Way North of Nashville songwriter “Listening Room” — An annual Nashville “Listening Room” Experience in Detroit Lakes!
Way North of Nashville 4.0 — Saturday, February 1st, 2025
We are bringing back our Way North of Nashville event on Saturday, February 1 with Nashville singer/songwriters Patrick Murphy, Ben Williams, Matt Alderman, and Marc Beeson with a special guest appearance by Brett Tyler.
Only 350 tickets will be sold for this event so get yours now at https://bit.ly/4178go3.
Can’t wait for the event? Check out our Way North of Nashville playlist on the Spotify app here: https://bit.ly/4j2H8NC
What is a “Listening Room”?
Listening Rooms were created to host singer-songwriters in an intimate venue to perform for those who love live music and the stories behind new and hit songs.
Songwriters tell stories and sing their hits made famous by the country music stars we hear on the radio, on our streaming apps, and at country music festivals.
Listening Rooms are popular in Nashville, Tennessee, the hub for country music in the United States.
A Local Connection
Nashville songwriter Brett Tyler is the cousin of Cami Eckhoff of Detroit Lakes. The idea for Way North of Nashville was born during a casual conversation at a family holiday gathering. Brett shared his desire to share his home state of Minnesota with his Nashville singer-songwriter friends, many of whom had never experienced Minnesota, especially during the winter months.
A Great Experience for Them and Us!
The songwriters are treated to a real Minnesota Winter Experience by friends of Project 412.
For example, in 2024:
- Professional fisherman Tony Mariotti took them ice fishing.
- Todd Simison normally gives them a snowmobiling day, but this year he pivoted and took them UTV-ing.
- Keith & Cami Eckhoff (Cami is Brett Tyler’s cousin) share Detroit Lakes with them.
- Tom Winters hosted them at Meadows on Lind.
- Herzog Roofing gave them a truck to drive while in Detroit Lakes.
- Michelle Maier and Amy Stearns cooked them Tater Tot Hot Dish and an assortment of bars and cookies – think church basement ladies style!
Way North of Nashville 4.0
2025 “Listening Room”
Nashville Singer/Songwriters
Patrick Murphy
Perham, Minnesota native PATRICK MURPHY began honing his piano skills at the age of three, going on to play in front of his first audiences at the local church.
The chapel turned into restaurants as Murphy added singing to his craft, developing a style influenced by the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, Journey and more.
Now, two decades after first sitting down at the piano bench, the 26-year-old has discovered his own sound. Self-described as Rascal Flatts and Dan + Shay meet The Script and Rob Thomas, Murphy is set to strike a chord with listeners.
The past several years have already seen massive career milestones for the young Nashville-based musician, from landing his first publishing and major label record deals, penning Tim McGraw’s recent hit “Standing Room Only”, to opening for artists such as Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, Kip Moore, Maddie & Tae and more. This is just the beginning as Murphy readies to share new music into the world in 2025.
Ben Williams
BEN WILLIAMS has made a solid name for himself in the Nashville songwriting community.
His cross-country family roots in the California Bay Area and Pegram, Tennessee shine through in his songwriting, delivering fresh sound with creative country lyric.
Williams moved to Nashville as a D1 track athlete at Belmont University, where he quickly realized his passion for songwriting was more than worthy of pursuing. He signed his first publishing deal shortly after graduation and has become close collaborators with artists and hit writers across Music Row.
He celebrated his first number one on country radio with Megan Moroney’s 2x RIAA Platinum global hit, “Tennessee Orange,” which was nominated for CMA, ACM, and People’s Choice Country Awards Song of the Year. The success of that single and others like Moroney’s RIAA Platinum single, “I’m Not Pretty,” and Avery Anna’s RIAA Platinum hit, “Narcissist,” helped launch Williams to new heights, earning him nominations as Music Row Magazine’s Breakout Songwriter of the Year and AIMP’s Rising Songwriter of the Year in 2023.
Ben has continued to collaborate with Moroney and Anna on their latest projects and has celebrated releases with other artists such as Drew Baldridge, Kidd G, Logan Crosby, Kayley Green, and more. Williams has more exciting hits in the pipeline, and has recently signed a joint publishing deal with Ashley Gorley’s Tape Room Music and Warner Chappell.
Matt Alderman
MATT ALDERMAN is a songwriter and producer from Chicago, IL.
After graduating from the University of Miami, Florida, in 2012, he moved to Nashville to pursue a songwriting career. In 2013, Matt signed his first publishing deal with Curb and quickly found himself writing with some of Music Row’s best-rising talent.
Matt came out swinging and landed a Top 30, “Good Company” by Jake Owen. He struck gold a second time when he began collaborating with Curb recording artist Dylan Scott, writing and producing on his debut, self-titled album.
In 2017, Alderman experienced his first success as a producer with Dylan’s #1 song, “My Girl.” In 2021, Matt experienced a stellar year with his first #1 hit, “Nobody”, that he co-wrote with Dylan and also had a hand in co-producing.
