Founded May 24, 2024
A place for original voices to rise
The Black Hills is full of songwriters. What has been missing is a room built for their original work — so we started building one.
Our story
Queen City Songwriters Incorporated was born in 2024 from kitchen-table conversations between songwriters who believed Spearfish, South Dakota could be more than a dot on the map — it could be a destination for original music.
May 2024Founded on a missionFounded by Heath Johnson and Jason Guthmiller, QCSI was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on May 24, 2024 with a clear mission: provide songwriters a vibrant platform to present their work, engage the community, and inspire a lasting appreciation for original music.
Sept 2024The InvitationalOur flagship event, the Queen City Songwriters Invitational, debuted that September — transforming downtown Spearfish into a two-day celebration of original voices. Songwriter rounds in intimate venues by day, main-stage showcases at The Matthews Opera House by night. No covers. No backing tracks. Just artists and their songs.
NowMore than an eventWhat started as an ambitious idea has grown into something with real momentum. With 100+ songwriters in our network, partnerships with venues and businesses across Spearfish, and year-round programming including Lucky's Rounds and Summer Rounds, QCSI is building a creative ecosystem — not just an event.
When artists are supported, entire communities are enriched.
That's what we're building here.
What we stand for
Three values
01Original MusicWe celebrate songs that come from real life — not trend-chasing, not algorithm-optimized. Authentic storytelling through music.
02Community FirstWe're building bridges between artists, venues, businesses, and audiences. When one thrives, we all do.
03Accessible & InclusiveQCSI welcomes songwriters of all backgrounds, genres, and experience levels. If you have a song, you have a seat at the table.