Songwriters in Seattle

08/21/2026

https://www.songwritersinseattle.com/

https://www.songwritersinseattle.com/faq

Mission Statement
Songwriters in Seattle supports the community of Pacific Northwest songwriters through events that foster creative development, collaboration, music education, and performance.

Description
Songwriters in Seattle is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with over 3,000 members and 10 events per month dedicated to the education of musicians and cultural enrichment of the Pacific Northwest region. Working together both creatively and in the music business, we strive to grow the musical opportunities and public support structure for the creative community. If you are a musician, we offer growth opportunities for all levels and goals whether you are looking for help with songwriting, need to expand your contacts, seeking technical expertise, or wanting more exposure for your music. For the public that seeks new music from local artists, we offer a broad range of live events, recordings, and podcasts that showcase the amazing talent of our region, some of which may have otherwise gone unnoticed or unheard.

Vision
The goal of Songwriters in Seattle is to build a creative community in Seattle that rivals nationally renowned music cities such as Nashville and Austin. We wish to create an environment that supports and nurtures talent, both in showcasing the best of our members as well as developing those who desire to improve. Through the volunteer efforts of our members to help each other, everyone is lifted up and our region becomes culturally richer.

Contact us and let's talk about how Songwriters in Seattle can help you! [email protected]

Songwriters in Seattle is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the community of Pacific Northwest independent artists through events that foster creative development, collaboration, music education, and performance.

08/19/2026

New showcase!

07/23/2026

We’re thrilled to announce a new twist to The Couth Buzzard - Books & Community’s 10-year partnership with Songwriters in Seattle (SiS)! Starting on Saturday October 10, 2026, from 5-8pm, the Couth will be hosting a quarterly series of Song Circle Showcases.

These sessions will feature two 80-minute song circles of three performers each (with an intermission). Based on the model developed at legendary songwriters’ venues like Nashville’s Bluebird Café and Boston’s Club Passim, these sessions offer a different kind of performance vibe and opportunity for local songwriters that develop a wonderful synergy all their own.

“In these crazy times, we all need the opportunity to sit together in a space of creativity and collaboration. Song Circles offer a magic formula for audience and performer alike to hear and perform original music in a setting that allows the songs to resonate with each other,” said host Mike Buchman. Mike has a long history of organizing song circles at the Couth Buzzard, and has produced benefit shows for Solid Ground, The Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness, and the MS Society.

“Songwriters in Seattle is well-known for the showcases they produce where performers have a 25-minute solo set. These Song Circles add a new event to the SiS portfolio, giving songwriters a different kind of opportunity to practice their craft in collaboration with each other,” Mike said.

In addition to the Oct. 10 showcase, future Song Circles are scheduled for January 9, 2027, April 10, 2027, and July 10, 2027. For more information or to sign up to perform, go to:

Equipment provided: We'll supply PA, vocal mics, and one direct input for each performer. There is also an electric piano on site. If you need an instrument mic, or have questions about other technical considerations, contact Mike at [email protected].

03/15/2026

Great crowd and amazing music tonight at the No Patter No Chatter showcase! Thanks so much to Carmaig de Forest, Earl Brooks, Nancy K. Dillon, and Kat Bula for an awesome evening.

03/14/2026

thanks to all the folks who made it out through the snow to see us at the C and P coffeehouse last night March 13th! What a great time!

02/18/2026

Each year, Maritime Folknet holds a songwriting competition to encourage more songs to be written about maritime life in the Northwest, past and present. The contest is open to all, free to enter, and is dedicated to the memory of Bob Kotta, an important part of the Northwest maritime music story. W...

02/16/2026

Our friends at Seattle Composers Alliance let us know about a free event this Wednesday evening! It's called "How to Book $10K Gigs" and it's hosted by Carey Raybun. If you're interested in attending, please RSVP via this form! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9lwKftNihFa1B-vSTFX0_AG9tQk5Z5hoBegdGQUlQn1ji2A/viewform?usp=dialog

01/24/2026

Dear Songwriters,

We’re sending this to let you know that Travis Noel-Palmer has decided to step down as president of Songwriters in Seattle. Travis was and remains a dedicated advocate for the Seattle music community, and during his tenure as president of SiS, he revitalized the SiS community following the COVID era. Travis forged partnerships with other nonprofits, restarted our monthly networking meeting, brought new people into our community, and won arts grant money for SiS from local organizations.

We’d like to thank Travis for his service and for his work on behalf of musicians, and we wish him the best going forward! If you have any questions, concerns, or thoughts you'd like to share with the board, please feel free to email us at [email protected].

Travis wrote a note for the community, and we’d like to share it with you below:

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Hello SiS family,

Thank you all for the amazing community that you have provided for me over the last year and a half, it has meant very much to me. I appreciate how welcoming you have all been to me when I was a stranger, and how warm you have been as a friend. It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the news that I am stepping down from the leadership team of SiS. While the rest of the SiS board and I share many goals and hopes, I have learned that I am still searching for the right team for me to be a part of so that I may make my own dreams come true. I believe in you all, and I know that I will see you all around in the future because I very much enjoy seeing you all succeed at being amazing songwriters and human beings. I look forward to seeing the places that you all will go, and hearing the stories that you have to share.

I wish each and every one of you the best,
Travis Noel-Palmer