sessions per day, group singing, time to connect and jam, and an intimate and connected Soiree open mic experience in both evenings! It will be held at an inspiring and uplifting space between the whimsical Portland Kennedy School and Flora Bowley’s private Art Oasis (across the street).
WHAT WILL BE OFFERED
Inspiring Songwriting Workshops
We will be offering three unique workshop sessions (happening at the same time), twice a day. You can choose which workshop you attend (you can repeat, or switch). For a full description of songwriting workshops, see below.
Group Singing
We will gather in the morning and afternoon to share in theincredible experience of singing as a group. Singing is one of the most healing, inspiring and connecting activities we can do as humans and a great way to support your journey as a songwriter. Unlock the power and birthright of your voice with us!
Soiree Open Mic
Our open mic is the heart of the Songwriter Soiree. Join with us in a deeply supportive and inspiring space where you will have the opportunity to share your original song with the group, either alone or with your new backup band! Here, we emphasize the act of sharing vs performing, and our favorite thing to say is we support you!
Please note that sharing a song or writing a song isn’t required at all. How you participate is up to you! Just listen, bring your presence, give feedback, relax, learn, and enjoy!
Location and Food
Located in Portland, OR, the event will be held between two locations which are a short 2 minute walk from each other. One is at the charming and whimsical Portland Kennedy School Community Room, located at 5736 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211 (enter in the back of the building). The other is at a secret art Oasis (location given at the event). You may park in the Kennedy School lot or nearby. We will meet at the beginning of the day in the community room.
Accommodations
Live out of town? We have three accommodation options available:
Make it a weekend and stay in the incredible Kennedy School! This is a historic and utterly whimsical space with a spa, movie theater, tons of restaurants, gardens, events, and more! To book, contact the Kennedy Schooldirectly. We have 10 rooms held until October 7th. To get priority reservations, please let them know you are part of our event! You must reserve by Oct 7th. (The hotel may have other rooms avail past this date, last min). There are also a plethroa of private AirBnB’s nearby.
We also have two rooms available as part of one of our airbnb rental on site! These are nicely appointed rooms and will go fast. Please note they are part of a shared space that is also being used for workshops and catering. Inquire for more info.
We also will offer a participant home sharing board, where you can connect and stay with another songwriter (often for free) as a way to make a friend, and make the trip more feasible. You must be registered in order to receive access to this.
Food
We will have two meal breaks. Your registration will include a delicious, simple meal on Friday night as well as lunch on Sunday afternoon. These will be a great times to connect together.
For all other meals, participants will be responsible for their own food. You can eat at the Kennedy School or there are a bounty of amazing local restaurants and food carts within a 5 minute walk. This is a great time to connect with meet with other songwriters and talk and Jam (both spaces will be open during meal times for jamming).
Shanna in a Dress is your quirky best friend who refuses to wear pants. She says what everyone has felt but no one else will say, taking audiences on an uncensored ride through clever humor, heartbreak, and bold honesty. Think John Prine meets Ingrid Michaelson with a twist of Phoebe Buffay—all wrapped up in a sweet voice accompanied by guitar, piano, and ukulele.
Based in Nashville, Shanna is known for her spontaneous banter, playful stage presence, and smart, accessible songwriting that balances wit with emotional depth. No two shows are ever the same.
An award-winning songwriter, Shanna won the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriting Contest and has also been honored at the Kerrville New Folk Competition, Great River Folk Fest Song Competition, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and Songwriter Serenade. In 2021, she bicycled from Seattle to Boston on her “Tour de Dress,” performing more than 60 shows along the way.
Her debut album, Robot, was released in 2022 following a successful crowdfunding campaign, and she has since appeared at festivals and venues including Kerrville Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Black Bear Americana Fest, Great River Folk Fest, and Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. Her second album, Sweet Spot, was released on February 27, 2026.
Lewis Childs is a songwriter, performer, educator and recording engineer based in Portland, Oregon. Born in Los Angeles, California he started playing electric guitar at the age of 13 and studied musical theater at Cuesta College, and vocal performance at the U of O school of Music. He has performed all over the world and has taught workshops at educational institutions throughout the Pacific Northwest. His artistic collaborations include harmonica virtuoso Joe Powers, Márcio daLari (Brazilian Master of Percussion), Maggie Wheeler (actress and singer known for her work on the popular T.V. show “Friends”), Galen Clark (Trio Subtonic) and Robin Jackson (Singer-Songwriter and musician). You can often find him working at, Groundswell Studios, where he works to produce emerging artists and foster the next generation of talent by offering music instruction for kids and adults. lewischilds.com
Creative Event Facilitator and Songwriting Instructor
An award-winning songwriter, teacher, activist, and spirited impresario, Robin has dedicated himself to creating connection through art and music. Robin’s work is rooted in the idea that everyone is creative and that most of us simply need the space to be seen, heard, and supported for positive transformation to take place. He has toured the world with his music for 25+ years, has three solo albums and countless collaborations with notable artists. His popular Songwriter Soiree events and online courses have helped thousands of people unblock their voices, hearts, and creative natures.
Teaching Artist-Singing and Songwriting Instructor
If you’re wondering what a Teaching Artist is, you need to look no further than the name. I am both a teacher and an artist and my work is deeply rooted both in the arts and education. I live where pedagogy and artistry meet and I use my work as an artist to inform my teaching and vice versa.
