Music meets the Beach at the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest in Southwest Florida

Just off the coast of Fort Myers, Florida is Captiva Island – an exquisite island with exceptional wildlife, white sandy beaches, delicious cuisine and a rich music scene. The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest takes place on the island. This 10 day music event features a wide range from top chart composers to aspiring musicians looking to get into the industry.

Land now had the opportunity to see firsthand how the award-winning festival transformed the quaint town into a vibrant atmosphere and why it was quickly becoming a must-see for songwriters.

Captiva, Florida. Photo by Brian Tietz

Music lovers, for example, also travel far and wide to sip refreshing cocktails on the beach while praising the men and women behind their favorite radio hits. The popular festival is divided into three locations – Captiva Island, downtown Fort Myers, and Fort Myers Beaches. The star-studded festival, hosted by The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, BMI, IHeartMedia, and Cat Country 107.1, hosts concerts in a variety of locations to give vacationers and even locals a taste of what Southwest Florida has to offer.

“It offers not only the residents, but also the visitors a new opportunity to come in and hear lots of new voices and music,” says a festival regular, who has been participating in the paradisiacal event since 2014. “You sit there listening and suddenly you think, ‘Oh my god … you wrote the song? It’s like a number 1 hit! ‘ One of the best things is when you can actually sit and listen to every songwriter tell the back story, ”he says of the personal experience.

During the 10-day event, music enthusiasts will have the luxury of strolling around intimate outdoor restaurants and beach bars to enjoy sets and jam sessions from talented songwriters. At any casual venue, the organization pairs an aspiring songwriter with a notable name. While tourists and locals alike welcome the free concert, the budding artist is given the unique opportunity to pluck the experienced artist’s brain next to him.

Island Hopper Songwriters Fest

“Suddenly your fantasy world somehow collides with your reality right now,” says Texan songwriter Leighton Fields of his experience with Aaron Barker – the man who wrote several number 1 tracks for George Strait, Willie Nelson and Lonestar.

“Without this festival, I wouldn’t be where I am now because being a local artist and then meeting writers who are your heroes and who treat you as equals makes you feel like you can do this and win. This is a tough game and we didn’t pick an easy job, ”said Keefe Klug, an aspiring artist from Fort Myers, in conversation about the cutthroat stigma of being a hungry songwriter.

Up-and-coming writers turn to veterans of the songwriting industry, the creative minds behind iconic tracks like “The Good Ones” for Gabby Barrett, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” for Brantley Gilbert, or “My List” for valuable advice “For Toby Keith attend the festival to learn from the fast emerging artists to keep up with the ever changing demands of the music industry.

Chloé Caroline & Jim McCormick at the Island Hopper Songwriters Fest

“I take advice from them, and it’s a one-way street because it’s so easy to sit back and the more success you have, the easier it is to ride on that success. And here are these young songwriters with all this new language, rhythms, new thinking, and if they’re ready to share that with an old guy like me, my music and sound will come across as more contemporary, ”says legendary writer Aaron Barker. “There are certain things that can be very helpful when writing. You know the techniques and so on, not to take away the originality. However, I believe we are helping each other a lot, ”he adds.

Barker wasn’t the only seasoned professional who blessed festival goers with his honest songwriting and honky-tonk sound. Hall of Fame lyricist Steve Dorff played hits all week long for Whitney Houston, Anne Murray, Kenny Rogers and Eddie Rabbit. Fans had the opportunity to queue up for his little concert with tickets and book signing and get an autograph from the three-time Grammy nominee.

Photo by Brian Tietz

Before the festival opened to the public, songwriters and press rubbed their elbows at a VIP party under palm trees. As they bonded on what makes a “great song,” the performers marched to the microphone to share tapping tunes. For example, the multi-platinum author Jim McCormick gave the cheering crowd goose bumps with his male interpretation of the CMA-nominated hit “The Good Ones”. In the middle of each private performance, everyone mingled with each other to draw which mini-concert series to attend along the coast.

During the break, music enthusiasts had the opportunity to hop in a kayak to explore the Buck Key Mangrove, take the boat to Cabbage Key for a juicy cheeseburger from the local restaurant, which has the classic “Cheeseburger In Paradise” inspired by Jimmy Buffett, or even ride the waves on a jet ski with Sunny Island Adventures, which was quickly accessible on site at the South Seas Island Resort.

To round off the 7th annual Island Hopper Songwriters Festival, platinum record artist Jimmie Allen was the focus of the Pink Shell Pool Party in Fort Myers Beach on Sunday, September 26th. Before RaeLynn, Kristian Bush and Maren Morris became the groundbreaking stars we know today, they made their mark on the prestigious festival. Her influence on the industry leaves the aspiring musicians who attended the event hopeful for their future in the exciting yet competitive music world.

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