Nicole Ariana’s ombré ambition took her away from us to that repository of dreams, Toronto. But as that plaque in my grandma’s foyer says: “home is where the heart is.” Returning home for a chance to participate in Gordie Sampson’s Songcamp, Ariana will perform Saturday [July 26] at Big Pony with hometown pals Samm Splash and Matty Boh.

Ariana is taking a break from her new industry-focused life in Toronto, where she first moved courtesy of a mentorship grant from Nova Scotia Film and Creative Industries.

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We’ve had many requests from fans for the set list from the Gordie Sampson Songcamp Circle at the Keltic Lodge, Ceilidh Hall on July 17.

Below are a list of the songs that were played, in order they were performed by each artist, along with the songwriter’s credits.

Circle 1: Gordie Sampson

Gordie Sampson “With You” – Gordie, Nicole Ariana, Carleton Stone
Donovan Woods “Say Yes to the Dress” – Donovan, Gordie Sampson, Breagh Mackinnon
Molly Thomason “Marry An American” – Molly, Donovan Woods, Mark Boutilier
Willie Stratton “How Much” – Willie, Steven MacDougall
Chris James “Wishing Well” – Chris, Barb Cameron, Steven MacDougall
Nicole Ariana “About You Baby” – Nicole, Carmen Townsend, Chris James
Steven MacDougall “Weather Girl” – Steven, Natalie Lynn, Mark Boutilier
Breagh Mackinnon “Astronaut” – Breagh, Dylan Guthro, Gordie Sampson

Circle 2: Breagh Mackinnon

Breagh Mackinnon “Brick by Brick” – Breagh, Mark Boutilier, Dana Beeler
Dave Sampson “Girl Like You” – Dave, Chris James, Rankin MacInnis
Jenny MacDonald “Weightless” – Jenny, Rankin MacInnis, Natalie Lynn
Natalie Lynn “Was It Worth It?” – Natalie, Mo Kenney, Laura Roy
Kyle Mischiek “Cold Water” – Kyle, Donovan Woods, Carleton Stone
Laura Roy “Party With The Lights On” – Laura, Donovan Woods, Steven MacDougall
Mark Boutilier “Highlights” – Mark, Dylan Guthro, Barb Cameron

Circle 3: Carleton Stone

Carleton Stone “Tell Us Apart” – Carleton, Willie Stratton, Mo Kenney
Dana Beeler “One Trick Pony” – Dana, Barb Cameron, Jenny MacDonald
Mo Kenney “Faked It” – Mo, Joel Plaskett, Willie Stratton, Gordie Sampson
Rankin MacInnis “Monster” – Rankin, Nicole Ariana, Dave Sampson
Dylan Guthro “Here ‘Til The Morning” – Dylan (Track)
Elijah Wohlmuth “Intuition” – Elijah (Track)
Barb Cameron “Falling Into You” – Barb, Carleton Stone, Nicole Ariana (Track)

Closing: “Flip Flops”

Celebrating the Gordie Sampson Songcamp 5th anniversary, where songwriters from the first five years were all reunited. Special guests include songwriter/artist Donovan Woods and producers Mike Shepherd, Chris Noxx, and Corey Lerue.

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp launched in 2010 with six young writers, two instructors, and a vision: to nurture emerging songwriters from across Nova Scotia, give them access to knowledge, and help them develop tools that will benefit their writing careers. Or as Nashville-based, Cape Breton native Sampson says, “Let’s get the best young songwriters in Nova Scotia and take them to the most inspiring place we can think of (Ingonish) and see what happens.”

For the past four summers, some of Nova Scotia’s most promising songwriters have been hand-picked to take part in the intensive series of co-writing sessions conducted by the Grammy Award-winning songwriter from Big Pond, along with leaders Steven MacDougall (Slowcoaster) and Carleton Stone. By all accounts, it has been a motivating experience, encouraging a growing sense of community, and an inspiring collection of songs. In 2013 it became apparent that these songs deserved to be shared.

The first Gordie Sampson Songcamp compilation was released in November 2013. The collection of 15 songs features 22 Nova Scotia songwriters, including Mo Kenney, Dylan Guthro, Carleton Stone, Dana Beeler, Willie Stratton, Breagh Mackinnon, Gordie Sampson, and Molly Thomason. Chosen from over 150 songs written during Songcamp from 2010-2013, they range in style from the fine folk of “Harbourtown” (Breagh Mackinnon, Gordie Sampson, Natalie Lynn) to the contemporary pop/rap of “All The Time In the World” (Carleton Stone, Elijah Wohlmuth, Kyle Mischiek) to the infectious reggae groove of “Flip Flops” (Brandon Johnson, Jenny MacDonald, Steven MacDougall).

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Writers from the Gordie Sampson Songcamp are performing a very special show as part of the PEI 2014 Celebration Zone in Charlottetown in this summer. Check out these details and if you’re in PEI – come out to see the show!

Gordie Sampson Songcamp Show
Saturday, July 5 at 8:45pm
PEI 2014 Celebration Zone
Confederation Landing Park- Mainstage
Charlottetown, PEI

Performances by Songcamp writers:

Dana Beeler
Breagh Mackinnon
Jenny MacDonald
Laura Roy
Carleton Stone
Dave Sampson
Kyle Mischiek
Dylan Guthro

For more information, visit the PEI Celebration Zone website, click here.

