Sandestin Festival To Benefit Gulf Wildlife

A cross-section of country and rock’s most acclaimed songwriters and performers will come together on Florida’s gulf coast during the weekend of August 13 and 14 for the inaugural Sandestin Music Festival. Sponsored by BMI, TrustCore, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sunquest Cruises and Southwest Airlines, the festival is all about great  music for a great cause. Donations collected will support the National Audubon Society and its efforts to help the birds and other wildlife affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper, contemporary country hitmakers Jeffrey Steele, Danny Myrick, Marty Dodson and James Slater, acclaimed guitarist/singer/songwriter Lee Roy Parnell, Grammy-winning bluesman Delbert McClinton, powerhouse vocalist Lari White, and up-and-comer Kree Harrison will perform with the 2,400-acre Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort serving as the backdrop.

Entry to the Sandestin Music Festival is free for the public with a printed ticket via www.sandestinmusicfestival.com. While there is no charge for admittance, festival organizers are asking for donations to benefit the National Audubon Society’s Gulf Coast efforts. Donations may be made online at www.sandestinmusicfestival.com or through $10 text donations during the event.

VIP Packages are available to the first 150 overnight guests to book accommodations at Sandestin Florida Beach Resort via www.sandestin.com for the Sandestin Music Festival Weekend. The VIP Package includes priority seating and a meet-and-greet with all the performers on the Solaris, the area’s only dining and entertainment yacht, after the show on Saturday. VIP pass holders also will receive a bag filled with one-of-a-kind memorabilia, including autographed CDs from participating artists, an autographed Sandestin Music Festival program and a photo with their favorite artist.

“We invite everyone to gather their families and join us for a wonderful weekend of top-shelf entertainment,” says John Russell, Sandestin resort chief and president of Sandestin Investments LLC. “These talented artists represent the best in the industry. We are so fortunate to have such an incredible line up of award-winning performers. This is the perfect way for us to cap the summer season.”

“BMI constantly seeks out new ways for our songwriters to connect with new audiences, and the first annual Sandestin Music Festival is an ideal opportunity,” says Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. “Live music ensconced in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s paradisiacal setting is a perfect way for fans to really get to know the masters behind the hits and to support worthwhile efforts on the Gulf Coast.”