“Last year's Park City Song Summit was the stuff dreams are made of,” says the event’s founder and ringmaster, Ben Anderson. “Our artists, speakers, and attendees all walked away with lasting stories and songs to remember our inaugural event.” This year, PCSS is building on what was a stellar inaugural gathering—check out SPIN’s recap here—by not only growing entertainment offerings but moving to a new venue capable of sharing the Song Summit experience with a bigger audience.
Today, Park City Song Summit announced its initial lineup that finds hit country songwriters like Jeffrey Steele and Earl Bud Lee on the same list as hip hop pioneers Grandmaster Flash and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels; Cuban wunderkind Cimafunk next to R&B guitar shredder Celisse; and New Orleans legend Anders Osborne and Grammy-winning guitarist, songwriter, and producer Eric Krasno alongside Dead legend, Bobby Weir—who’s making a return to Park City forty years after his band’s show there—further exemplifying the Song Summit’s mission of writing a “love letter to the power of the song.” A full list of performers, as well as Lab moderators, can be found below or at parkcitysongsummit.com.
Live performances are a major ingredient of the Song Summit, but this intimate mountain retreat for music lovers orbits around the minute details of the creative process itself—the why and how music comes about, struggles and breakthroughs alike—in an open dialog with the finest song crafters of our modern age. During the day, sit-down, artist-led discussions—dubbed Summit Labs—intentionally bring fans closer to the artists they love, both physically and contextually. This year’s Lab and performances include topics involving the 50th anniversary of hip hop, a tribute to the greatness of Stevie Wonder, a new Nashville Unplugged songwriters stage, the tangled roots of Latinx and Black music, Women and the blues, the "Havana Funk Experience" ft. jazz/funk music students from New Orleans and Havana, Cuba and so much more.
Park City Song Summit 2023 will be held in a new location at The Canyons Village. “The Canyons Village reflects the intention of our programming and provides ample physical room for our minds and hearts to roam in a variety of settings,” says Anderson. “The addition of the amphitheater stage allows us to offer the Park City Song Summit experience to a bigger audience.” Labs and performances will take place in and around the Canyons Village while a few of the intimate late night venues from last year will remain in use along Park City’s Main Street historic district.
The most talked about aspect of last year’s Song Summit—and the heart of its creation in the first place—is the event’s emphasis on mental health, wellness, and recovery. This year, there will be daily wellness activities such as meditation sessions, yoga, guided hikes with therapists, afternoon re-centering, and many other health-minded activities, as well as ample hangs for those attendees in recovery. Additionally, Song Summit beneficiaries include the event’s 501c3, More Than Music Foundation, Stand Together Music, The Phoenix, Amber Health, and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute. “Wellness, impact, and inclusivity will continue to be the backbone of our mission and our programming,” says Anderson. “We look forward to gathering again this fall, and in the meantime know that my team and I will be diligently working to bring music fans and the music industry an event that gives: gives to our community, gives to our artists, gives to our charitable partners, and ultimately gives a whole lotta love.”
3-day Summit Passes and add-ons, single-day passes, and individual show tickets will be available for presale May 4 and to the general public May 11. For more information, please visit parkcitysongsummit.com.
PCSS Performers:
Adia Victoria
Anders Osborne
Black Opry Revue ft. The Kentucky Gentlemen, Valerie Ponzio, Autumn Nicholas, South Texas Tweek, Rissi Palmer and Making Movies
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros ft. The Wolfpack
Brad Walker & The Hornstars
Celisse
Chuck D
Cimafunk
Danielle Ponder
Danny Myrick
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
Devon Gilfillian
Earl Bud Lee
Eric Krasno & Friends
Even Stevens
Grandmaster Flash
Jeffrey Steele
Joe Pug
Josh Blaylock
Josh Jenkins
Joy Oladokun
Madeline Hawthorne
Matisyahu
Matt Warren
Megan Linville
Paul Janeway of St. Paul and The Broken Bones
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Ruby Amanfu
Sam Ashworth
Sinclair
Steele Fountain
Steve Poltz
Travis Howard
Lab Moderators and Featured Guests:
Aaron Benward
Anthony Mason of CBS
Antong Lucky
Caroline Randall Williams
Ciona Rouse
Collin Laverty
David Manhiem of the Dopey Podcast
Dave Margulies
Enrique Chi
Havana Funk Experience
Holly G
Jay Blakesberg
Leta Herman
Marissa R. Moss
Rissi Palmer
Ruthie Lindsey
SongwritingWith:Soldiers
Tressie McMillan Cottom
