Final Sunset Beach BBQ and Acoustic Concert to be held April 4
The final Songwriters at Sunset Beach BBQ and free Acoustic Concert will take place Thursday, April 4, at Lovers Key State Park.
“The April 4 show starts at 5:45 p.m. This is a very special show closing out the season with some amazing songwriters,” Shelley Sue Williams, who was a director and communications and media chair for Friends of Lovers Key, said.
She and her husband, Bob Williams, began the concert series to bring FOLK and Americana Community Music Association together. Williams, is a songwriter and vice president of ACMA, which promotes singer songwriters.
“The local songwriters are amazing performers, equal to what you hear at the Island Hopper music festival, except they are locals,” Bob said. “The Americana music is similar to the singer songwriters of the ’70s and the crowd loves the music and hearing the stories behind the songs. Live acoustic music, a beach barbecue, followed by a magical Lovers Key sunset. What could be better? We’ve created a perfect evening out in Southwest Florida. A free acoustical music experience on the beach for the price of the park admission. You have to experience it to understand.”
The event began four years ago, and at the time, she said they hoped to fill the gazebo, which holds 85 people. The first show attracted between 200 to 300 people, and it quickly grew from there, now attracting more than 1,000 people.
“More than 60 percent of attendees are regulars who keep coming to show after show,” Shelley Sue said.
The concert begins two hours before sunset, so after the music concludes, attendees have the opportunity to view a Lovers Key sunset. The barbcue, which offers high quality hamburgers, hot dogs, beer and wine for $5 each, begins at 4:45 p.m. for the April show. The proceeds from the barbecue goes towards the future Welcome and Discovery Center at Lovers Key State Park.
The April show will feature Ross Jordan, Bob Williams and Bill Metts.
Jordan picked up a guitar at the age of 10 and has been playing ever since. His love of music grew while studying music and classical guitar at Rutgers University. Jordan’s songs showcase his regional influences from where he has lived, from New Jersey to the West Coast and Mid-West, and now Southwest Florida.
Bob began writing his own music as a teenager while pulling elements from folk-rock and country rock to create his own sound. His songs are personal, irreverent, funny, sad and true to the heart. Bob performs solo regularly, as well with the Pearl Street Band. He just released his second album, “Ain’t Sorry Yet.”
The final musician, Metts began playing the guitar when he was 19 during the country blues revival of the late ’60s. He fell in love with music by such musicians as Taj Mahal, Mississippi John Hurt and Doc Watson. Since then Metts has been doing the down home finger-picking style.
Shelley Sue said there is limited shaded seating on the gazebo for 85 people. Everyone is encouraged to bring beach chairs to sit on the sand.
“Get to the park early to enjoy the beach and to beat the crowds,” she said. “After parking, give yourself plenty of time to ride the tram down to the beach.”
The park entry fee is $8 for vehicles of two to eight people, $4 for single person in vehicle and $2 for pedestrian and bicyclist.
For more information about FOLKS visit www.friendsofloverskey.org. For more information about ACMA, visit www.americanaacma.org.
Lovers Key State Park is at 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach.