The Idaho Songwriter’s Association, founded in 2010, is a 501 c 3 charitable organization with a mission; “To nurture the creative art of songwriting and foster the relationship between songwriters and the community”. We find music to be a unifying force that builds a stronger community and improves the quality of our lives. We are eager to expand our reach within the Treasure Valley area and throughout Idaho and we ask for your support.
Brief history: Spring 2010, Steve Eaton and Terry Miller hosted our very first meeting at the Blue Moose Café in Eagle, Idaho, and this was the first time songwriters brought their guitars and original songs to share and that meeting would become our signature monthly event dubbed the “Songwriters Forum”. Throughout 2010 – 2012, we held the Forum in various locations including St Chapel Winery, and the back yards of enthusiastic supporters, and this kept the original music vibe going while looking for a permanent home. We landed in the Gamekeeper lounge at the Owyhee Hotel where we had continued success with the Forum and Spotlight shows until the hotel underwent a major remodel.In the fall of 2013, we were lucky to grow our Forum in the Sapphire Room of the Riverside Hotel, where we found an incredible listening room experience and support from the dedicated hotel owners and staff. In 2016, we expanded the Forum and concerts to Cinder Wines in Garden City.
We have successfully attracted hundreds of songwriters through our mission, including nearly every working musician/songwriter in the Treasure Valley area. We are actively building an audience which supports original music in Idaho. Initially, our group met monthly for a Songwriter’s Forum, sharing original songs in an informal setting, and in the last few years we’ve expanded to many different venues and are now producing shows weekly. The ISA collaborates with The Village in Meridian to support a free concert series “Rock The Village” and Songwriter performances are after hours at The Backstage Bistro every Friday evening July-August. ISA also collaborates with many others in the community — the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation where we continue to have successful concerts at Lucky Peak’s Sandy Point Amphitheater, The Courtyard Marriott Hotel’s Bistro located in Meridian, Cinder Wines in Garden City, Avimor Community Center, Nampa Public Library, Downtown Nampa community events and others.
The ISA has featured national performers including Melissa Manchester, Danny O’keefe, Bill Labounty, Sergio Webb, Gail Davies, Maxwell Hughes, David Robert King–along with Idaho’s own Muzzie Braun, Pinto Bennett, Steve Eaton, Paul Tillotson, Gayle Chapman, Steady Rush and many others…
In our efforts, we are building an audience that supports and respects live, original music, and we are improving conditions for musicians by employing them to perform original material before an appreciative audience. We are encouraged by the many examples of musicians and audience members who have found new meaning in their lives through their exposure to songwriting experiences made possible by the Idaho Songwriters Association.
The ISA appeals to all genres and offers an unequaled listening experience. We are leading the crusade for songwriters to find purpose and opportunities to write and perform their original music. Since our inception, the venues for original music have increased dramatically. Our fans are loyal and have grown from a handful to more than 5,000.
