With over 25 years of professional experience in music, Joe Restivo’s guitar playing strongly reflects his Memphis roots. Joe Restivo 4 is influenced and inspired by soul and jazz musicians such as Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow, Steve Cropper and Reggie Young.

Long before there were Kings of Leon, Keys of Black or Whites of Jack in Music City there was a riddle spewing prophet of roots rock and roll. A bluesy blast of baritone bombast.  Equally versed in two glorious worlds, Rock and Roll – with a strong side of Outlaw Country. He is a force on tour and a tour de force. He is the last of the Full Grown Men and Roots Rock Royalty.

A native of Hattiesburg, and a member of the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame, Wilder crafted his signature brand of “Mid-Atlantic” (British and American) rock and roll, mixed with Country, Blues and Soul.  The band’s 1986 debut album, It Came from Nashville, was named one of the 50 Best Southern Rock Albums of All-Time by Paste Magazine in 2018.  Webb’s engaging personality led him to become one of America’s first Satellite DJs on XM Radio.  He’s now the host of the Americana Countdown show on WMOT radio/Nashville as well as continuing his three decade career as an Electrifying Artist on stages worldwide.

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“Tennessee Songwriters Week” celebrates the foundation of the craft, recognizes past and present songwriters and paves the way for future artists.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, songwriters will compete to perform at Memphis’ Lafayette’s Music Room, one of six Tennessee Songwriters Week Showcase events.

Hear tomorrow’s hits today and enjoy a performance from last year’s Memphis winners, Shara Matlock & Austin Carroll.

The Bluebird Cafe’s long-time open-mic night host and songwriter Barbara Cloyd will emcee the showcases and a panel of local judges will select the top songwriter from each event for a prize pack that includes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share their original songs on the historic stage at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and one-year free membership to NSAI.

For a full list of qualifying rounds, showcase events, special events, resources for songwriters and rules, visit tennesseesongwritersweek.com.

New Orleans native Brian “Breeze” Cayolle’s rich and soulful saxophone style was born from the traditions of the Jazz, Blues and R&B of his hometown. World renown for his strong and spirited tenor saxophone, he has performed with many of the great artists of his time and many of the legends of New Orleans music.

Will Tucker was raised on blues & southern rock in Memphis, Tennessee. He was playing drums at age five, piano at eight, & guitar at the age of twelve. During 2008 & 2009, Will performed on stage w/ Charlie Musselwhite, G. Love and Special Sauce, and the Beach Boys w/ John Stamos. Will and his band opened for BB King five times, & met legends such as Bobby Blue Bland, Steve Jordan & Billy Gibbons

MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit, and unforgettable live performances. At the heart of a Doug MacLeod performance is his knack for storytelling, bringing characters-from the faceless to the legendary-to strikingly real life. Doug is a multiple Blues Music Award winner, most recently the 2018 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album Of The Year ‘Break The Chain’ and the 2017 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist Of The Year. He is nominated for the 2020 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist Of The Year. He is currently working on his new album with producer Jim Gaines. Doug is an international touring artist who writes and sings original songs that are based on his own life and experiences. He learned from the old masters and carries forward a valuable tradition. As a youth, Doug overcame abuse and a crippling stutter by turning to music. After picking up a guitar, and singing – he found his voice. MacLeod’s playing landed him sideman gigs with George ‘Harmonica’ Smith, Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson, Lowell Fulson, and Big Mama Thornton. Over 30 years, 21 studio albums, several live records, compilations, a blues guitar instructional DVD and a live performance DVD, MacLeod has consistently earned raves. His songs have been covered by many artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, and Eva Cassidy. MacLeod’s songs have been featured in many TV movies and the hit show In the Heat of the Night. August Wilson requested his soulful slide guitar playing in the Los Angeles opening of “Gem of the Ocean”. From 1999 to 2004 Doug hosted Nothin’ But The Blues, a very popular weekend blues show on Los Angeles’ KLON-KKJZ. He has also been the voice for The Blues Showcase on Continental Airlines. For ten years he penned “Doug’s Back Porch,” a regular feature column in Blues Revue Magazine in which he shared his humorous and insightful stories with thousands of readers. He is one of the four featured artists in the movie “Resonate: A Guitar Story”, the feature documentary on the making of National Guitars. Like the old masters who taught him, MacLeod’s music expresses life and times through an intangible, elusive quality that may simply be a keen sense of what matters most. Doug’s music, stories, and philosophy provide a healing that has helped others overcome the hardships of their lives. Doug says the most important lessons he learned as a young musician came from Ernest Banks a one-eyed country bluesman from Toano, VA. “Never play a note you don’t believe” and “Never write or sing about what you don’t know about.”As Pee Wee Crayton’s widow Esther once told Doug, “You have a message and you’ll send that message mainly to the people who don’t go to church.” Amen.

Arkansas based trio, The ShotGunBillys are bringing a southern, down home, look you square in the eye, approach to today’s music. The SGB’s offer high energy southern rock with a firm country handshake that keeps fans feeling welcome and coming back for more. 

Rice Drewry Collective (RDC) is a collection of veteran musicians, versatile enough to play original material mixed with a variety of new and old cover tunes. From classic rock to acoustic driven roots rock, there’s a little something for everyone!

WALRUS delivers raw energy, superb vocals, and an eclectic set of classic alternative/college rock songs you remember but never hear live anymore by the likes of REM, INXS, Guadalcanal Diary, The Replacements, Echo and the Bunnymen, Hoodoo Gurus, The Cult, Duran Duran, David Bowie, and Depeche Mode, to name a few.

Jason Lee McKinney Band plays Americana Roots music that includes an amalgam of genres such as rock, pop, blues, and soul.

While the AQUANET experience is anchored by the sound of ’80s metal bands from Bon Jovi to Whitesnake, don’t expect a run-of-the-mill club band that just stands in the corner. Quite the opposite – this is one of the most decadent and colorful acts today. Imagine Hollywood … the Sunset Strip … when bands like Motley Crue and GnR ruled the world. This is the scene AQUANET re-creates night after night. With a complement of lights, special effects and costumes, the full production of an ’80s rock concert is brought to life on your stage.