Martha’s Vineyard Songwriters Festival wrap-up

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The rooftop of the Mansion House was rocking with sounds last Friday evening as songwriters and music lovers gathered for the Martha’s Vineyard Songwriters Festival kick-off party. There was an impressive array of food and beverages, courtesy of Zephrus, and an opportunity to meet with the songwriters/musicians and get a preview of the quality of music to be performed throughout the weekend,

Phil DaRosa, Scott Kirby, and Tony Roberts took to the stage, or the rooftop, with the surreal vista of a fog-laden Vineyard Haven harbor as backdrop. Each played a selection of original songs they would perform later in the weekend.

Mark Mason, a representative from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), co-sponsor of the event, presented a Million-Air Award to three songwriters, Jeff Cohen, Keith Stegall, and Tom Douglas, in recognition of the many on-air performances of their hit songs. BMI keeps track of air play, collects license fees, and pays member musicians accordingly. It represents more than 475,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers with more than 6.5 million works.

The music continued at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs later Friday and Saturday evenings, with a festival wrap-up at Nectar’s on Sunday night.