Lava Flows from Nashville
Songwriter Retreat at Greystone Manor

Greystone Manor Bed and Breakfast played host to a 3-day songwriter’s seminar and workshop Friday through Sunday, March 4-6. Owners, Andy and Darrey Haight, songbrought in two professional songwriters from Nashville, Marc-Alan Barnette and Jimbeau Hinson, to mentor and teach the finer points of songwriting. "It was the most amazing experience of my writing life.” Sixteen songwriters from Pocatello, Logan, and even as far as away as Salt Lake City and Minnesota came to practice their craft with the hands-on-training from Barnette and Hinson. “It was incredible. Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced” said Jay Davis from local favorite band Wasatch Back.   

It was Barnette’s third such event and by far the most involved. He has had songs recorded by Grammy nominee Shelby Lynne, country super star John Berry, and a current song “Too Much Blood In My Alcohol Level” on country star David Ball’s “Freewheeler” album. 

Hinson has had songs recorded by everyone, but most notably The Oakridge Boys classic “I’m Setting Fancy Free” and David Lee Murphy’s “Party Crowd,” 1995’s most played record of the year. Last year he was nominated for a Grammy Award for The Oakridge Boys version of his song “Colors.”

After a full day of writing on Friday and an evening at The Blue Moon Café, watching the Wasatch Back band, they were all exhausted. But patrons got a taste of Nashville show time as Barnette and Hinson, both amazingly electric performers, sang some of their hits. They were backed up by the band, of which four members were workshop attendees. 

Saturday began the same with the two leading a discussion on the ups and downs of the music business. Then off to more writing with each group finishing their first efforts. “It sometimes takes months to write songs,” said Barnette. “But we pushed them hard and each and every one rose to the challenge.” Having known most of them on his two previous trips helped him to help them. “On the two trips before, it was just getting to know each other and the mechanics of songwriting,” he says. “This is like Army Ranger training. Very hard and not for the faint of heart. Some of these are radio quality songs.

After a wonderful lunch including Durray’s world famous potato soup, they were grouped into different configurations for the second efforts. “I was so worn out I couldn’t believe it,” said Salt Lake’s Julie Keyser. “You can’t imagine how hard this is, to just meet someone, start talking and then start writing songs. But it is so worth it.” Keyser is the Nashville Songwriters Association International coordinator for Salt Lake. NSAI is a Nashville based, not for profit songwriters association with over 110 chapters across the US and Europe that sponsors events like the Greystone Manor event.

“All we need are several people with a love for music,” says Andy Haight who met Barnette on one of his trips to Nashville. “It’s amazing to get writers of this caliber to come to Lava. It helps the community with hotels and restaurants and the clubs and shops. We hope the community will help support our ongoing events and concerts.”  

That set the stage for Saturday night’s concert in the gymnasium of Greystone Manor. A converted church, the building has a wonderful gym where over 60 people saw a real Nashville concert for free.

better known songs as well as new one’s destined for the radio. They kept the audience balled over with laughter on songs like Hinson’s “My Dog Thinks I’m Elvis,” a current song on the national Radio Shack commercial with Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw. A teary eyed moment came when Barnette recounted his first trip and a man who wanted his song “The Beginning,” a humorous look at death. “He walked up and asked for a CD of the song. I have 2 CDs, but not the one with that song on it. I told him I would send him one when I got back to Nashville. He said “I don’t think I have that long,” and then explained his father in law was dying in the hospital and wanted to play that song for the family.” I found one copy and got it to him. His father in law died that night. They played it at the funeral. “That’s why I write songs,” says Marc-Alan.

After the show, Barnette and Hinson met the crowd, sold CDs and signed autographs. The crowd really enjoyed it; many remarking they didn’t know this was going on. But even three people from Czechoslovakia seemed to love every minute. Later the chairs were pulled in a circle and the workshop attendees got into the act, playing their own songs and telling stories. The audience sat around and joined in, getting their first taste of a Nashville style “Guitar Pull.” It went on into the night and then some ventured to The Blue Moon for late night dancing.

  Sunday started the same way with everyone finishing their second song. And then came the last part. Recording the songs. The Manor also features a Wedding Chapel with “some of the best acoustics I’ve heard,” said Hinson. “Perfect for the marriage of some of these songs and their writers, or the births, depending on how you look at it.”

Some sang and played their creations themselves. Barnette and Hinson singing on some and in one case even reached into the other group for assistance. Salt Lake’s Debra Lowe, who had an incredible voice, sang “Step Up or Step Aside,” written by Pocatello’s Gene Galloway and Helen Lusk. “She was just wonderful,” says Gene.

At the end of a very long weekend some guitar players sat around for some performance tips from the pros. Then they closed it up, hugged goodbye and headed their separate ways. “It was something nobody will forget and I can’t wait to do again,” says Zan Summers Drummer and singer for the band. We hope to soon be doing some of these songs in our band.

“We hope to keep this going,” says Andy. “We want the public to see and hear something you typically don’t get outside of Nashville.” The Manor hopes to bring Barnette out again this summer and possibly both Barnette and Hinson again in the fall. “It all depends on the people and their support,” says Andy. “I hope they take advantage of it.”  

For information call Andy or Durray Haight.

Lava Flows from Nashville, Mar. 4-6, 2005 Edited

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