TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY SEAN HAGWELL ; OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF ISLAND HOPPER SONGWRITER FESTIVAL
Michael Ray is a noted solo artist with extensive writing credits with major country performers. He is a headliner at the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest in September.
THIS YEAR’S SCHEDULED HEADLINERS ARE JIMMIE ALLEN AND MICHAEL RAY and ends on Fort Myers Beach (Sept. 24-26). Since May 2020, Island Hopper Fest organizers had produced a virtual concert series, Songs from the Sofa or Songs from the Sand. Songs from the Sofa debuted with Sam James. The monthly live performances have included Jay Allen, Maia Sharp, Dave Pahanish, Ben Allen, Clint Daniels, Parmalee, Danny Myrick, Bridget Tatum, Hannah Ellis, Julia Cole and Ruthie Collins. All performances are archived on the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest Instagram page. Songs from the Sand debuted in February 2021 with Sheena Brook at the Pink Shell Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach. In May, Devin Dawson performed at Diamond Head Beach Resort. The first Island Hopper in 2014 ran two weekends in Captiva and Fort Myers Beach. In 2015, the event expanded to downtown Fort Myers for mid-week shows. There were performances at the home of artist Robert Rauschenberg, for instance. That event featured Kristian Bush, half of the country music duo Sugarland. Visitors in 2016 were introduced to a songwriter workshop, which was sitting in with a Hall of Fame songwriter to sharpen their own writing skills. Other past headliners include Maren Morris, LoCash, Gone West and Rodney Atkins.
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