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp launched in 2010 with six young writers, two instructors, and a vision: to nurture emerging songwriters from across Nova Scotia, give them access to knowledge, and help them develop tools that will benefit their writing careers. A lot has happened in five years… record releases, shows, covers, awards, and more.

This year, from July 13-19, there are 15 writers and four instructors who will reunite with Gordie Sampson at Songcamp in Ingonish, Nova Scotia, for four days of collaboration. To celebrate its 5th anniversary, Songcamp has invited three special guests to participate – songwriter Donovan Woods, and Chris Noxx and Corey Lerue on the production front.

Donovan is a Juno-nominated Canadian songwriter, splitting his time between Canada and Nashville, and has had covers by country superstars like Tim McGraw as well as numerous Canadian artists. His music has been featured in major motion pictures, television shows, and commercials.

Chris and Corey will join longtime Songcamp producer, Mike Shepherd, to record songs that are written at Songcamp during the week. Chris has just returned to Halifax to set up shop after spending time in LA where his numerous and notable collaborations and credits include “Fastlane”- Eminem & Royce Da 5 9 Ft Sly Jordan, co-writing credits for “Beautiful Girls” by Sean Kingston, and production on Young Bucks’ “Anticipating”. Corey is a Halifax-based audio engineer, producer, and composer. His work has been featured in The Source, HipHopDX, CBC, Exclaim!, and was also in the top 10 HipHop/Rap downloads on iTunes for his mixing/mastering efforts on Quake Matthews Corrado.

In addition to the traditional Gordie Sampson Songcamp Circle closing concert at Ceilidh Hall, Keltic Lodge in Ingonish, which is taking place on Thursday, July 17, Songcamp writers will also hit the road to play a show at the Louisbourg Playhouse on Friday, July 18. Both Songcamp Circles are hosted by Gordie Sampson and feature performances by this year’s Songcamp writers. Audiences can purchase the first edition Gordie Sampson Songcamp CD at the show and online at gordiesampsonsongcamp.com.

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp Circle
Thursday, July 17
Ceilidh Hall, Keltic Lodge
7:30 PM – All Ages, Licensed
Adults $15 – Under 19 $10
Advance tickets available at Doucette’s Variety and Home Hardware in Ingonish.

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp Circle
Friday, July 18
Louisbourg Playhouse
7:30 PM – All Ages, Licensed
Tickets $25.00 (including HST)
Purchase online at www.fortressoflouisbourg.ca/LouisRocks2014
For more information visit www.louisbourgplayhouse.ca

2014 Songcamp Writers

Gordie Sampson – Big Cove
Steven MacDougall (Leader) – Glace Bay
Carleton Stone (Leader) – Sydney
Dylan Guthro (Leader) – Sydney Mines
Breagh Mackinnon (Leader) – Sydney
Barb Cameron – Grand River
Chris James – Springhill

Dana Beeler – Lantz
Dave Sampson – Sydney
Elijah Wohlmuth – Enfield
Jenny MacDonald – Antigonish
Kyle Mischiek – North Sydney
Laura Roy – Canning
Marc Boutilier – Millville
Mo Kenney – Dartmouth
Molly Thomason – Antigonish
Natalie Lynn – Shelburne
Nicole Curry – Sydney, Truro
Rankin MacInnis – Mabou
Willie Stratton – Bedford

Sure, it’s a feather in your cap to have one of your songs recorded by Keith Urban or Faith Hill, but for a songwriter like Gordie Sampson, could it get any cooler than having a tune recorded by Willie Nelson?

The Big Pond musician will see his aptly titled tune “Songwriter”, co-penned by Bill Anderson, appear on the Texas country legend’s new album Band of Brothers.

“Somebody pinch me, this is too cool!” wrote Sampson while posting the news directly from willienelson.com, noting his songs will join compositions by Nelson, Vince Gill and Billy Joe Shaver.

Band of Brothers is due out on Tuesday, June 17.

The Chronicle Herald

Songcamp songwriter Dave Sampson released his new album on May 7 with a sold-out release show at The Carleton in Halifax the same night. No Pressure No Diamonds has been met with rave reviews – we can’t wait to see where this takes Dave next!

East Coast Music Week is taking place from April 2-6 in Charlottetown, PEI this year, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase many of the Songcamp songwriters at the festival.

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp Show is presented by SpinCount and takes place in the Roland ECMA Member’s Lounge at the PEI Convention Centre (foyer) on Friday, April 4 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

Here are the songwriters performing on the show:

4:00 Carleton Stone, Kyle Mischiek, and Elijah Wohlmuth
4:20 Seamus Erskine
4:30 Jenny MacDonald
4:45 Breagh Mackinnon
5:00 Chris Brown
5:15 Dana Beeler
5:25 Dave Sampson
5:35 Rankin MacInnis
5:50 Laura Roy
6:05 Natalie Lynn
6:15 Barb Cameron
6:30 Evan Meisner
6:45 Mo Kenney

If you’re at ECMW, we’d love to see you there!

Songcamp songwriter Natalie Lynn has released a new single and music video for her song “Runaway”. Click here to watch and listen!