The Music Heats Up At Fourth Annual BMI Maui Songwriters Festival

Pictured Top Row (L-R): Lukas Nelson, Brett Warren, Jon Randall, Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Miranda Lambert, BMI’s Jody Williams, Claudia Goodfellow and Danny Goodfellow. Bottom Row (L-R): Jessi Alexander, Brad Warren, Ray Benson, Randy Houser, Luke Combs and Lily Meola

It may be chilly in Nashville this week, but several of Nashville’s top BMI-affiliated singer-songwriters recently spent time in sunny Maui as part of the fourth annual BMI Maui Songwriters Festival, held Nov. 29-Dec. 1.

Country hitmaker Miranda Lambert headlined the festival, and brought fellow ace singer-songwriters Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley for a special Pistol Annies performance.

Other performers included Luke Combs, who took home the CMA’s Best New Artist honor last month and has just been nominated for Best New Artist honor at the upcoming Grammy Awards, along with Randy Houser, The Warren Brothers, Jessi Alexander, Steven Tyler, Jon Randall, Monroe, Ray Benson, Maui native Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, and a surprise guest appearance from Willie Nelson.

Pictured: Willie Nelson (center) with son Lukas Nelson (right).

Shows were held at venues across the island including Fleetwood’s on Front Street, “How I Wrote That Song” at Grand Waliea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, and concluded with a packed house at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

In addition to being presented by BMI, the fourth annual Maui Songwriters Festival is supported by Goodfellow Family Foundation, HD Radio, SunTrust Bank, Texas Roadhouse and wine partner Daou Vineyards. Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the festival, with additional support provided by Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Additional community sponsors include Pacific Home Loans and Wailea Resort Association.

Luke Combs

Miranda Lambert

Pistol Annies