Second annual Washougal Songcraft Festival returning bigger than before

Free, all-ages festival to feature 24 songwriters, 5 concerts throughout Washougal

By Doug Flanagan
August 1, 2024 3:18 pm
Arts & Entertainment, Latest News, News

James Cook performs at the 2023 Washougal Songcraft Festival. (Contributed photos courtesy of Washougal Songcraft Festival)

The 2024 Washougal Songcraft Festival (WSF) will feature more concerts, more performers and more venues than it did in 2023, its inaugural year. Some of that growth is by design and some of it is happening as the result of some unexpected news delivered by the owner of one of the 2023 festival’s host venues.

“When we met with (54-40 Brewing Company co-owner) Bolt (Minister) this year, he informed us that he lost the rights to his back space, so we were not going to be able to have the festival in the same position we had it (last year),” WSF co-founder Stephanie Corbell said. “That fueled us to dig deeper, and pushed us (to expand the festival) a little quicker than we had anticipated.”

As a result, the 2024 festival, to be held throughout the month of August at four Washougal venues, will include five concerts and feature 24 regional songwriters and three vocal-music composers.

All of the concerts are free to the public and all-ages.

“We are extremely excited,” Corbell said. “The amount of love and support we have from the singer-songwriter community is just outstanding.”

The inaugural summer festival held in 2023, featured three concerts at Reflection Plaza and 54-40 Brewing Company, and featured 16 performers.

“Last year, I really got the reinforcement that what we’re doing has some value, that the artists and that the community gets why it’s cool to have original songwriting,” Christopher Corbell said. “We’re not trying to bring famous (artists) to Washougal. We’re trying to build here with regional artists, and last year taught us that (model) works.”

“Our budget definitely went up this year because of the expansion and the different venues,” said Christopher Corbell, Stephanie’s husband and WSF co-founder. “When we apply for grants, we’re always conscious of our whole budget and only ask for a little part of it from any one place. That was, I think, part of the reason the City liked our proposals — we asked for a small amount based on our whole budget.”

The Washougal City Council, during its July 22 meeting, allocated $2,000 from the city’s Arts Commission and $3,200 from its lodging taxes to the festival, which will cost an estimated $14,630.

Washougal City Councilwoman Michelle Wagner praised the Corbells during a July 8 Council workshop.

“It’s been really great to watch them basically start this effort of getting music into Washougal … and watching it grow from what they had last year,” Wagner said. “Last year, it didn’t encompass as many days or as many venues, so I’m really excited for the future. I know it’s been a long, hard slog, but I see that it’s multiplying. I’m hoping we can have those T-shirts that say ‘Third annual Washougal Songcraft Festival’ in the future.”

The WSF will once again join forces with the Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance’s Washougal Arts Festival on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Reflection Plaza. Six songwriters, including Portland’s Doug Shafer and local songwriter Brenna Larsen, will perform between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. amid art displays featuring local and regional artists.

Parker’s Landing Marina at the Port of Camas-Washougal will host concerts from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 15-16. Featured performers will include Tevis Hodge Jr., Raven Fables, Leo Moon, Glam Country, the Jack Maybe Project and Chad Bault.

The festival will return to Reflection Plaza Saturday, Aug. 17, for an afternoon concert from 3 to 7 p.m. that will feature six performers, including Laska, Minda Lacy and The Moonshine.

The festival will end Sunday, Aug. 18, with a recital, featuring composers Lisa Neher, William Toutant, and C. A. Corbell, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Washougal Community Center.

“We’re not in any certain genre,” Christopher Corbell said. “We’re not a rock festival. We’re not a folk festival. We’re just about good songwriting, and that’s one thing that I think people can expect when they hear our performers. There’s going to be interesting lyrics, there’s going to be cool melodies, and there’s going to be personal expression from all of our artists. And within that framework, there’s a lot of variety.”

The Corbells launched the WSF as a nonprofit organization in 2023, to promote arts education; foster, share and celebrate the craft of songwriting; and develop the local performing arts and creative community.

The group also presents monthly “intimate song circles” in Washougal from October through June.

“Our vision is so focused on building something that happens here every year, that’s part of Washougal’s cultural identity, happening in the civic center and not out on private land somewhere, and (featuring) local singer songwriters,” Christopher Corbell said. “Our vision is wanting to see Washougal be known for something cultural. We hope to build a legacy.”

For more information, visit washougal-songcraft.org.

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