The inaugural Crested Butte Songwriters Festival will feature performances by a collection of the best performing songwriters in the world. Slated for January 13-15, 2012, the festival will revolve around three nights of performances staged at Crested Butte hot spots. Crowds will experience the faces, voices and stories behind hit songs during signature in-the-round acoustic performances and raucous, dance-inducing sets will dominate the schedule.

An event-capping benefit concert will be held on Saturday night, January 14, to raise funds for Tough Enough to Wear Pink and the TJ Martell Foundation.

Performances will feature a diverse collection of the world’s top songwriters. Texas roots country hero Robert Earl Keen; veteran troubadour Dean Dillon, writer of more than 50 classics for George Strait; country icon and hit writer Mac Davis; up-and-coming country stars Jake Owen, Kristen Kelly, Nicolle Galyon, Emily Shackelton, and Kristy Lee Cook; modern country hit songwriter Rodney Clawson (“Amarillo Sky” and “Johnny Cash” by Jason Aldean, “Sunshine and Summertime” by Faith Hill); and Crested Butte local favorites Tyler Hansen, Steve Snyder and David Paulik.