“The Hook” Readies New Shows at Sagebrush in Austin
Songwriting showcase “The Hook” has a series of new shows scheduled for Sunday afternoons in May at Austin’s favorite honky tonk and music venue, Sagebrush on South Congress. Along with featuring established songwriters, The Hook also lets anyone sign up for an opportunity to perform a song in front of an audience and panel. And yes, fans of songwriting are also encouraged to attend, along with songwriters from the aspiring to the professional.
Shows in May will run from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., with songwriters who want to participate asked to sign up by 2:30. The shows are on May 3rd, May 10th, May 24, and May 31st. May 17th is off for one of Sagebrush’s famous free lunches. May 3rd will also work as a information session/test run for those interested in finding out what The Hook is all about. The later shows will be recorded on video and distributed.
Those interested in performing who want to learn more can check out the F.A.Q.’s HERE. You can also check out some video clips from the shows in Nashville in 2025.
What is The Hook?
Since so many of the greatest songs go unheard, and their composers are resigned to virtual obscurity, “The Hook” aspires to open up a new and exciting forum for songs and their creators to find the audience and support they deserve. By breaking down the siloed perspectives that everyone suffers from in the digital age and completely opening up the opportunities to everyone, the best songs and songwriters will emerge with the help of artistic criticism and a dash of humor.
Though singing competitions abound, and forums for songwriters are not uncommon, “The Hook” is unique in how it centers the song first, not the singer, or the performance. A good performance can help sell a great song, but a great song can go much further, changing hearts and minds, changing our perspectives on the world, and changing the world itself.
“The Hook” believes the next world-changing song is out there just waiting to be heard. It seeks to create a platform to discover and showcase songs in a way that would preserve the small and pure tones of truth that would be otherwise smothered by mainstream noise. “The Hook” wants to hear the next world changing song, and is ready to dig through the ugly, the profane, and the downright bad to find them.
The Hook held multiple events in Nashville in 2025, and hopes to return to Nashville later this year. But for now, Austin is the spot. It is hosted by Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos of Saving Country Music, and award-winning songwriter Caitlin Cannon.
To stay in touch with The Hook, you can also follow on Instagram.