The 3rd Annual Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival kicks off September 28 and runs through October 3, 2011.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the songs as they were written and performed by the songwriters themselves in their purest form. Get the stories behind the songs as you enjoy beautiful Pensacola Beach In the fall. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal to the music you know and love.
“This year’s event is shaping up to be even bigger and better than ever,†says Festival co-founder Reneda Cross. “We’ll have 80+ songwriters on 18 stages with 200+ performances.â€
Participating stages include Bamboo Willie’s, Blues Angel Music, Grand Marlin Deck Stage, Grand Marlin Listening Room, Hilton, Laguna’s, Land Shark Landing, Lillo’s Tuscan Grill, Margaritaville Tiki Bar, Paradise Bar & Grill, Portofino, Portofino l – Island Cruise, Sabine Sandbar, Sandshaker, The Amphitheatre on the Boardwalk, The Wine Bar/The Fitting Room, Tiki Island Fantasy Golf
In addition to the stage performances, the songwriters will visit local elementary schools and participate in a Putt Putt Golf Tournament with the kids. Proceeds from the tournament are earmarked for the music programs in local area schools.
SongFest co-founder and songwriter Jim Pasquale says, “The kids really enjoy playing golf with the songwriters, but the songwriters have as much or more fun as the kids!â€
Also new this year is a Songwriter’s Showcase Boat Cruise, a workshop on Marketing Your Songs for Film and TV and a song contest sponsored by NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International).
Some returning songwriters include Jim “Moose†Brown (It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere), Karen Staley (Let’s Go To Vegas), Alex Call (867-5309/Jenny) and Walt Aldridge (No Getting Over Me). Some new additions this year include Lisa Carver (Every Day America), Tim Buppert (She’s Sure Taking It Well),
Bud Lee (Friends in Low Places) and Rob Hatch (If Heaven Weren’t So Far Away).
And this year’s SongFest will truly be an International event, as Ottar Johansen and Tore Andersen will be coming from Norway. Tore is the Norwegian 2010Grammy winner for best country music album of the year.
Main sponsors are Margaritaville, Lewis Bear & Co., Paradise Realty/Bar & Grill, SESAC, Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulfside, Portofino, Jack Daniels/Tennessee Honey, Blues Angel Music, J Pasquale Music and Music as Message.
Come out and enjoy the music, the food, the beverages, the lodging and the hospitality extended by the sponsors and stages. Park your car and walk, ride your bike, take the beach trolley or beach buggy to all the festivities!
For additional information, visit our website at pensacolabeachsongfest.com and become a fan at facebook.com/songfest.