Lauver, Bowles, Townley headline ’25 Songwriters Showcase
Mark your calendar for the 2025 Songwriters Showcase, presented by Visit Farragut, in partnership with Topgolf and taking place from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 24, in Topgolf’s event space at 11400 Outlet Drive.
“Join us as we celebrate Tennessee Songwriters Week with an unforgettable evening featuring three talented local songwriters from the greater Knoxville area,” Town Tourism manager Hallie Riddle said.
The event features concerts by hosts David Haley Lauver, Karen Bowles and Mitch Townley.
“Discover the stories that inspire their music and connect with the heart behind the songs,” Riddle said.
Tickets are free, but guests need to register in advance at Eventbrite.com to receive priority seating. “Guests may also register at the door, but seating is limited, Town Historic Resources coordinator Kristi Vining said.
“A small token of appreciation will be given to a set number of participants, and Kapture Knoxville, a local photo booth company, will be on site to offer the perfect memento,” she added.
All three artists — Lauver, Bowles and Townley — are a part of Knoxville Songwriters Association.
Lauver is a Farragut resident who serves as education and public relations director of Knoxville Songwriters Association, according to Vining.
“Songs he has co-written include the Grammy-nominated ‘Appalachian Blue,’ recorded by Kristy Cox, and Ali Shumate’s ‘Jezebel,’ which reached No. 1 on the Bluegrass charts,” she said.
Bowles lives in West Knox County and is a board member of Knoxville Songwriters Association.
“She writes gospel, country, blues, bluegrass and children’s songs,” Vining said. “Karen was a co-writer of ‘Appalachian Blue,’ a bluegrass hit for Kristy Cox that earned a Grammy nomination.”
Townley is an “award-winning singer/songwriter from Knoxville who writes in the country, Christian country, folk and Inspirational genres,” Vining said. “He has more than 70 independent artist cuts, a song featured in a documentary about the Vietnam Memorial and a song in the network TV show ‘Nashville.’
“Townley was co-writer for ‘This Side of Sunday,’ and it spent eight weeks as the No. 1 song on the Christian Country Countdown,” she added.
“We are also thrilled to host at Topgolf Knoxville, an important tourism asset, community gathering spot, event space and vibrant restaurant in the Farragut community,” Riddle said.
For more information, follow Visit Farragut on Facebook and Instagram or e-mail visitfarragut@townoffarragut.org.