ICSF
Our inaugural 3-day music festival and conference centered around the craft of songwriting, presented by The Englert Theatre across downtown Iowa City.
“The Iowa City Songwriters Festival reminded us why we love music” – Tony Dehner
photo by Lucius Pham
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Iowa City Songwriters Festival is an intimate, three-day music festival and conference celebrating the craft of songwriting. It showcases world-class songwriters through performances at venues across downtown Iowa City, including The Englert Theatre, The James Theater, The Black Angel, Trumpet Blossom Café, and a conference at the Iowa Conservatory. The festival also partners with organizations such as Merge, Think IC, The Den, and The Wilder to offer additional artist workshops and engagements.
Alongside the performances, the conference features artist talks, panel discussions, and mentoring sessions, as well as scholarship opportunities that give attendees access to top artists from across the country. These opportunities allow participants to deepen their understanding of the art and process of writing songs.
Rooted in the idea that Iowa City should be just as much a hub for songwriters as it is for other forms of writing, the festival is carefully curated for both songwriting enthusiasts and casual listeners. Its mission is to cultivate a vibrant community of musicians, writers, and music lovers in Iowa City—honoring the rich tradition of songwriting and the powerful human connections it inspires.
ICSF Scholars
The ICSF Scholars is kindly sponsored by Doug & Sarah Goettsch and Big Grove for Good Foundation.
The Iowa City Songwriters Festival will offer up to 20 scholarships each year to musicians eager to expand their craft. ICSF Scholars will receive free access to all festival events, exclusive artist engagements, meals, and hotel accommodations during the festival. The scholarship is an opportunity for musicians to experience a 3-day master course in songwriting, and participants will leave enlightened, inspired, and equipped with fresh ideas and techniques to better hone their craft.
We also want to share a special opportunity to deepen your connection to ICSF. One of our core values is making this festival accessible to those who may not otherwise be able to attend. Our Scholar Program provides full festival access, as well as room and board, to 20 selected artists so they can participate fully and grow their craft here in Iowa City.
If your time at ICSF inspired you and you’d like to help open this door for someone else, please consider becoming a Scholar Sponsor. A sponsorship of $1,500 covers the cost for one scholar to attend the festival. Sponsors will be recognized in our program materials and on-site signage as partners in building a vibrant and inclusive future for songwriting.
Scholar Perks
- All Access to ICSF
- 3 Night Stay at The Graduate Hotel
- Food from local establishments
- Intimate three-course meal + song swap on first night at Trumpet Blossom Cafe
- Exclusive engagement with ICSF Artist in Residence
- 1:1 Mentorship from Festival Artists
- Access to MusiCares
- Networking + Connections within the global songwriting community
Would you be ready to Sponsor a Scholar now? Click the button below to donate securely!
Prefer to chat with Paige Samek + Sarah Mannix about this sponsorship opportunity? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!
Take a look inside our 2025 Scholar Schedule…
Photo by Lucius Pham
2025 Artist in Residence: Courtney Marie Andrews
The Artist in Residence is kindly sponsored by Brix Wine & Cheese Bar. Thanks, Nick!
Courtney Marie Andrews served as the first-ever Artist in Residence at the 2025 Iowa City Songwriters Festival. Her residency set the tone for ICSF’s mission: to celebrate the intersections of songwriting, literature, and visual art. Through performances, workshops, and community engagements, Courtney shared her time and talents generously with Iowa City, leaving an indelible mark on the festival’s inaugural year.
The Iowa City Songwriters Festival‘s first year was a content-packed celebration of the craft of songwriting. Artists from around the world gathered in intimate spaces across Iowa City to share their songs, stories, and processes.
We were thrilled to welcome our first Artist in Residence, Courtney Marie Andrews.
Courtney is the consummate artist — a poet, painter, and songwriter whose prolific output has crossed mediums and reached audiences across the globe. The Arizona native and current Nashvillian gave an honest, vivid voice to the many dark forests and sunlit meadows of life and love.
Since her breakout debut Honest Life in 2017, Courtney released six acclaimed albums (with a seventh on the way), earned a GRAMMY nomination for Old Flowers, and published her first book of poetry, Monarch. Iowa City audiences remembered her 2023 performance and reading at the Mission Creek Festival. Her visit to ICSF came just days after the release of her second book of poetry, Love Is A Dog That Bites When It’s Scared, and ahead of her upcoming seventh studio album.
When it came time to choose an Artist in Residence, Courtney was an obvious choice. Her work bridged the traditional literary community in Iowa City (fiction, poetry, nonfiction) with the songwriting world. This multi-disciplinary approach embodied the spirit of creativity we celebrated at ICSF.
Wednesday, September 3rd
Songwriting Workshop
6:30–8:30 PM · MERGE · Free
Courtney led a free, intimate workshop on idea generation, working from a title back into a song, editing, and knowing when you’re done.
Thursday, September 4
ICSF Kickoff Dinner + Song Swap with Deb Talan
6:00–9:30 PM · Trumpet Blossom Café · All Access or Scholars Only – SOLD OUT
The festival officially kicked off Thursday night with a curated dinner by Katy Meyer and the team at Trumpet Blossom Café, followed by a special song swap with Courtney and Iowa City’s own Deb Talan. Two songwriters, two painters, two artists who found beauty in life’s smallest moments — trading songs and stories for one unforgettable evening.
Friday, September 5
Poetry Reading: Love Is A Dog That Bites When It’s Scared
6:00–7:00 PM · Prairie Lights Books & Café · Free
Courtney read from her brand-new poetry collection and discussed her creative process at Iowa City’s iconic literary hub, Prairie Lights.
Saturday, September 6
1×1 Discussion with Englert Nonfiction Fellow Lauren Childs
2:00–3:00 PM · Iowa Conservatory · $20 or included in any festival pass
As part of the ICSF Songwriting Conference, Courtney spoke with The Englert’s 2025 Nonfiction Fellow Lauren Childs about her time in Iowa City, her creative process, and how she balanced her work across three artistic disciplines.
Performance in Support of Joy Oladokun
7:30–8:30 PM · The Englert Theatre · $55 (including fees) or included in any festival pass
Courtney closed out her residency with a solo performance ahead of ICSF headliner Joy Oladokun. Moving between guitar and piano, she shared songs from across her career — plus previews from her forthcoming album. Her paintings were also displayed (and for sale!) in The Englert’s lounge on the second floor.
In addition to these public events, Courtney also:
- Recorded a video session with IPR’s Studio One
- Engaged with ICSF scholars at Wilson’s Orchard
- Offered five 1×1 mentorship sessions for scholars
Courtney’s generous spirit and multi-faceted artistry reflected what ICSF is all about — building community around creation.
ICSF Conference
The icsf Conference is kindly sponsored by Kim Schillig Realtor, Little Village Magazine, MUSICares and Greater Iowa City at the Iowa Conservatory.
The Englert was excited to expand, learn, and grow with the community by hosting an ICSF Conference that features artist talks, panel discussions, and 1:1 mentoring sessions.
Follow the official Songwriters Festival social media pages and The Englert’s newsletter to be the first to hear any news that drops!
CHORUS SPONSORS
BRIDGE SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSOR
2ND VERSE SPONSORS
GRANT SUPPORTERS
Designs & Branding by Taylor Burnside
