Downtown Sanford’s Smoke & Barrel will host the first songwriters round – put on by the Sanford Music Circle, and featuring Britton Buchanan, the Sanford native who rose to fame in 2018 as a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” – at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20.

The first event is sold out, although events are already scheduled for February, March and April, and set to alternative between the Smoke & Barrel and Camelback Brewing Company.

A songwriters round has multiple songwriters on stage, each taking turns performing original compositions and talking about how and why they wrote the songs. Often, the other performers will join in adding harmonies, guitar riffs and more.

In addition to Buchanan, the event’s website shows local country singer John Norris – whose management team helped organize the series – as well as Charlotte pop singer H.G. Murrell, Raleigh singer Jason Adamo, Angier country artist Paige King Johnson, Raleigh country singer Erik Hawks, and local musician Chad Spivey listed as performers.

According to the Sanford Music Circle’s website, two of the organizers have a long history in popular music. English-born Ray Williams, who now calls Sanford home, introduced Bernie Taupin to a young Elton John and signed mentionable artists like Gerry Rafferty (Stealers Wheel) and Jeff Lynne. He also owns the pre-cleared music licensing platform Crumbs Music. Meanwhile, John Davenport, owner of Deep River Film and Sound Studios, has witnessed and worked with well known songwriters ranging from Harry Chapin, Cindy Lauper, and the Rolling Stones, to John and Julian Lennon and Bruce Springsteen.