This summer, we are looking back in celebration of 10 years of Gordie Sampson Songcamp!

Follow along on our social media this month, as we reflect on the decade and highlight many of the wonderful writers we have hosted at Songcamp.

Our 10th Anniversary Songcamp was a huge success! We had our biggest camp yet – combining writers from the past 10 years with special guests from Nashville, LA and Toronto, and we wrote over 100 SONGS!

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and the hard work of the team at Jones & Co. Artist Management (Sheri Jones, Wayne O’Connor & Ruby Quase), and of course, Gordie Sampson!

A HUGE thank you to our amazing sponsors and friends of Songcamp:

The Province of Nova Scotia, SOCAN Music, IMP Solutions, Music Nova Scotia, Steele Auto Group, Corby Spirit and Wine, FMAV, C Squared, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments (Sydney), SpinCount, Keltic Lodge at the Highlands, Cape Breton Island, The Community of Ingonish, Doucette’s Market, Louisburg Seafoods.

Special thanks to Sue Hawkes, Mickey and Mary Quase, Robin Jones, Nicole Curry, Grace Russell, Ardie Moffard, Leanne Birmingham-Beddow, and Ginny and Robert Sampson.

Hit Country Songwriter Gordie Sampson Co-Writes New Hits for Luke Bryan (“Knockin’ Boots”) and Caylee Hammack (“Family Tree”)

By Dale Kawashima

For the past 14 years, Gordie Sampson has been a top songwriter & producer based in Nashville. He has co-written several #1 country hits, including “Jesus, Take The Wheel” for Carrie Underwood, which won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2007. Two of his other big hits are “God, Your Mama, and Me” for Florida Georgia Line with the Backstreet Boys, and “Just a Dream” for Carrie Underwood.

Currently, Sampson is enjoying a new flurry of hits. He co-wrote the playful #1 hit “Knockin’ Boots” for Luke Bryan, plus the upbeat, soulful hit “Family Tree” for Caylee Hammack. In addition, he co-wrote the chart single “Heartbreak” for Hunter Hayes, and the new single “Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking)” for Tenille Townes.

Sampson has also co-written hits for Carly Pearce (“Closer To You”), Eric Paslay (“Song About a Girl”), Jack Ingram (“Measure of a Man”), Cassadee Pope (“I Wish I Could Break Your Heart”), Hunter Hayes (“Storm Warning”), Kree Harrison (“All Cried Out”) and Edens Edge (“Too Good to Be True”). His songs have also been recorded by top artists such as Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Miley Cyrus, Blake Shelton, Faith Hill, Bon Jovi, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington and Martina McBride.

Sampson grew up Nova Scotia, Canada, where he learned to play guitar and piano, and he became a local, professional musician in his early 20s. It was also around that time that he developed his songwriting skills. He subsequently took trips to Nashville to co-write and network, and in 2005 he got his big break, when Carrie Underwood recorded “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and it became a country and pop hit. [READ MORE]

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp 10th Anniversary Show Presented by Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative. Featuring Gordie Sampson, Cameron Nickerson, Carleton Stone, Dave Sampson, Kayleigh, Makayla Lynn Music, Maura Whitman, and Willie Stratton.

Saturday, November 9th
Marigold Cultural Center, Truro
Doors at 1:30pm. Show at 2:00pm

This show is all-ages, and is a dry event.

Direct ticket link:
https://secure.ticketpro.ca/?lang=en&aff=nsmw#achat_FUC09KS19

NSMW.ca ticket link:
https://nsmw.ca/tickets/

GORDIE SAMPSON SONGCAMP CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY

By Howard Druckman, Words and Music

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Gordie Sampson – who’s had his songs recorded by Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, and Bon Jovi, among others — hosted the 10^th Anniversary edition of his Gordie Sampson Songcamp, July 7-12, 2019, in Ingonish, Nova Scotia.

Taking part this year were 37 songwriters and 10 world-class writer/producer guests. No less than 80 songs were completed during the 2019 edition of the song camp, more than half of which were recorded. This brings the total song count for the past decade to over 500 songs. Returning songwriter alumni from the camp this year included Carleton Stone, Dylan Guthro, Mo Kenney, Dave Sampson, and Quake Matthews, while guests included artists Scott Helman and Ria Mae, and professional songwriters Thomas “Tawgs” Salter and Simon Wilcox.

In 10 years, the song camp has become an annual tradition for aspiring songwriters, as Sampson – who spends a portion of each year living and writing songs in Nashville – has made it his business to nurture emerging songwriters from across Nova Scotia; allow them to network with their instructors and each other; give them access to useful knowledge; and help them develop tools to benefit their careers. [READ MORE]

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp is supported by SOCAN and funded in part by The SOCAN Foundation. SOCAN also provides an educational info session for, and connects with, the young writers each year.

Our 10th Anniversary Songcamp was a huge success! We had our biggest camp yet – combining writers from the past 10 years with special guests from Nashville, LA and Toronto, and we wrote over 100 SONGS!

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and the hard work of the team at Jones & Co. Artist Management (Sheri Jones, Wayne O’Connor & Ruby Quase), and of course, Gordie Sampson!

