High season in Cape May has yet to begin, but on March 28 and 29, the streets of this Shore town will be abuzz with live music.
More than 100 indie, folk, vocalists and experimental artists will converge for the Singer-Songwriter of Cape May Music Conference, returning after a five-year hiatus. The event will present artists with opportunities for professional development, networking and meeting with industry experts.
After the panels, workshops and meet-and-greets, the music spreads out across town at the iconic Congress Hall and 15 other venues.
“It feels like Mardi Gras,” says Patrick Logue, director of employee and guest management for Cape Resorts. “Everyone is in a great mood.” The weekend will see 130 free live performances, which begin at 7 pm both evenings. Each set will be 40 minutes. “It’s like a delicious buffet,” says Logue. “If any performance isn’t your flavor, you can sit tight for the next act, or you can go somewhere else—all the venues are in walking distance of each other.”
Logue launched the event with John Harris, a talent buyer at XL Live and a production manager for Harrisburg University Presents. They modeled it after the Texas-based conference/festival South by Southwest (SXSW). “It’s a mini version, but in that style,” Logue says, “with great headliners and lots of up-and-comers.”
Laura Stevenson Photo: Courtesy of Cape Resorts
This year’s headliners are Laura Stevenson and Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner, who will each offer keynote remarks and then perform at 9 pm on March 28 and 29, respectively.
Stevenson is a folk/indie rock singer-songwriter, with six studio albums, multiple Billboard chart makers and an NPR Tiny Desk Concert that earned her wide acclaim.
Adam Weiner Photo: Courtesy of Cape Resorts
Weiner, frontman of the band Low Cut Connie, is a high-energy performer with a unique, boundary-pushing style of rock ‘n’ roll. He’s a pianist and songwriter whose high-profile followers include former President Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen, Nick Hornby and Elton John.
The conference had enjoyed a successful 12-year run before being sidelined by the pandemic. But—as is the case with music—a pause tends to summon heightened attention and anticipation. And then, to the listeners’ delight, the song resumes.
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