Panama City Songwriters Festival returns to downtown. Here's what to expect
PANAMA CITY— The fourth annual Panama City Songwriters Festival returns to downtown and has collaborated with Downtown After Dark to bring an exciting weekend for music lovers.
The festival will feature local, regional and nationally known musicians who will take the stage across downtown venues, transforming them into an intimate musical atmosphere. This year's event kicks off Nov. 3 with Downtown After Dark and continues with the Songwriters Festival on Nov. 4 and 5.
Hosted by Bay Youth Music Association and Destination Panama City, locals and visitors are invited to experience historic downtown while the artists perform original songs.
Will Thompson, festival organizer, has spearheaded the Panama City Songwriters Festival since its inaugural event in 2018. He is also the founder of the Bay Youth Music Association, a nonprofit organization created to help provide instruments and funds to music programs throughout Bay County.
Related: Panama City Symphony Orchestra appoints Sergey Bogza as new music director and conductor
"This festival gives listeners the opportunity to hear the inspiration and process of how each song was made," Thompson said. "You definitely don't have to be a musician to enjoy this festival. We want everyone to listen."
Downtown After Dark
This year, Destination Panama City has partnered with the Bay Youth Music Association to bring Downtown After Dark and the Panama City Songwriters Festival together.
"Panama City has a thriving performance arts scene," said Jennifer Vigil, president and CEO of Destination Panama City. "We are excited to partner with Will Thompson and bring the Downtown After Dark experience to the Panama City Songwriters Festival weekend."
Downtown After Dark will host two concerts to kick off the festival Nov. 3 on the #LovePC at Destination Panama City, 101 W. Beach Drive. Tickets start at $10 and are on sale on the Eventbrite website. VIP tickets are also available, which include early entry, food, drinks and VIP room access.
The show opens at 6 p.m. with multi-Grammy nominated musical duo Michael and Lisa Gungor, best known for creating inclusive and eclectic spiritual music. At 7:30 p.m., The Red Clay Strays, a Mobile, Alabama-based rock band will take the stage playing tunes of classic country, rockabilly and gospel-fed soul.
In addition, food trucks, vendors and artist merchandise will be on-site at the event.
Panama City Songwriters Festival
Nearly 40 talents will play across six walkable venues Nov. 4 and 5 in downtown Panama City for a free, family-friendly event.
Venues include Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 E. Fourth St., Downtown Boxing Club, 320 Luverne Ave.; The Light Room, 306 Harrison Ave.; Millie's Cafe, 228 Harrison Ave.; Trigo, 119 Harrison Ave.; and Tom's Hot Dogs, 416 Harrison Ave.
Young songwriters also are encouraged to perform in a Youth Songwriters Contest held over the weekend.
In partnership with Destination Panama City and the Bay Youth Music Association, the festival sponsors include the Downtown Improvement Board, St. Joe Community Foundation, Beachy Beach Real Estate, Centennial Bank, Southern Supply and Safety and Wayne Enterprises.
For more information about the Panama City Songwriters Festival, visit pcsongwriters.com.
More: First-ever Boardwalk Country Music Beach Festival is coming to Fort Walton Beach
Nov. 4 lineup
Panama City Center for the Arts: Joshua Sinclair, Calliope Petis and Melissa Bowmen at 4:45 p.m.; Laura Vida, Weston Hine and Logan Vath at 6 p.m.; Melissa Joiner, Daniel Thomas Phipps and Nathan Evans Fox at 7:30 p.m.
Downtown Boxing Club: Season Ammons, Ricky Duran and Garrett Brown at 5:30 p.m.; Lauren Nicole Frihauf, Chris Alverado and Dean Johanesen at 7 p.m.; and David Ryan Harris at 8:30 p.m.
The Light Room: Chuck Foster, Gary Nichols and Lauren Spring at 5 p.m.; Kelsey Eiman at 6:30 p.m.; and Eliot Bronson and Abe Partridge at 8 p.m.
Millie's Cafe: Delany Ramsdell and Woods The Band at 5:15 p.m.; Anna Katarina, Scott and Shawn and Ryan Balthrop at 6:45 p.m.; and Blue Mother Tupelo and Wes Loper at 8:15 p.m.
Trigo: Lindsey Thompson, Anthony Peebles and Ashe Watson at 5:20 p.m.; Benjamin Dakota Rogers at 6:35 p.m.; and Michael and Lisa Gungor at 8:05 p.m.
Tom's Hot Dogs: Trapper Haskins and Leana Carter at 5:45 p.m.; and Joshua Reilly and Shawn Byrne at 7:15 p.m.
Nov. 5 lineup
Panama City Center for the Arts: Trapper Haskins and Leana Carter at 4:45 p.m.; Ashe Waston, Wes Loper and Anna Katarina at 6 p.m.; and Garrett Brown and Ricky Duran at 7:30 p.m.
Downtown Boxing Club: Woods The Band, Joshua Reilly and Dean Johanesen at 4 p.m.; Daniel Thomas Phipps, Blue Mother Tupelo and Ryan Balthrop at 5:30 p.m.; Will and Lindsey Thompson and Abe Patridge at 7 p.m.; and Michael and Lisa Gungor at 8:30 p.m.
The Light Room: Calliope Petis and Laura Vida at 5 p.m.; Benjamin Dakota Rogers at 6:30 p.m.; and Weston Hine and Lauren Nicole Frihauf at 8 p.m.
Millie's Cafe: Chuck Foster, Gary Nichols and Delany Ramsdell at 5:15 p.m.; Anthony Peebles, Nathan Evans Fox and Lauren Spring at 6:45 p.m.; and Logan Vath and Season Ammons at 8:15 p.m.
Trigo: Scott and Shawn, Melissa Joiner and Kelsey Eiman at 5:10 p.m.; Eliot Bronson and Shawn Bryne at 6:40 p.m.; and David Ryan Harris at 8:10 p.m.
Tom's Hot Dogs: Melissa Bowmen and Joshua Sinclair at 5:45 p.m.; and Stephen Sylvester and Dean Johanesen at 7:15 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Songwriters Festival: What to expect at event Nov. 4-5
