Easy Street alumni in songwriters’ session

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

“Nashville Comes Home: a Songwriters Showcase,” featuring four Youngstown natives who are pursuing music careers in Nashville, will be the first show in the upcoming Studio Session series presented by Easy Street Productions.

The show will include Tommy Cole, Katy Collins, Jordan DePaul and Tom Manche. It will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Easy Street’s performance space at 865 Mahoning Ave., near downtown.

Tickets are $20, and table seating is very limited. This is a BYOB event and not recommended for children. Setups and light snacks are included, with hors d’oeuvres also available for purchase.

Due to the intimate size of the venue, reservations are required. Call the box office at 330-743-8555 or email easystreetshows@aol.com. For information, go to easystreetshows.com.

The most-seasoned performer is Manche, who has been making a living for the past 30 years writing, producing and recording his own material as well as music from clients.

Manche performed in the ’70s with Easy Street’s Maureen Collins in the local group Woodwork, which frequently performed at Gabriel’s on the South Side and at the Pub at Youngstown State University.

Manche is credited with the idea for the “Songwriters Showcase” show, which came to him during a recent return to Youngstown for his Chaney High School class reunion.

Katy Collins and Cole (aka Tommy Smolko) grew up on stage and were featured in a multitude of productions with Easy Street. This will be the second Studio Session for Katy, who was a member of the “Girls Night Out” concert in 2013. She is Maureen Collin’s niece.

DePaul is originally from Poland and has been performing since he was 15. A cousin of Easy Street choreographer Megan Cleland’s, he is considered part of the Easy Street family. DePaul and his band have opened for the GooGoo Dolls and Eve 6.