Songs Move Mountains

Louisa Branscomb Marks 36 Years of Songwriting retreats March 2025 marked the 36th consecutive year of songwriting workshops, usually twice a year, hosted by veteran songwriter Louisa Branscomb. Louisa founded Woodsong Farm Songwriting Retreats in 1989, at her farm in Georgia, and continued to hold 2 to 4 retreats a year for the next 30 years. She relocated to Asheville just in time for the pandemic, when she pivoted and hosted remotely, continuing to expand her own community as well as collaborate with such prominent organizations as Northern Bluegrass Circle in Canada.  When she moved to Asheville, North Carolina, Branscomb bought a farm in Black Mountain for which she renamed the workshops—Lyric Mountain—and continued the tradition. The most recent gathering was held at the historic Monte Vista Hotel in Black Mountain, with communal dinners, writer rounds, and a showcase held at the farm on Friday night. At that four-day workshop, attendees included returning workshop par