Matt also won the honor of the 2021 AIMP Nashville Rising Songwriter of the Year. In 2022 he scored his second chart topper, “Truth About You” co-written with Mitchell Tenpenny. He and Dylan did it again in 2023 with the viral song “Can’t Have Mine” that reached #1 in November. Matt’s songs have also been recorded by artists like Lee Brice, Brett Young, Dustin Lynch, Granger Smith, Matt Stell, LOCASH and others.
Marc Beeson
Illinois native and 34-year Nashville veteran MARC BEESON has had songs recorded by Jason Aldean, Sam Hunt, Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Little Big Town, Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Chicago, among others.
He has won 12 ASCAP awards, including both Country and Pop Song of the Year for Restless Heart’s #1, “When She Cries”. He co-wrote the title track and Billy Currington #1 single, “We Are Tonight”, the title track of Ashley Monroe’s Grammy nominated record,”The Blade”, Blake Shelton’s “She’s Got a Way With Words”, Josh Turner’s #1, “Hometown Girl” and “The Bullet” from Carrie Underwood’s Grammy nominated record, Cry Pretty. He also co-wrote the title track to Willie Nelson’s record, “First Rose of Spring”, Rascal Flatt’s, “How They Remember You” and Tim McGraw’s #1, “One Bad Habit”.
As an artist, he has recorded for Warner Bros., BNA and Curb Records… He has served on the Board of NSAI, the NARAS education committee and as a mentor with GRAMMY U as well as the MTSU music business program. He currently writes for Smack Songs in Nashville.
Brett Tyler
BRETT TYLER is a bonafide hitmaker. Having punched his way into the Top 15 for his work with Blake Shelton (“Hell Right” feat. Trace Adkins) and landing his first number one record for his efforts with Luke Combs and Jameson Rodgers (“Cold Beer Calling My Name”), Tyler’s resume speaks for itself.
Tyler recently scored his second #1 with Corey Kent’s “Wild As Her”. Tyler has recent cuts on HARDY (“here lies country music” and “the mockingbird & THE CROW”), Morgan Wallen (“Man Made A Bar” featuring Eric Church) and Ernest’s (“Hill”) albums.“I’m not a one-lane kinda writer,” explains the AIMP Rising Songwriter Of The Year nominee, “That’s one of the things I pride myself on.”
Press opinion backs this wholeheartedly, praising his efforts as everything from “uptempo and catchy” (Digital Journal) to “rowdy [and] chest puffing” (Rolling Stone).
Tyler’s introduction to the world of country came at a young age, when he was growing up in Minnesota, just outside the twin cities. Broadening his horizons made Brett a well-rounded writer, so when he started making trips to Nashville, he brought fresh perspective to his co-writes.
Demand for him swiftly made a permanent move to Music City inevitable, and after two years of further honing his talents, he signed with Combustion in 2013.
From Minnesota to Tennessee, this crafter of “feel-good, looking back summer jams” (Taste of Country) continues to prove his value to any songwriting team.
Way North of Nashville 3.0
2024 “Listening Room”
Nashville Singer/Songwriters
Brett Tyler
BRETT is a bonafide hitmaker. Having punched his way into the Top 15 for his work with Blake Shelton (“Hell Right” feat. Trace Adkins) and landing his first number one record for his efforts with Luke Combs and Jameson Rodgers (“Cold Beer Calling My Name”), Tyler’s resume speaks for itself. Tyler recently scored his second #1 with Corey Kent’s “Wild As Her”. Tyler has recent cuts on HARDY (“here lies country music” and “the mockingbird & THE CROW”), Morgan Wallen (“Man Made A Bar” featuring Eric Church) and Ernest’s (“Hill”) albums..
Brad Clawson
BRAD was born and raised in West Texas, where he grew up with a musical background and honed his talent playing drums in several bands. In 2005, he moved to Tennessee, developed a love for songwriting and production, and hit the ground running. He signed a publishing deal with Tape Room Music and Warner Chappell Music and has seen great success with singles such as “Happy Does” by Kenny Chesney and “Up Down” by Morgan Wallen featuring Florida Georgia Line.
He co-produced on Chris Janson’s recent project, All In, and co-wrote his latest single, “All I Need Is You.” Clawson’s other recent releases include songs from Morgan Wallen, ERNEST, Mitchell Tenpenny, Parker McCollum, and more.
Patrick Murphy
Warner Music Nashville singer/songwriter PATRICK MURPHY was born with a musical state of mind. The Perham, Minnesota native began honing his piano skills at the age of three, going on to play in front of his first audiences at the local church.
The chapel turned into restaurants as Murphy added singing to his craft, developing a style influenced by the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, Journey and more. Now, two decades after first sitting down at the piano bench, the 25-year-old has discovered his own sound.
Will Bundy
WILL BUNDY was born and raised on his family’s cattle farm just outside of Lebanon, Virginia, a small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. Growing up, he always had a love for music. When he picked up the guitar at 12-years-old, Will instantly developed a passion for music and began writing songs. Around that time, he also began playing in the worship band at his church. Through this, he learned the dynamics of playing in a group and continued to hone his skills.
At 17, @will.bundymusic decided to share the music he had written with the world, by recording with award-winning producer Travis Wyrick. In January of 2016, Will was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the Farewell Season of American Idol, where he made it to Hollywood Week.