In the eight years since I started my studio I have successfully crowd funded, recorded and released 5 EP’s. Posted over 50 (and counting) original songs on Patreon and finished a first draft of an autobiographical musical, all while transforming the lives of hundreds of students through the power of music.
My career has been a gift, and like all of my creative pursuits, I want to make everything I’ve learned as accessible as possible. I’m passionate about creating and holding space for others to tell their stories and find healing, as they connect to their hearts, through music.
James Julian Villa is a multi-instrumentalist producer known for producing and co-writing albums with artists across the Pacific Northwest.
Originally from Canada, James graduated from Selkirk’s Contemporary Music & Technology Program, earning the Fred Sharett Award and gaining hands-on experience working with successful touring acts across multiple genres.
After relocating to Portland, Oregon, James led an eight-piece funk band as the eccentric “Brizzleman” before finding his true calling in the studio, writing and recording for other artists.
Drawing on his deep production background, James delivers polished, radio-quality mixes rich with dynamics, layers, and thoughtful ear candy. His multi-instrumentalist skills and touring experience allow him to serve as a one-stop shop for artists in pop, folk, hip-hop, rock, and electronic music, with a trusted network of session musicians to support any project.
Performing nationwide and writing songs for over 50 years, Ken has been teaching the art and craft of songwriting for the over 2 decades. He’s presented lectures and workshops for Folk Alliance International, Southwest Regional Folk Alliance, NSAI, the Houston Songwriters Association, and dozens of independent organizations. He currently teaches every Wednesday night at Artichoke Music and, every summer for the past 13 years, travels to Kerrville Texas to teach for the Kerrville Music Camp for Teens.
Ken was the 2005 Texas Music Awards Singer/Songwriter of the Year. He’s attended the Kerrville Folk Festival for 35 years with over a dozen official performances in that time. He also produced and hosted a songwriters in the round at Houston’s legendary Anderson Fair for 2 1⁄2 decades. Since moving to Oregon last October Ken has been active locally with Songwriter Soiree, Artichoke Music, Influence Music Hall, the Portland Hostel Cafe music series, and is a board member of the Portland Folkmusic Society.
is a Portland-based singer, songweaver, and community songleader with over 20 years of experience singing professionally, and a lifetime of singing joyfully. After years of classical training and singing opera, choral, and musical theatre, audrey found her way back to her authentic voice through her meditation practice in 2020.
From the awareness cultivated through her practice, audrey began to receive melodies and messages, then full songs that were medicine for her. As she sang them more and more, these songs beckoned to be shared and sung in community. Now, audrey weaves these and other songs with kindreds in retreats, song circles, Singing Resistance, and her new beloved community of singers, Songha. Listen, subscribe, and connect with audrey through her website: audreyvoonmusic.com.
Dive into an amazing array of workshops offered by our incredible arts team! We are adding workshops as they get finalized. Click below to view a current list (still subject to change). More to be added soon!
5:30 – 7pm: Catered Dinner Buffet and connection time
7-10pm: Soiree Open Mic (with teacher features)
Saturday, November 7th 2026
10:30-11am: Welcome and singing
11-1pm: Workshop session 1
1- 2:15pm: lunch
2:15–2:45: Whole group singing session
3 – 5pm: Workshop session 2
5:00 – 5:30pm Song sharing circles
5:30 – 7pm: Catered Dinner Buffet and connection time
7-10pm: Soiree Open Mic
Sunday, Nov 8th, 2026
10:30-11am: Welcome and singing
11-1pm: Workshop session 1
1- 2pm: Catered lunch
2 – 3pm: Group Closing
TUITION AND REGISTRATION
Your registration includes:
Three days of inspiring workshops, songwriting sessions, and singing groups
Performance opportunities at our intimate Open Mic Soirée
Two delicious catered meals
Access to our private Facebook community for continued connection before and after the event
Full access to our beautiful, thoughtfully designed venue
A welcoming community of songwriters and music lovers
Pricing
Community Pricing:$625(15 spots available – almost sold out)
Standard:$699(20 spots available)
Supporter:$799(15 spots available) (Supporter registration helps us offer scholarships and lower-cost tickets to fellow songwriters).
This year — as per your request — we’ve expanded Songs in the City from a two-day experience to a full three-day event, and our pricing reflects the additional programming and time together.
All registration tiers include the exact same experience and benefits. The tiered pricing simply helps us make the event more accessible while keeping it financially sustainable. If you’re able, we invite you to choose the highest tier that feels comfortable for you, allowing others to attend at a lower price.
Payment plans are available.
We also offer a limited number of scholarships for those experiencing financial hardship. If a scholarship would make attending possible for you, please contact us before registering.
What began in 2009 as an open mic for original music, the Songwriter Soiree provides a nurturing environment for individuals to connect through songwriting, music, and collective creativity. We uplift the craft of songwriting and celebrate the art of performing original material through retreats, workshops, gatherings, an online hub, and regular performance opportunities. Learn More
SAFER SPACE POLICY
To read learn more about our values, mission, and commitment to creating inclusive and safer spaces, please read our about page HERE.
