Island Hopper Songwriters Fest bringing full lineup back to the beach
Grammy-nominated country artist Chris Young to headline Pink Shell pool party
A sprawling buffet of music is sharping up for this year’s annual Island Hopper Songwriters Fest. More than 60 performers and 80 free performances are expected at 20 venues between Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Captiva beginning Friday, Sept. 19.
There will also be nine ticketed performances headlined by country music artist Chris Young, who will close out the festival on Fort Myers Beach at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina’s pool party on Sunday, Sept. 28.
The festival will feature “top-tier talent,” said Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Communications Manager Miram Dotson. The festival 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,” Dotson said. Hurricane Helene had struck just days before the big 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.”
Two years earlier, the Island Hopper Songwriter’s Festival had closed out at the Pink Shell Beach Resort before a packed pool party just days before Hurricane Ian struck.
“The fans come out,” Dotson said. The festival attracts a lot of in-state visitors. The Tampa region in particular attracts a lot of festivalgoers, Dotson said. 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.” For example, those staying at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina on Sept. 28 will also 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 which he sang and co-wrote include “I’m Comin’ Over,” “Voices” and “Think of You.”
The festival 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 Shy Blossom have recorded songs with David Abruzzese, the former drummer of Pearl Jam.
McDonald will be performing two free live shows during the festival. Her first show will be at the Nauti Mermaid in Cape Coral on Monday, Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. She will also be playing the High Tide Social House on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m..
Among the new shows this year will be Alair Custom Home’s “Canvas & Chords” experience on Saturday, Sept 27. The show will feature a performance by Katrina Cain and Danny Myrick at a custom home built by Alair Custom Home at 15 Bayview Blvd on Fort Myers Beach. Local artist Lacy McCrary will be painting during the performance. That show starts at 4 p.m. with tickets on sale through the Island Hopper website. The show will benefit SWFL Reefs. “It will be a unique experience,” Dotson said.
While most of the artists who perform at the festival are based in Nashville, the festival also celebrates local musicians like Sheena Brook. The Lee County resident “has been with us from the beginning,” Dotson said.
Brook will be giving five free performances, with one on Fort Myers Beach and the rest on Captiva Island. Brook will be at South Seas on Friday, Sept. 19 at 8:30 p.m., at The Green Flash on Saturday, Sept 20 at 4 p.m., KeyLime Bistro on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m., ‘Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. and at Margaritaville Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach for a free show on Friday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m.
Brian Sutherland, who grew up in Fort Myers, now is based in Nashville where he has had success as a solo artist. He is a returning performer for the Island Hopper. He will be playing 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 the name in the festival indicates, the Island Hopper is about celebrating the songwriters.
Among the songwriters appearing in Captiva is Bobby Tomberlin, who co-wrote the Barbara Streisand song “I’d Want It To Be You” and who has also had his songs performed by Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Diamond Rio and Darryl Worley.
Tomberlin will be three free shows on Captiva, with stops at the ‘Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa on Friday, Sept. 19, at the South Seas on Saturday, Sept. 20 and The Green Flash on Sunday, 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. ‘Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa on Saturday, Sept. 20 and KeyLime Bistro on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Adam Craig, who has written songs for George Strait and Blake Shelton, will be performing 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.
A full list of the arts and venues participating in the Island Hopper Songwriter’s Festival can be found at: https://www.island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com.
Dotson said the goal of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau is to attract visitors to Lee County to attend the festival and stay at local hotels. Dotson said the bureau hopes the festival will help bring back visitors who may have not returned since the hurricanes that have hit the area the last few years.
“A lot of our guests look forward to this event,” said Katja Kunz, marketing director for the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina.
Kunz said the resort is looking to sell out though there are still some rooms available.
“We are grateful to be able to be part of this memorable countywide event,” Kunz said.
Dotson said that closing out the festival on Fort Myers Beach at the Pink Shell Beach Resort each year helps bring the community together. “Fort Myers Beach is a special place,” Dotson said. “There is something special about the community.”