So, here we are, it's 2011. As usual, the year will begin with progressively more exciting music shows, building up to the Lowcountry Blues Bash. Live music has spread out a little across the East Cooper Area, so there are a lot of chances to catch some live music. In the past years alone, I've played a wide variety of places--small spots like Wine Awhile and Fuji Sushi Bar & Grill; over in the corner by the TV at Matty's Sports Bar (next to the Twin Lanes Bowling Alley) or Fiddler's Green; or places with stages like Iacofano's, Buddy Roe's, or The Village Tavern; or out under a tin roof in the woods at Awendaw Green, not to mention the stages I haven't played on yet, like Hometeam BBQ on Sullivan's, The Windjammer on the Isle of Palms, etc.

OK, enough; but there is a point to my rambling. As there are more places for live music than you can shake a stick at in the East Cooper area, I can't cover all of them each week. But that leaves you with incomplete information. How can I sleep soundly at night knowing that I didn't let you know about every show happening each week?

Here is my solution. I will compile weekly listings so you can have an "at a glance" look at the week musically. l'll check the websites, call around a bit, see what info is out there and compile it in a neat little listing to go with my weekly column. If you are a venue owner and would like to send me your listings, send it to: allnightjohnson@gmail.com.

Hit songwriter Craig Bickhardt will conduct a songwriting workshop from 12 to 4 pm Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at Buddy Roe's Shrimp Shack in Mount Pleasant. The workshop is sponsored by the local chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and is geared toward both performing songwriters and aspiring professional songwriters who want to improve their craft.

Bickhardt has more than 30 years experience in the music industry. He has penned four No. 1 country hits and five other top 10 hits, as well as songs found on numerous other platinum and Grammy-winning recordings by such artists as Johnny Cash, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Ray Charles, BB King, Pam Tillis, Tony Rice, The Judds, Kathy Mattea, Alison Krauss, and Ty Herndon.

As a performing songwriter, Bickhardt has recorded for Warner Brothers and Capitol Records, appeared on Austin City Limits and Mountain Stage, and shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Hank Williams Jr., Judy Collins, Stephen Stills, and Kathy Mattea. He was also one of the original "writers in the round" at the famous Bluebird Café in Nashville.

In addition to the workshop, Bickhardt will be giving a free performance at Buddy Roe's Thursday, Feb 10 at 8 p.m. For more information about Craig Bickhardt, visit www.CraigBickhardt.com. For workshop information or to register, email NSAI--Charleston Coordinator Lorna Roberts at lornarob@bellsouth.net. Cost is $30 for NSAI members and $35 for non-members with a discount of $5 for registration by Jan 25.

Until next time, be nice to each other and support live music.