Arts Festival – Songwriters In The Round

September 29, 2004 – Hollywood: It was Opening Night at the Artists For A Better World (AFABW) 4th Annual Arts Festival and the attending patrons were treated to not one, not two, but “nine” of LA’s finest independent songwriters, in two sets commonly known as “song circles.” Or as the event title stated, “Songwriters In The Round”. The event transpired in the Celebrity Centre International Garden Pavilion.

In song circles, a number of performing songwriters are seated on the stage at the same time, and each performer takes a turn with one song at a time – round and round. The first song circle was composed of Tom Stauffer, Jimi Yamagishi, the lovely Che Zuro, and at the grand piano was event organizer, Tom Fair. In the second circle were Maureen Doherty with accompanist (also a songwriter) Tom Caufield, Mister B. and his “band” – Mrs. B on bass, Lisa Johnson, and at the grand piano, Dean Dobbins.

Acting as moderator for the first song circle, Tom enlightened the audience on the importance of the artist in society, with several inspiring quotes by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, a world-renowned and highly successful artist himself, Mr. Hubbard has said “The elevation of a culture can be measured directly by the numbers of its people working in the field of aesthetics.”

The artists took turns performing renditions of personal works and moved the audience from emotional introspection to hand-clapping celebration. The light-hearted banter on the stage amongst the performers also added its own elements of entertainment.

AFABW Int conducts numerous arts events throughout the year in Los Angeles and at affiliated group locations in Toronto, Canada; outside of London, England, and in Johannesburg, South Africa. This year’s 4th annual AFABW Arts Festival is 5-days of arts, entertainment, education, enlightenment, inspiration, family fun and enjoyment for all.