Join Jon and David Estes May 31st from 7-10PM at the fabulous FRED’S  in Naples for an evening of acoustic music! Hope to see you there!

Presented by NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), Tin Pan South is the world’s largest all-songwriter festival, featuring over 350 songwriters, 85 shows, 10 venues, and 9000 fans.  Here are a few of my highlights.

I had the honor of seeing GRAMMY-Winning songwriter Vince Gill (Go Rest High on That Mountain, When I Call Your Name) as the special guest in a round at The Station Inn Thursday night, along with Leslie Satcher (Troubador, When God Fearin’ Women Get the Blues, Tough), Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers and Bobby Tomberlin (One More Day, Good Day to Run).  I was the last person to get in, and grabbed the last seat.  Vince Gill was the first person to walk on stage.  I thought he might just sing one song, but he stayed for the entire 2-hour round. This intimate show was my favorite night at The Station Inn to date.

Amy Grant (Baby Baby, I Will Remember You) graced The Listening Room Saturday night early show along with Ben Glover, the 2012 NSAI Songwriter of the Year.  We were fortunate enough to stay for the late show which featured Tom Douglas (Run To You – Lady Antebellum, House that Built Me – Miranda Lambert), Tony Lane (Run - George Strait, Little Past Little Rock – Lee Ann Womack), James Slater (In My Daughter’s Eyes – Martina McBride, The High Cost of Living – Jamey Johnson, Unstoppable - Rascal Flatts, Vancouver Winter Olympics), and special guests Kara DioGuardi (Sober - Pink, Walk Away – Kelly Clarkson, and American Idol judge, Seasons 8 & 9) and up and coming Texas trio Mockingbird Sun.

I was fortunate to end up at some of the most high-profile shows of the week, and am re-inspired as a writer to start playing out more often in Nashville!  In the meantime I will probably reserve my Tin Pan South Fast Access Pass well in advance for 2014!  Just one more reason I love Nashville!

~ Robyn

Check out www.burrjohnson.com

I had the privilege of entering the Bootleggers Bluegrass Band contest last week down on Broadway in Nashville.  Some of you know that I performed regularly with my bluegrass/country band “Monroe Station” in Naples, Florida.  Since I’ve moved up to Nashville two years ago I haven’t done a lot of performing, so this was a big step for me! I was grateful that some of the local players (Matt Raum, Kyle Tuttle and Whitney Campell) agreed to play with me at Bootleggers, and we put together a short set for the contest.  Our set list included Eight More Miles (Laurie Lewis), If Wishes Were Horses (Claire Lynch), Red Clay Halo (Gillian Welch), and When I Lay My Burdens Down (traditional).

The contest was judged only by a meter that registered applause and crowd feedback.  There were over 10 bands that competed that night and we received the highest applause rating in 8 weeks!  We ended up winning the contest that night and will compete this Thursday in the finals for a chance to win $1000!

And I (of course) was playing my Martin GPCPA4 from My Favorite Guitars!

I was grateful to have a very receptive and supportive crowd, and can’t wait to do it again this Thursday!

- Robyn

2013 Taylor 518e Grand Orchestra
Featuring a Tropical mahogany back and sides and Sitka spruce top

2013 Taylor 618e Grand Orchestra
Featuring a Big Leaf maple back and sides and Sitka spruce top

2013 Taylor 918e Grand Orchestra and 918e Custom Engelmann
Featuring an Indian rosewood back and sides and Sitka or Englemann spruce top

I had the privilege of attending the Doc Watson Tribute at The Station Inn February 12th.

Check out these amazing players! Featuring Byron House on bass, Luke Bulla on fiddle, Bryan Sutton on guitar and vocals, David Grier on guitar, Bryan McDowell on mandolin, and Buddy Greene on harmonica and vocals.

“Way Downtown”

Jon with Taylor DSM Barney Hill at the factory.

A bunch of new tops decorate the wall in the inlay area.

This is the Cocobolo set that Jon picked for a new Grand Orchestra BTO with a European spruce top!

Beautiful new Taylors on the display wall at the factory in El Cajon!

Jon with CF Martin IV and the new Martin D-17!

The beautiful and VERY RARE Martin Purple Martin Guitar – we were lucky to get just one of these!

The beautiful new Seth Avett Signature Edition!

The new Martin 1941 D-28 Authentic

Jon is holding the very popular (already!) 2013 Martin 1939 D-18 Authentic

Jon shows off the new 2013 Martin OM-18 Authentic – this is a huge HIT!

This just in!
GRAMMY-Award Winning Guitarist Clay Hess will perform at MBOTMA’s (Minnesota Bluegrass & Old Time Music Association’s) Winter Weekend March 1-3rd at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Plymouth, MN!
Clay will join Mark Kreitzer and Jon for workshops and a set with The Mark Kreitzer Band at The Festival!
And just ahead of Winter Weekend, Clay and Mark will join the very talented group Alabaster Falls for concerts at the Old Log Theater in Excelsior, MN on 2/27 and The Three Crows in Delano, MN on 2/28!
www.clayhess.com