The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) stages its 16th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, April 1-5, in Nashville.  The songwriters’ festival, which takes place at nine venues throughout Music City USA, also coincides with NSAI’s Spring Symposium, a two-day intensive seminar for writers of all genres and experience levels, that takes place at Nashville’s Millennium Maxwell House.

More than 9,000 music fans and songwriters are expected to converge on Nashville for five days of performances by songwriters from various genres in more than 80 shows during the festival.  The schedule will be announced on Friday, March 7.

Billed as America’s largest music festival dedicated to songs and songwriters, Tin Pan South was developed 16 years ago by a group of songwriters who recognized Nashville as the “new” Tin Pan Alley, much like the New York scene was during the early part of the 20th century.  Besides shedding light on Tennessee’s rich cultural heritage and on the songwriters who live and hone their craft there, the festival serves as a fundraiser for NSAI’s legislative efforts.

NSAI’s Spring Symposium opens April 4 with a performance by and interview with multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Vince Gill.  The two-day symposium also will feature lunch roundtable Q & A’s with pro songwriters, a songwriting panel, song evaluations with Nashville publishers, etc.

Established in 1967, NSAI is a not-for-profit trade organization for songwriters with more than 5,000 members in the U.S. and five other countries.  For more information on NSAI, the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and the Spring Symposium, visit  www.nashvillesongwriters.com.