Young Songwriters Workshop ’25 at The Redbird Listening Room

July 7-10 2025 9AM-Noon

YSW is an opportunity for young people ages 10-18 and of any musical ability to workshop original material with working Texas songwriters, and to perform their song(s) as the openers for Songwriters Circle at the Redbird on Thursday evening (7/10/25, 7pm). This year’s mentor artists include Dallas Burrow, Sammy Wells (The Trips), Missoula Slim, Sterling Finlay, Dennis Jay and more TBA.

To register your young songwriter, email YSW Director Jason Woolery at woolery_jason@yahoo.com OR text YSW 25 to (512) 644-1786. Cost is $150/student, space is limited. We hope to see your young songwriter at this year’s workshop!

History

Central Texas Writing Project & Cheatham Street Music Foundation partnered to pilot the first Young Songwriters’ Camp at Cheatham’s Woodshed Studios in 2012. Following the death of Kent Finlay, the godfather of Texas music, we rebooted camp and moved it into the hallowed halls of Cheatham Street Warehouse for YSWC ’15.

2025 is our 12th year to host YSW. Young musicians and/or lyricists of any level or music style, age 10-18, are invited to join in this year’s fantastic workshop featuring a full slate of established Texas musicians. This summer, the event will be held at The Redbird Listening Room in New Braunfels, TX.

Sponsor a Young Songwriter

If you don’t have a young songwriter of your own, but you still believe in Kent Finlay’s vision enough to sponsor a young songwriter with a full or partial scholarship to YSW ’25, we’d be exceedingly grateful for your tax-deductible donation**.

All funds designated as YSW donations go directly to student scholarships, so anything you choose to contribute will be put to good use entirely by one of this year’s young songwriters!!! Even if you can’t cover a full tuition, please consider making a donation to support our young songwriters. You’ll help The Cheatham Street Music Foundation in its mission to promote and preserve Texas music, and you’ll be directly responsible for helping keep alive the rich tradition of live music and songwriting that has made this area a worldwide destination for pickers and fans alike!

To sponsor a student, please contact our Board Secretary Jason Woolery at

woolery_jason @yahoo.com or text YSW 25 to 512-644-1786

**The Cheatham Street Music Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization