Staff report

Downtown Dripping Springs will be the hub for a variety of local, national and international songwriting talents as the 2016 Songwriters Festival hits Mercer Street Oct.14-16.

Pam Owens, director of tourism in Dripping Springs who also attends the event, said the festival provides exposure to the area.

“It showcases our downtown and community as a whole,” Owens said. “Visitors are spending the night and they go into shops and restaurants. They aren’t enjoying music in a vaccum.”

Laurie Halfpenny, co-organizer of the festival, said the festival introduces visitors to Dripping Springs and the downtown district on Mercer Street.

She said the event draws songwriters from all over the country and that performing in Dripping Springs introduces them to the area. It also helps draw fans to the songwriters as well, creating a way for many to gather exposure.

The third annual event will have more than 60 shows and over 40 songwriters who will perform on six stages.

Performances will be held Friday and Saturday and take place on several stages along Mercer Street, including at the Barber Shop, the Sidecar Tasting Room and Hudson’s on Mercer. All featured showcases at the event are free.

Local talent scheduled to perform at the festival include Katha Harris of Wimberley, Chad Hudson and Micah Wagner of Dripping Springs, Tom Meny of Buda and Jana Pochop of San Marcos.

The process in selecting talent for the event falls upon Halfpenny, along with her husband, Jim and Dave Niemeyer, who all organize the festival.

Halfpenny said the three partner in selecting songwriters from the more than 300 submissions they receive.

Jim, who is part of the selection committee, breaks down the submissions and listens to them.

For Halfpenny, it’s all about the “well written song,” but they process groups of performers to keep audiences entertained and wanting to come back.

“We have to make sure they (musicians) are marketable,” Halfpenny said. “Where they can market us, and us, them.

While it’s difficult to gauge the number of people that could potentially attend the festival, Halfpenny said all venues last year were full. So far this year, the headliner acts at the Mercer Street Dance Hall, which are ticketed, have been sold out.

Owens said she has been impressed with the level of talent and the “thought provoking lyrics” performers had.

“It was so peaceful and relaxing in a quiet atmosphere,” Owens said. “It’s not loud and raucous at all.”

But Owens said the city lacks hotel space, which in turn has the city missing out on the tourism dollars the festival could bring. That could change next year, a new hotel opens in town along U.S. Highway 290.

With the incorporation of hotel occupancy tax (HOT) dollars, Owens said it could help the Dripping Springs Chamber further promote the community. She said the Chamber receives a portion of HOT funds to promote the city for the vent.

“It’s nice when people from out-of-town come here and are able to stay here,” Owens said.