Songwriter Night draws crowd, bridges gap between Nashville and Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — Local and regional music fans packed the venue Friday night for Songwriter Night, an event aimed at bringing original music and Nashville-level talent to Bowling Green while giving local artists a place to perform.

Spence Sheldon, founder of Capitol Row Entertainment, said the goal was to create opportunities for both audiences and musicians without requiring a trip to Music City. “We just wanted to bridge the gap between Nashville and Bowling Green, Kentucky, just bring live music here and give people a reason to stay in town,” Sheldon said.

He said the event was also designed to give hope to songwriters who may not have the resources to travel or break into the industry. “We wanted to make sure the people in Bowling Green, Kentucky, knew that they had a stage to play music,” Sheldon said.

The lineup featured a mix of Nashville artists and local performers, a balance Sheldon said is key to the event’s mission. “We’re bringing acts from Nashville, but we always have a local chair. We have someone from Bowling Green playing music,” he said, adding that giving back to the community is also a major focus.

Sheldon said this marked the fourth Songwriter Night and the largest turnout so far, which he credits to growing awareness and trust in the event. “People understanding that we’re not here to make a buck, we’re here to give back to the community and give them a good night, a fun night,” he said.