Growing up in Oklahoma, Ada native Zac Maloy couldn’t have known he would become a “professional songwriter.” Now, living in Nashville and with a fair share of hits to his name, he still doesn’t like the term.
“Professional songwriters,” Maloy said with a laugh. “It seems kind of funny to say that because we’re all a bunch of dudes sitting around in Converse tennis shoes and jeans trying to find new ways to rhyme with love, but whatever.”
Maloy will be bringing several of his denim-wearing dude brethren to OKC this month for the inaugural Oklahoma Songwriters Festival from April 28 to April 30. With special events lined up for each of the three days, Maloy said the festival will seek to connect artists with fans of songwriting as well as help guide young performers, writers and production specialists looking for future opportunities.
“It’s for anyone who loves music and who wants to hear stories behind songs,” Maloy said. “It’ll be a creative weekend where anything can happen.”
To put on the event, Maloy has brought in some of his closest songwriting associates, including: Marcus Hummon, Jim Beavers, Graham Colton, Marti Frederiksen and J.D. McPherson. The weekend will feature several songwriting workshops as well as evening performances.
NonDoc is a sponsor of the event.
“The shows, I think, are going to be eye-opening for fans of music to see these writers talking about their music,” Maloy said. “The whole goal originally was really two parts: To entertain with the public events but to also create an artery to Nashville.”
But the festival will also offer Maloy an opportunity he hasn’t had in a decade.
“At the end of the show Saturday night, I will be joined onstage by Jesse Davis and John Humphrey who, along with myself, were three of the founding members of The Nixons,” Maloy said. “We have not shared the stage together in over 10 years. We’ve been batting around a Nixons reunion for years, but it’s just hard with all our schedules.”
For more information, visit OklahomaSongwritersFestival.com. Tickets can be purchased online here.
