The Dripping Springs Songwriter Festival in the Heart of the Hill Country

Two songwriters on a stage with their guitars.

A man and a woman on stage with their guitars.

…it’s all about the song.

The Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival was founded in 2014 by songwriter/composer Jim Halfpenny, bookkeeper Laurie Halfpenny, and brewer/businessman Dave Niemeyer.

Their shared concept for the event was to create a premier performance and exposure opportunity for up-and-coming songwriters from around the world, while providing their audiences with a 3-day weekend of amazing songs and the people and stories behind them. The DSSF was produced under the loving guidance of Laurie, Jim and Dave from 2014 through 2019, introducing the Dripping Springs community to hundreds of talented emerging songwriters and dozens of top-name performers.

In the spring of 2020 the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau (Destination Dripping Springs), the organization devoted to promoting tourism in the Dripping Springs area, acquired the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival and continues to produce the event and offer people the up-close and personal chance to see, hear, and get to know some very talented performers who have a deep love of the art of songwriting.

You are invited to the heart of the beautiful Texas Hill Country to come and enjoy an exciting weekend of phenomenal singer/songwriter showcases. Our annual event is an “industry-opposite” change from the typical “Austin-palooza-music-fest” that everyone is familiar with. We’re offering people the up-close and personal chance to see, hear, and get to know some very talented performers who have a deep love of the art of songwriting. In its essence, the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival is all about finely-crafted SONGS, and the talented folks who have written them.

DSSF 2022 from Pilot Moon Films on Vimeo.

Highlighted by a list of esteemed local and national talent, our festival features more than 30 shows a day. Audiences are treated to a wide variety of amazing songs and the people and stories behind them as groups of local, national and international songwriters perform “in-the-round”, Nashville-style.

Event stages set up as "listening rooms" are hosted by Dripping Springs’ downtown venues: The Barber Shop Bar, Acopon Brewing Company, Mazama Coffee Company, Hudson’s On Mercer Street, Sidecar Tasting Room, The Courtyard at the Warehouse District, Sidecar Tasting Room, Dog 'N' Bone and Haus of Jayne – all located within safe, easy walking distance of each other in historic downtown Dripping Springs. Complimentary shuttle service between Venues runs throughout the event.

Over the years we’ve hosted elite headliner showcases featuring some world-class, award-winning songwriting talent.

Some have earned Grammy awards – all have had #1 hits. Past DSSF headliners include LORI McKENNA, DEAN DILLON, JD SOUTHER, RODNEY CROWELL, KOSTAS, ALLEN SHAMBLIN, SCOTTY EMMERICK, PAM ROSE, BILLY MONTANA, HELEN DARLING, ELIZA GILKYSON, ANGALEENA PRESLEY and DREW WOMACK.

This year's headliner showcase on Saturday night will feature AARON BARKER, LESLIE SATCHER and DAVID LEE. All three of these artists have had #1 hits by some of the biggest names in the music industry and numerous awards among them. It's guaranteed to be an entertaining and unforgettable evening.

Quickly moving up the list of favorite travel destinations, the City of Dripping Springs is located just 25 miles southwest of downtown Austin and is a straight, direct shot down Hwy 71/290 from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). The community has ample lodging and a growing number of excellent restaurants, wineries, breweries, pubs and event & wedding venues.

You won’t want to miss a single note of the 8th Annual Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival. We’re constantly updating this site with new information about this year’s event including details about the songwriters, the schedules and all the great venues that host our performance stages. So put October 14-16, 2022 on your calendars now and join us for another awesome weekend of top-notch singer/songwriter showcases.

“This festival could grow to be something big, you’ve really got a great thing going here.” – Dean Dillon, Grammy-Winning Songwriter, Nashville, TN 2014

“I would have never thought such a small town would have such a great little songwriters festival. Keep up the good work.” – JD Souther, Grammy-Winning Songwriter, Los Angeles, CA 2015

“The audience(s) at your festival are amazing! I loved performing here!” – Lori McKenna, 2-time Grammy Award Winning Singer/Songwriter, Stroughton, MA 2015

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