A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors and friends of Songcamp:

The Province of Nova Scotia

SOCAN

IMP Solutions

Music Nova Scotia

Steele Auto Group

Corby’s

FMAV

C Squared

Long & McQuade (Sydney)

Spincount

Keltic Lodge at the Highlands

Destination Cape Breton

The Community of Ingonish

Doucette’s Market

Louisburg Seafoods

Special thanks to Sue Hawkes, Mickey and Mary Quase, Robin Jones, Nicole Curry, Grace Russell, Ardie Moffard, Leanne Birmingham-Beddow, and Ginny and Robert Sampson.

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp 10 Year Anniversary Compilation is now available for streaming and on double-disc CD. 

This summer we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Songcamp by reuniting past writers and inviting special guests for four days of songwriting. The compilation is a celebration of the last 10 years. Proceeds will help cover Songcamp expenses. 

Stream on @spotify or visit gordiesampsonsongcamp.bandcamp.com to order your physical copy today. 

Thank you all for your support!

In 2019 we will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Songcamp by reuniting past writers and inviting special guests for four days of songwriting. The compilation is a celebration of the last 10 years. Proceeds will help cover Songcamp expenses. Supporters can pre-order physical copies here. Available on streaming services June 7th!

The Gordie Sampson Songcamp 10th Anniversary Compilation

disc one.

1. No Pressure
2. Montreal
3. Find A Way
4. In My Dreams
5. I’ll Hunt You Down
6. Memphis
7. Intuition
8. Confessions
9. Damned
10. Temporary Forever
11. The Inevitable End
12. Where Have You Been
13. Last Call
14. Tip Of My Tongue
15. Party With The Lights On

disc two.

1. Half The Way
2. Never Felt A Thing
3. Cold Water
4. Heartbreak Easy
5. Outcast
6. Beer For Breakfast
7. Trouble 8. Black Water
9. Say It Again
10. The Getaway
11. Full Moon
12. Look Who’s Lonely Now
13. Back To The Bottom
14.Flip Flops

releases June 7, 2019

credits
The Gordie Sampson Songcamp Compilation
Compiled and Mastered by Corey LeRue and Dylan Guthro
Coordinated by Breagh MacKinnon and Carleton Stone
Artwork by Mat Dunlap

Songwriters: Breagh MacKinnon, Dylan Guthro, Carleton Stone, Dave Sampson, Kayleigh O'Connor, Quake Matthews, Famba, Maura Whitman, Makayla Lynn, Mitchell Bailey, MAJE, Cameron Nickerson, Steve MacDougall, Laurenn Marchand, Jordan Musycsyn, Corey LeRue, Thomas Stajcer, Kyle Mischiek, Nicole Ariana, Natalie Lynn, Eric Stephen Martin, Jodi Guthro, Frank Kadillac, Laura Roy, Brandon Davis, Reeny Smith, Barb Cameron, Chris James, Dana Beeler, Elijah Wohlmuth, Jenny MacDonald, Mark Boutilier, Mo Kenney, T Thomason, Natalie Lynn, Rankin MacInnis, Willie Stratton, Seamus Erskine, Brandon Johnson, Evan Meisner. Thank you for your support Province of Nova Scotia, Destination Cape Breton, SOCAN, Music Nova Scotia, The Keltic Lodge, the community of Ingonish, Doucette's Market, Louisbourg Seafoods, Softchoice, FMAV, Spicount, Steele Auto, Corby’s.
The Gordie Sampson Songcamp 10th Anniversary Compilation

Thank you for your support Province of Nova Scotia, Destination Cape Breton, SOCAN, Music Nova Scotia, The Keltic Lodge, the community of Ingonish, Doucette’s Market, Louisbourg Seafoods, Softchoice, FMAV, Spicount, Steele Auto, Corby’s.

Congratulations to our Songcamp Family nominated for 2019 East Coast Music Association (ECMA) Awards!

See you in Charlottetown!

Bucky Adams Memorial Award:
Reeny Smith

Country Recording of the Year:
Cameron Nickerson – Detours
Thomas Stajcer – Will I Learn To Love Again?

Pop Recording of the Year:
Neon Dreams – Shape Of My Mind

R&B/Soul Recording of the Year:
Elijah Wohlmuth (Will) – 3am
Reeny Smith – WWIII: Strength. Courage. Love.

Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year:
Mitchell Bailey – Season One
Quake Matthews – Drinking Games

Song of the Year:
Gabrielle Papillon – “When The Heart Attacks” (Producers: Corey LeRue, Daniel Ledwell)
Quake Matthews – “Confessions” feat. Neon Dreams (Producer: Gordie Sampson & Corey LeRue)
The East Pointers – “Two Weeks” (Producer: Gordie Sampson)

Songwriter of the Year:
Port Cities

Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year:
Mo Kenney
Neon Dreams
Port Cities

Fans’ Choice Video of the Year:
Makayla Lynn – “Joyride” (Director: Scott Simpson)
Neon Dreams – “Shape Of My Mind” (Director: Zack Facts)

Producer of the Year:
Corey LeRue

Video of the Year:
Neon Dreams – “Shape Of My Mind” (Director: Zack Facts)

Click here for the full list of nominees.