Singer-songwriter Gary Hannan; photo courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is back! If you’re island bound, you won’t want to miss it!
The popular music festival returns for its seventh year with a lineup of more than 100 performances from 60 talented singer-songwriters, including Jimmie Allen and Michael Ray.
Ten days of music kicks off on Captiva Island, Sept. 17-19, then moves to historic downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 20-23, and wraps up on Fort Myers Beach, Sept. 24-26. The event is the largest songwriter festival in Southwest Florida and offers a unique experience to interact with songwriters at pool parties and beachside venues.
Allen, who won this year’s Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year, will perform at the highly anticipated pool party at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Sept. 26. The Delaware native made history as the first Black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 songs on country radio. His hit, “Best Shot,” claimed the No. 1 spot for three weeks and his second single, “Make Me Want To,” climbed the charts in March 2020. He recently released an album featuring collaborations with Little Big Town, Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton.
Ray, a Florida native, joins Island Hopper Songwriter Fest with three No. 1 songs, including “Kiss You in the Morning,” “Think a Little Less” and “One That Got Away.” He performs at Pinchers at The Marina at Edison Ford in downtown Fort Myers on Sept. 23.
Organizers are doing all that they can to produce a safe experience for Island Hopper songwriters, staff and fans. Most of the events will be held outdoors. They are taking all the precautions necessary, which include asking attendees to follow CDC guidelines at all performances.
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is produced by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, iHeartMedia, Cat Country 107.1 and BMI, the largest music rights organization in the U.S. Visit IslandHopperFest.com or follow the festival hashtag #islandhopperfest as well as the event’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feeds.
