Our Mission
Craft. Community. Opportunity.
At Grassroots Songwriting Collaborative, we believe in the power of community. Our mission is to provide a nurturing environment for independent songwriters, artists, and producers to flourish together, create opportunities for each other, and sharpen their craft through collaboration with hit writers.
Join us in our journey of harmony, growth, and purpose.
Our Retreats
Grassroots Songwriting Collective is a retreat series and community spearheaded by Meagan Allen and Tai Shan, two award-winning Nashville indie artist songwriters. The two founded this retreat as a space for seasoned independent artists, writers, and producers to connect and collaborate among each other and with one hit writer over the course of one weekend.
The retreat begins with an optional welcome dinner on Friday night, where we will get to know each other and share a delicious, home cooked meal. Between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon, each of the nine participants will write with three unique combinations of one writer, one producer, and one artist. The intention of these cowrites is to create songs that the artist might be inclined, but not obligated, to finish and release.
Each participant will have the opportunity to write with a guest hit writer one time throughout the weekend. On the third and final day of the retreat, the hit writer will give a short afternoon seminar in which they will share their experience and wisdom, and open the floor for questions from the participants. Then, the participants will share the songs they started that week and go their separate ways, closer to each other and their next cut.
The Farm at Texas East
Located one hour south of Nashville city center in Lewisburg, Tennessee, The Farm at Texas East is a quiet getaway on 28.6 acres of hay fields – the perfect setting for creating and community building.
Its namesake comes from an old George Strait song, "If Dallas Was In Tennessee". In the chorus of the song, George sings, "if I could move Texas east." – that's exactly what the Allen family, proud Texas natives and owners of this land, sought to do. For the Allens, The Farm at Texas East is little piece of home – a Texas hill country experience in the hills of Tennessee.
Two houses sit on this property – The Farmhouse and The Birdhouse, separated by a small courtyard with a heated heated pool, hot tub, outdoor fireplace, outdoor kitchen, grill, and hibachi. This courtyard has plenty of comfortable outdoor seating, creating countless opportunities for sun-soaked jams and starlit conversations. Each house also features a generous living room space and full kitchen with a refrigerator, dishwasher, and (most importantly) coffee machine.
The houses are built to comfortably accommodate up to ten total guests across five bedrooms. Each bedroom has its own private bathroom, two twin beds that can be converted into one split king, and a lovely view of the farm.
Three of these bedrooms have a standard home studio recording setup, which includes a desk with studio monitors, a computer monitor, an audio interface, a midi keyboard, and a converted closet vocal booth.
All in all, The Farm at Texas East is designed to foster new lifelong friendships and encourage fresh creativity away from the unrelenting hustle of Nashville. We look forward to witnessing the magic you create here!
Bonnie Baker
Guest Hit Writer for the 2025 GRSC Country/Americana Retreat!
Bonnie Baker is the hit songwriter behind Michael Bublé’s “Everything,” Hunter Hayes’ “Invisible,” and Rascal Flatts’ “Feels Like Today.” With credits across pop, country, and film/TV, and past deals with Warner/Chappell and UMPG, she’s known for crafting songs with heart, depth, and purpose.
Our Retreat Packages
Meet Our Team
Your Retreat Coordinators (And Fellow Creatives)
