Contributed by Alisha Bennett
Uncharted Path is a veteran-owned business and nonprofit. They have created a musician showcase for the Valley called Songwriters in the Round.
We saw the need for a beautiful event for musicians and audience members alike, one that blended a night of beautiful music, a quiet and inviting atmosphere, comforting food and community. Everett’s was the perfect space for this. This event has been happening for the last nine months and will continue into 2027.
This event happens every month at Everett’s Restaurant in Wasilla. It features a panel of four musicians showcasing their astounding
talents and the even better stories of wheretheir songs originated. It is an hour-and-a-half show that you have to experience to understand. The show unites hearts of all kinds through stories, music and amazing food.
A common saying among musicians is “three chords and the truth.” Truth lets vulnerability shine through stories. One example is Matthew Bennett’s song about losing a multi-generational family cabin to Mother Nature’s elements. Other artists share songs of heartbreaking loss and love, while others write simply from the love of their life and pets.
Not all of the stories are sad. It is a blend of upbeat, funny stories along with heart-wrenching ones that grab your attention. As we look around the audience, they are laughing one moment and crying the next. These stories are so heartfelt because they are real-life experiences and vulnerable thoughts behind the songs each of these talented musicians has written.
This show gives you a behind-the-music feel, showing that behind the big stages, performances and smiles, there is a human. A human brave enough to be vulnerable and put their heart and mind into the ether for the general population to hear the words and messages that make a song what it is.
This is an inviting and inclusive environment that is special to see because it lets the audience see a different perspective of what it entails to be a musician: the long nights, the grueling hours of packing gear in and out of venues, and the deep dive into the who, what, when, where and why it takes to be a musician and write songs.
We have asked many musicians on the panels why they continue to share their craft, even through struggling times, and their reply is this: the basic need for musicians to do what they do is almost like it is part of their DNA structure. It would be like daily needs for others that include breathing in fresh air or the need for water and food. Without music, some do not feel whole, and you get to see that vulnerability with the Songwriters in the Round event.
It is a different panel of four artists every month and blossoms into a special experience every time.
Here is what various people have wanted to say about Songwriters in the Round, including audience members, Everett’s staff members, sponsors and artists.
Give yourself an hour and a half on a Thursday and you will not be disappointed with this show. We also cannot thank you, as a community, enough for the continued support. The proceeds from these events also go right back to our community and local nonprofits, many of which are veteran nonprofits.
““Songwriters in the Round has become an event that is incredibly near and dear to my heart. As a veteran-owned venue, Everett’s and the Mat-Su Resort, it means so much to us to provide a space where people can come together, share their stories, be vulnerable, express themselves through music and feel genuinely welcomed. That is what hospitality means to me. It is so much more than serving food or drinks. It is about creating a place where people feel comfortable, cared for and connected.” – Amber Wichers, Everett’s General Manager/Sponsor
