Starting Thursday, VersoFest will draw music and arts lovers from around the region.
But some featured presenters will come from much further.
Longtime collaborators Amilia K Spicer and Edward Romero are flying in from California.
Amilia — a singer-songwriter — opens for the Smithereens on Friday (March 31, 7 p.m.), the second day of the 4-day music, media and more Westport Library event.
On Saturday (April 1, 3 p.m.) she leads a master class in songwriting.
Amilia K Spicer
Veteran screenwriter Romero offers a master class in that subject on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m.
Romero has known Library executive director Bill Harmer since high school, and then at Eastern Michigan University. Over the years they’ve shared music videos and news.
When Harmer asked Romero if he’d be interested in VersoFest, the writer suggested Spicer too. He’s been a fan of her Americana/blues/country music ever since hearing her play in an L.A. bar.
Edward Romero
Spicer’s songwriting workshop will focus on “empowering people to find their own voice,” she says. She found hers by “thinking cinematically, in images.”
Romero’s approach is more “nuts and bolts,” he says. He will show members of his workshop how to approach a script with a set of practical tools. He welcomes anyone who “wants to write, is struggling with what they’ve written, or haven’t yet cracked the (industry) code.”
Both look forward to VersoFest.
“I love events that feel grassroots,” Spicer says, “and towns that support the arts.”
“I know how proud Bill is of his library facility,” Romero adds. “It’s so cool what goes on there.”
A lot more will go on starting Thursday, of course. Click here for the full VersoFest schedule of concerts, workshops, panels, a vinyl fair and more.
(From Verso Fest and the Levitt Pavilion to Westport musicians and school concerts, “06880” keeps you up on local entertainment news. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
