BMI Brings Music To 4th Annual Island Hoppers Songwriters Festival

Skye Claire performs her country hits at the 4th Annual Island Hopper Songwriters Fest.

The 4th annual Island Hopper Songwriters Fest presented by BMI, the Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, and iHeart Media’s Cat Country 107.1 wrapped up this weekend as festival organizers reported record crowds. The 10-day songwriters festival featured 85 BMI singer-songwriters performing in more than 20 venues on Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach and Downtown Fort Myers, and provided an opportunity for the communities to heal after Hurricane Irma devastated many areas in Southwest Florida.

In addition, it gave BMI songwriters the opportunity to help many businesses that support them throughout the year through their licensing fees by bringing their stories and songs to the venues and in turn helping to boost food and beverage revenue for dozens of bars and restaurants who had to close for more than two weeks because of the effects of Irma. Several establishments commented that the songwriter shows helped them achieve record revenue and help heal the many communities that sustained significant damage from the hurricane.

Paul McDonald performs at Island Hopper Songwriters Fest at Fort Myers Beach on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Songwriter Julia Cole poses in Downtown Fort Myers during Island Hopper Songwriter Fest.

Maggie Rose gets the crowd going at Island Hopper Songwriters Fest in Fort Myers, Florida.