Annual music festival to feature free, live performances on island, beach and more
A sprawling buffet of music is sharping up for this year’s Island Hopper Songwriters Fest.
Over 60 performers and 80 free performances are expected at 20 venues between Captiva, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach beginning on Sept. 19. The annual event will run through Sept. 28.
There will also be nine ticketed performances headlined by country music artist Chris Young, who will close out the festival on Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. on Fort Myers Beach at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina’s pool party.
Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Communications Manager Miram Dotson said the fest will feature “top-tier talent.” It is a collaboration between the county’s tourism bureau, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) and iHeart Radio.
“Last year was such a testament to the love for the event,” she said.
Hurricane Helene struck just days before the pool party finale.
“Everybody thought it was going to get canceled, and the Pink Shell staff cleaned everything within a week. I was just blown away,” Dotson said. “That is so Fort Myers Beach.”
The festival attracts a lot of in-state visitors. She said the Tampa region, in particular, attracts a lot of festivalgoers. There are a lot of locals who come out to the shows, as well as some country music fans from the Midwest.
“The idea is to get people to come in the slow season and boost tourism,” Dotson said. “The hotels will do special deals.”
Those staying at the Pink Shell on Sept. 28 will get to see the pool party show for free.
Young’s hits include “Getting You Home (The Black Dress Song),” for which he was nominated for a Grammy Award. His numerous other hits that he sang and co-wrote include “I’m Comin’ Over,” “Voices” and “Think of You.”
The fest is known for celebrating up-and-coming artists and this year they include Adriana McDonald, a Punta Gorda-based musician who plays with the group Shy Blossom. She and her group have recorded songs with David Abruzzese, the former drummer of Pearl Jam.
McDonald will perform two free shows. Her first show will be on Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nauti Mermaid in Cape Coral. She will also play the High Tide Social House on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
Among the new shows this year will be Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Frank Myers on Sept. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva. Hosted by the Captiva Civic Association, he will be joined by the string quartet Cut the Chord and keyboardist Jimmy Nichols for the special performance. Myers wrote the Grammy Award-winning hit “I Swear.”
There is also Canvas & Chords on Sept 27 at 4 p.m. The show will feature a performance by Katrina Cain and Danny Myrick at a custom-built home by Alair Custom Home on Fort Myers Beach. Local artist Lacy McClary will paint during the performance. The ticket proceeds will benefit SWFL Reefs.
“It will be a unique experience,” Dotson said.
While most of the artists who perform are based in Nashville, the festival also celebrates local musicians, like Sheena Brook. Dotson said the Lee County resident “has been with us from the beginning.”
Brook will give five free performances, with one on Fort Myers Beach and the rest on Captiva. She will be at South Seas on Sept. 19 at 8:30 p.m., The Green Flash on Sept 20 at 4 p.m., Keylime Bistro on Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. and ‘Tween Waters Inn & Marina on Sept. 21 at 3 p.m.. along with the Margaritaville Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach on Sept. 26 at 4 p.m.
Brian Sutherland, who grew up in Fort Myers, is now based in Nashville, where he has had success as a solo artist. A returning performer for the festival, he will play four free shows on Fort Myers Beach from Sept. 26-28, with stops at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, Margaritaville, Bayside Veteran’s Park and the Yucatan Beach Stand Bar & Grill.
As its name indicates, the festival is about celebrating the songwriters.
Among the songwriters appearing on Captiva will be Bobby Tomberlin, who co-wrote the Barbara Streisand song “I’d Want It To Be You” and who has had his songs performed by Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Diamond Rio and Darryl Worley. He will do three free shows, with stops at ‘Tween Waters on Sept. 19, South Seas on Sept. 20 and The Green Flash on Sept. 21.
Dylan Altman, who wrote No. 1 hits for Tim McGraw, Jake Owen and Jason Aldean, will perform free shows on Captiva starting at The Green Flash on Sept. 19, followed by ‘Tween Waters on Sept. 20 and Keylime Bistro on Sept. 21.
Adam Craig, who has written songs for George Strait and Blake Shelton, will perform numerous shows on Fort Myers Beach from Sept. 26-28, including stops at Bayside Veteran’s Park, Margaritaville and the Yucatan Beach Stand Bar & Grill.
Dotson said the goal of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau is to attract visitors to the county to attend the festival and stay at local hotels. She said the bureau hopes the festival will help bring back visitors who may have not returned since the hurricanes that hit the area the last few years.
For more information, including the full list of artists and venues, visit IslandHopperFest.com.
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IF YOU GO
What
Island Hopper Songwriters Fest
When
Sept. 19-28
Where
Cape Coral, Captiva, Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach