This years confirmed mentors are:
Saini
Lutes
Spencer
Spend an inspiring weekend learning from four acclaimed songwriters, performers, and mentors in an intimate, supportive creative environment designed to help songwriters grow — artistically, creatively, and personally.
Whether you are just beginning your songwriting journey or have years of experience, our mentors bring a wealth of real-world insight into songwriting craft, performance, collaboration, creativity, and the music industry.
Through workshops, song circles, collaborative sessions, one-on-one interaction, and live performances, retreat participants will gain practical tools, creative encouragement, and meaningful connections with fellow writers.
Angela Saini – Emotional authenticity • Artistic voice • Performance connection
Award-winning singer-songwriter Angela Saini https://www.angelasaini.com is known for emotionally fearless songwriting, powerful live performances, and a genre-blending style rooted in folk, soul, roots, and pop influences. An experienced mentor who has taught in colleges, festivals and workshops, Angela’s music has been featured on CBC and international media, and she has toured extensively across Canada and abroad.
As a mentor, Angela creates an encouraging and supportive atmosphere where songwriters are challenged to connect more deeply with emotional truth and artistic identity.
Workshop & Mentorship Focus
✔ Writing emotionally authentic songs
✔ Connecting lyric and melody
✔ Performance confidence and delivery
✔ Finding and strengthening your artistic voice
“Great songs connect through honesty.”
Terra Spencer – Storytelling • Lyric craft • Emotional depth
Acclaimed East Coast songwriter Terra Spencer https://terraspencer.com has earned national recognition for her poetic lyricism, warm stage presence, and exceptional storytelling ability. Winner of multiple Music Nova Scotia Awards and recent Canadian Folk Music Award, Terra’s songs are celebrated for their wit, humanity, and emotional intelligence.
A gifted educator and collaborator, Terra helps writers refine their lyrical choices while uncovering the deeper emotional core of their songs.
Workshop & Mentorship Focus
✔ Storytelling and lyric development
✔ Editing and refining songs
✔ Emotional nuance and narrative structure
✔ Writing with honesty and clarity
“Sometimes the smallest lyric change transforms an entire song.”
Rob Lutes -Song craft • Groove • Live performance
Internationally acclaimed songwriter and award-winning recording artist Rob Lutes https://roblutes.com has toured extensively across Canada, Europe, the United States, and Australia. A Canadian Folk Music Award winner and multiple Maple Blues Award nominee, and recently appointed to Concordia University (Montreal, PQ) as a songwriting instructor, Rob is respected for his soulful songwriting, exceptional guitar work, and deeply expressive performances.
Known for his humour, generosity, and deep musical knowledge, Rob brings decades of professional experience into an inspiring workshop environment.
Workshop & Mentorship Focus
✔ Song structure and arrangement
✔ Rhythm, groove, and phrasing
✔ Roots, blues, and Americana traditions
✔ Building songs for live performance
“A song has to feel good before it can move people.”
Steven McClintock – Melody • Collaboration • Professional songwriting
Award-winning songwriter, composer, and producer Steven McClintock https://stevenmcclintock.com brings decades of high-level music industry experience to the retreat. His songs and productions have been recorded by internationally recognized artists across pop, country, folk, film, and television.
Steven’s mentorship combines practical industry knowledge with creative exploration, helping songwriters strengthen both their craft and professional understanding of the music business.
Workshop & Mentorship Focus
✔ Melody construction and arrangement
✔ Co-writing and collaboration techniques
✔ Commercial songwriting craft
✔ Music industry insight and artist development
“Strong songs balance emotion, melody, and clarity.”
🎶 What You’ll Experience
✔ Songwriting workshops and mentoring
✔ Collaborative creative sessions
✔ Song circles and live performances
✔ Opportunities for feedback and growth
✔ Community connection with fellow songwriters
✔ A welcoming and supportive atmosphere
🌲 Why Attend?
The SFHAA Songwriters Retreat is more than a workshop weekend — it’s a creative community built around encouragement, connection, and the shared experience of songwriting.
Participants leave with:
🎵 new songs
🎵 fresh inspiration
🎵 practical songwriting tools
🎵 lasting friendships and creative connections
Whether you write folk, country, pop, roots, rock, or something entirely your own, this retreat is designed to help you grow as both a songwriter and artist.
Sadly we have to increase the cost due to, well, you all know why. It is what it is and we are trying to increase the stipend for the mentors too. They’re still doing this for what I would call a fairly reduced rate and I am truly grateful. Cost will be $675.
