The Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission (NIMIC) is delighted to announce the 4th annual 'Songcraft' residential master class weekend. This creative songwriter's weekend will take place on the weekend of Friday 19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21^st  September, at the inspiring setting of our traditional location-Ballylinney Cottages at the Giant's Causeway. For those unfamiliar with  'Songcraft', the weekend represents a unique opportunity for Northern Irish songwriters to develop their creative talents. It will include inspirational, informative and entertaining masterclasses led by world renowned professional song-writers, as well as individual mentoring opportunities and practical writing and co-writing sessions. It will therefore be a combination of the informal and the formal - of critical tutoring, and long evenings spent kicking around creative ideas over drinks and food.

This year's key guest speakers / mentors include Northern Ireland's own singer songwriter Iain Archer who is an Ivor Novello Award winner for his work with Snow Patrol and also the celebrated Irish songwriter Eleanor McEvoy whose critically acclaimed canon of work spans six albums. Eleanor is recognised as Ireland's most successful female singer songwriter having enjoyed personal chart success and numerous cover versions of her songs including Emmylou Harris and Mary Black. Her co-writing credits have seen her published with fellow writers and performers such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Crowell
Rodney Crowell">Rodney Crowell, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Cole
Lloyd Cole">Lloyd Cole and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Rotheray
Dave Rotheray">Dave Rotheray of The Beautiful South. We will announce other key guest writers over the coming weeks.
We trust that the weekend will once again provide those attending with a wealth of inspiration and advice from those who have turned their creative talents into highly successful careers.

LIMITED SPACES – CONTACT US NOW!
Please note there is LIMITED availability (20 places), some of which have been reserved for professional songwriters. Therefore it is important to respond as soon as possible in order to be considered for a place.

If you would be interested in taking part in Songcraft, please contact Mark at the NIMIC office by email to: mark@nimusic.com and enclose a brief overview (appx 100 words) about your songwriting career to date and how you think you would benefit from coming to the weekend.A link to some recorded music (through myspace or an artist website) is also useful, but please do NOT send .mp3s.
Places on the Songcraft Weekend will cost £60.00.

NB: The weekend has been funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Invest N.Ireland. The fee is a contribution towards your accommodation and keep throughout the weekend.
Songcraft is delivered in association with The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.

For further info contact:Mark-: mark@nimusic.com