Featured Songwriters
Join us in welcoming these talented songwriters that will be joining us this year!
Phillip Lammonds
Phillip Lammonds is a songwriter and talented instrumentalist
from the musically rich mountains of North Carolina. From his
childhood in the mountains to his time in the South Carolina
Lowcountry, it was this melting pot of sounds and rhythms that
formed his musical sensibilities. When pressed, Phillip describes
his musical and writing styles as “raking through a toolbox in the
dark.” In his opinion,“Songs aren’t really written, they are caught
like a fish. They’re out there swimming around. But they aren’t
always biting.”
After college, Phillip was a founder of The Blue Dogs, a beloved
and critically acclaimed bluegrass and rock inspired jam band.
He then started his family in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina
while working as a fishing guide, a falconer, and the owner of the
islands Southeby’s real estate company. All the while, Phillip
wrote songs and traveled to Nashville to pitch them. After fifteen
years, fifty or so trips to Nashville, and cuts on major artists—
Hootie and the Blowfish, Josh Turner, Craig Morgan—Phillip
moved to music city to pursue songwriting full time. He stepped
onto the scene with a publishing deal from Curb Entertainment
and a back catalog nearly five hundred songs strong. Phillip’s
songs have been recorded by artists like Lee Brice, Jerrod
Niemann, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Edwin McCain, Craig
Morgan, Kellie Pickler, Mo Pitney, and Dylan Scott.
Rebecca Lynn Howard
Rebecca Lynn Howard grew up in Salyersville, KY, and moved to Nashville in 1997, where she began a career as a songwriter. Rebecca earned her first Grammy Award with her cover of the hymn “Softly and Tenderly” for the soundtrack of the film The Apostle and her second Grammy Award for “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” a
duet with Ronnie Dunn for Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’: Songs of the
Louvin Brothers.
Her compositions have been recorded by singers like Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Lila McCann, Trisha Yearwood, and John Michael Montgomery. When Rebecca began recording on her own, she drew just as much from adult contemporary pop as she did from country. Her self-titled debut album was released in the spring of 2000, followed by her album Forgive in 2002, and No Rules in 2008. In 2023 she released the singles “I Am My Mother” and “I’m Not Who You Think I Am.”
Lucas Hoge
With equal ease and finesse, No. 1 Billboard-charting artist Lucas Hoge can craft a song, cast a line, or call in a turkey in front of a film crew, all while holding an audience’s attention on stage when performing. He is the host of “Hoge Wild,” his weekly series airing Mondays on the Sportsman Channel.
Lucas’ journey all began and continues with a song, though. The Hubbell, Nebraska native, whose hometown boasts a population of 44, is consistently in the studio with a hit producer as he records new music to release throughout the year.
Lucas made his Ryman Auditorium debut in 2011 opening for the legendary George Jones, and he’s shared the stage with Luke Bryan, Craig Morgan, Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion, Hank Williams Jr., and others. Lucas’ full-length album Dirty South ascended to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart during its debut week. Lucas is consistently releasing new music with “Countryside Dr”, “Get Lost” and “Soak It Up”.
Lucas Hoge’s restless creative spirit, abundance of Midwestern charm and a work ethic that won’t let him slow down, it looks like the best is yet to come.
Kelsey Hart
Born and raised in western Kentucky, Kelsey was never far away from the influence of the Nashville country music community.
At 19, he landed his first gig as the lead singer of a local country band where he cut his teeth on the icons of the genre and began cultivating his own unique sound and passion for the craft of country songwriting. Following his move to music city, Kelsey found his first co-writing success in November 2017 with “As Long As You’re In It” recorded by Jake Owen for his Greatest Hits collection.
As one of the newest members of the Curb|Word family, Kelsey has quickly established himself as a sought-after co-writer, vocalist, and artist on the rise. Kelsey recently landed the song “Live It Lonely” on Trace Atkins’ new “The Way I Wanna Go” record.
Opening Act: Mariah Faith
Mariah Faith is a 22-year-old Soul Country singer who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in Conway, South Carolina. She uses her voice to tell stories through organic-sounding country with roots in blues, soul, & sometimes rock.
Mariah Faith was an American Idol season 21 competitor whose vulnerability, style & unique approach to music caught the attention of the judges as well as the world as she made her way into the top 20. Music, songwriting & self-expression have always been a huge part of Mariah‘s story. Singing as soon as she could talk, from church choir, to bar gigs, then on the big screen.
Mariah‘s goal is to show people that it is possible to stay true to yourself and not succumb to the world’s norms while making your dreams come true.
