Words & Music: Day Four!

The final day of Words & Music featured several more agent/editor critiques, and another full day of programming, including an appearance by the legendary Michael Lang, creator of Woodstock! Fun TRUE fact: Michael wanted the closing act of Woodstock to be Roy Rogers singing “Happy Trails” – When the Roy Rogers group turned down the offer, Jimi Hendrix instead closed with, as we all know, a memorable version of the Star Bangled Banner that has lived on in the hearts and minds of a generation of music lovers…

The day closed with another successful Tall Tales competition at the Herman Grima House. Three time champ Ken Wells, despite a rousing rap version of the Five Minute Gatsby, was finally unseated from his Tall Tale throne by author Julia Glass, whose delightful tale of multiple Roy Blount Jrs had the gathered crowd in stitches.

Enjoy photos of the final day (click on any to enlarge).

Literary editor Carrie Kania (center) led the opening session on Fiction’s “Short End of the Stick” – Short Fiction, featuring Simon Van Booy (left), Moira Crone and Barb Johnson. At right, rocker turned author Tony O’Neill

Speakers Moira Crone with her book What Gets Into Us, and Simon Van Booy, author of the Secret Lives of People in Love

Featured in the second panel of the day, Robert Olen Butler on fiction in short takes. Bob read delightful short takes from his newest masterpiece, Intercourse

Chuck Adams (left) led the next panel on Spiritual Journeys: Recapturing the American Dream. Featured authors included Tony O’Neill, author of Hero of the Underground and Down & Out on Murder Mile…

… along with Jack Fuller, retired publisher and editor of the Chicago Tribune, whose new novel Abbeville is about the failed dreams of generations of Americans

McAdam/Cage senior editor Pat Walsh introduced the literature and lunch panel at the Hotel Monteleone Riverview Room

Featured luncheon speakers included Walsh, along with authors Julia Glass, Andrew Davidson and Stewart O’Nan, talking about Making it Big with a Debut Novel!

Michael Murphy led several event panels as the director of Agents & Editors for this year’s Words & Music festival

An afternoon session gathered participants in a round table discussion of the Jazz Age and whether we are on the brink of a new age in music in writing

The day’s final session featured celebrated music writer Holly George-Warren and Tony Piazza, on a panel titled, “So You Want to Be a Rock Star!”

Michael Lang, creator of Woodstock, and music historian Susan Fleet team on a panel, The American Dream: So You Want to be a Rock Star!

And what’s a panel discussion on music without a little melody? Author, panelist and jazz pianist Tom Piazza offers guests a rare treat