BMI has announced the initial lineup for the 21st Annual Key West Songwriters Festival, presented by BMI and sponsored by Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Set for May 4-8, the festival will feature top country songwriters and up-and-coming talent performing in various venues in the southernmost point in the U.S.

The list of performers includes Jake Owen, Robert Earl Keen, Rhett Akins Band, Bob DiPiero, Al Anderson, Shawn Camp, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Wendell Mobley, Heather Morgan, James Slater, Even Stevens, Guthrie Trapp and the Mulekickers, Chuck Cannon, Bruce Wallace, Phil Barton, Randy Montana, Josh Dorr, Marti Fredriksen, Danny Myrick, Paul Jenkins, Jabe Beyer, Rick Farrell, Love & Theft and many more to come.

“This is a great opportunity for us to bring our songwriters and licensees together for five days of fun in the sun and once-in-a-lifetime performances,” says Mark Mason, BMI’s Executive Director of Writer-Publisher Relations. “Budding songwriter relationships and hit songs have come out of the Key West Songwriters Festival for 21 years now.”

“The Key West Songwriters Festival brings the best country songwriters to the most festive island venues in the southernmost state,” says Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “We are thrilled to bring such a diverse talent line up to such a lively city as Key West, giving festival attendees the chance have a unique music festival experience.”

Attendees will have the chance to check out more than 200 songwriters playing more than 50 shows, free of charge. The SunTrust Kickoff Concert will feature the Rhett Akins Band, performing on the scenic Ocean Key Resort Sunset Pier, followed by free daily stages at the Southernmost Beach Resort, sunset show on the Pier House Resort beach, and a Main Stage Duval Street Concert featuring Jake Owen.

Shows will take place at the historic Sloppy Joe’s, the Green Parrot Bar and will be streamed live from Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Other shows include the NSAI “Bluebird at Blue Heaven” show, HD Radio’s late night jams with Guthrie Trapp and the Mulekickers at the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, and a closing concert at the historic Casa Marina Resort.

Ticketed shows for the festival will include theatre shows at the San Carlos Institute, the Tropic Cinema, the Key West Theater, the Studios of Key West and Sunset Sail Shows aboard a Fury Water Adventures catamaran. Keen will host two Bloody Mary Brunch shows at the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, in partnership with Texas Heritage Songwriters Association.

The entire event is hosted by Sirius XM host Storme Warren, who will broadcast his morning show live from the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon.

Proceeds from the Key West Songwriters Festival will benefit the BMI Foundation, a nonprofit that since 1985 supports the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, grants and commissions. Sponsors include SunTrust Bank, Texas Roadhouse, HD Radio, Epiphone and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association.

Vince Gill with Eddie Stubbs. Photo: Chris Hollo

Vince Gill will celebrate his 25th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with two shows on Saturday, Aug. 13. Gill was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Aug. 10, 1991. Gill announced the upcoming shows during a live Facebook chat at Nashville’s Ernest Tubb Record Shop with Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs.

“We’re excited both about Vince’s recording coming out next month and about celebrating his entire Opry career to date later this year,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “We’ve had a preview of some of Vince’s new music at the Opry over the past few months, and it has been a reminder of why he has been an award-winning artist and a favorite of fans and fellow artists alike for more than a quarter century.”

Gill has sold more than 26 million albums and has earned the most Grammy honors for a male country artist.

Gill’s 18th album, Down To My Last Bad Habit, will release Feb. 12 on MCA Records Nashville. On Feb. 17, Gill will reunite with Lyle Lovett for a 13-city Songs and Stories tour.

Pictured: Eddie Stubbs with Vince Gill. Photo: Chris Hollo

Pictured (L-R): Eddie Stubbs and Vince Gill. Photo: Chris Hollo

Cole Swindell. Photo: Jim Wright.

Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville’s Cole Swindell will release a sophomore album, You Should Be Here, on May 6. To support the effort, Swindell has announced tour dates through July.

Although the album artwork has not been unveiled, the emotional lead single has been sent to radio. “You Should Be Here,” co-written by Swindell and Ashley Gorley, is a tribute to Swindell’s late father. After its official impact date, the title track vaulted to the Top 15 in only three weeks, while the digital track has sold 197,000 units over seven weeks. It follows a string of No. 1 hits for Swindell including “Let Me See Ya Girl,” “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” and “Chillin’ It.”

Over the past year, Swindell’s achievements include ACM New Artist of the Year Award and CMA Triple Play recipient for earning (at least) three No. 1 songs in a 12-month period. For songwriting, he is a four-time 2015 BMI Award winner for writing No. 1 hits for Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, and Luke Bryan.

He has sold over 3.9 million tracks for combined albums Cole Swindell, and Down Home Sessions I and II.

Cole Swindell Upcoming Tour Dates:

February 4: Cabazon, California; K-Frog’s 26th Birthday Bash
February 11: Bemidji, Minnesota; Sanford Center
February 12: Mankato, Minnesota; Verizon Wireless Center
February 13: Norfolk, Nebraska; Divots Event Center
February 18: Shreveport, Louisiana; Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
February 19: Springdale, Arkansas; Springdale Civic Center
February 20: Jackson, Tennessee; Carl Perkins Civic Center
February 26: Shawnee, Oklahoma; Firelake Arena
February 27: Mescalero, New Mexico; Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino
March 4: Durant, Oklahoma; Choctaw Grand Theater
March 5: Houston, Texas; NRG Park
March 11: Plant City, Florida; Florida Strawberry Festival
March 17: Madison, Wisconsin; Orpheum Theater
March 18: Athens, Ohio; Memorial Auditoriums
April 8: Florence, Arizona; Country Thunder USA
May 13: Orange Beach, Alabama; Amphitheater at The Wharf
May 14: Madison, Mississippi; C-Spire Lawn
May 28: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Bayou Country Superfest
June 4: Cullman, Alabama; Rock the South
June 12: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Carolina Country Music Fest
July 21: Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Country Jam
July 22: Valparaiso, Indiana; The Porter County Fair
July 30: Cheyenne, Wyoming; Cheyenne Frontier Days