Outernet has partnered with TransAtlantic Artists to launch the inaugural Denmark Street Songwriters Retreat on Sunday, March 23, which will see a host of songwriters come together for one week to work on new music.
The retreat will culminate in a candlelit concert on March 27 at St Giles-In-The-Fields, commonly known as the Poets’ Church, where the writers will showcase songs written that week.
Retreat curator and two-time Grammy Award nominee Beth Nielsen Chapman has written various tracks for artists including Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Michael McDonald, Amy Grant, Keb Mo’, Roberta Flack, Waylon Jennings, Faith Hill, Ute Lemper, Willie Nelson and Bettye LaVette. Her hit This Kiss was ASCAP’S 1999 Song Of The Year and she received Nashville Nammy's 1999 Songwriter Of The Year. In 2016, Chapman was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame.
Writers attending the retreat include Graham Gouldman, one of the founding members of 10CC formed in 1972 and the primary writer behind songs including I'm Not In Love, The Wall Street Shuffle, Dreadlock Holiday, The Things We Do For Love, Rubber Bullets, Art For Art’s Sake and I’m Mandy Fly Me. In 2014, Gouldman was also inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame.
The retreat will also include emerging writers proposed by Peer, The BRIT School, Help Musicians and Busk In London.
Producing the retreat is TransAtlantic Artists director Trudie Myerscough-Harris, who has produced songwriting retreats for the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.
“Denmark Street is a very important part of the Outernet district and we have seen multiple new music shops open over the last couple of years alongside the much loved established stores,” said Philip O’Ferrall, Outernet CEO. “Without songwriters, there is no music industry, so we are very proud to have established this retreat in such an apt location. I’d also like to thank our sponsors and supporters – BandLab, NME, Bar Italia, the BRIT School, Help Musicians, Lee & Thompson, No.Tom, Peer Music, Roland, St Giles in the Field, The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, Thirteen, TransAtlantic Artists, Busk In London and Wunjo.”
Myerscough-Harris, TransAtlantic Artists director, commented: “It's our passion to bring songwriting back to the historic heart of the West End and refocus the spotlight on the heritage of London's Tin Pan Alley – a mecca for musicians and the music industry. Established and emerging songwriters will collaborate in WC2 to continue this creative legacy and inspire the next generation to write, create and record. It’s a pleasure to work with kindred spirit Philip O’Ferrall, whose drive and enthusiasm has helped realise and establish this important song writing retreat.”
