The We R Indie and Indiegrrl International Music Conference will feature three days of music industry-related workshops, panel discussions, live showcases featuring artists from around the world, a battle of the bands, a Songwriter Showdown competition (for which the finalists have already been selected), and a vendor expo, Aug. 18-20, at Knoxville, Tennessee’s Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park and Convention Center.

Brian Ashley Jones and Tisha Simeral during a recent concert (Photo: Robert Berkowitz/RSBImageWorks)

Among the many panelists and workshop leaders addressing a variety of subjects will be Bill Pere, author of The Songwriter’s Coloring Book and president of the Connecticut Songwriters Association, who will discuss The 8 Keys to Success in the Music Business; and his wife Kay Pere, a singer-songwriter, voice and career coach, who’ll speak on Your Creative Compass: How to Achieve Sustainable Creativity. Brian Ashley Jones, a soulful singer, accomplished guitarist and versatile Americana songwriter, will speak about Wearing All the Hats – Survival Tips for the Do It Yourself Artist; while Tisha Simeral, his musical partner and a talented session musician, will address Music Theory – How to Write Charts for Your Songs. Jill Cagney, a New Jersey-based singer-songwriter and We R Indie board member, will moderate an open forum discussion on Perseverance in Staying on Course with Your Indie Career. A Songwriting Critique Panel also is on the conference agenda; although open to all conference registrants to attend, listen and learn, only the first 20 people who sign-up will get their songs reviewed.

More information on the conference – including registration and a complete schedule – may be found at www.WeRIndie.org.