ACMA Songwriters Showcase at The Collaboratory
The ACMA is excited to present these FREE public concerts in a beautiful setting at The Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers!
The Collaboratory has partnered with the ACMA to bring you a special songwriter showcase featuring all-original music by talented local musicians. Each concert features three artists sharing their songs, the stories behind them, and the experiences that inspired them—much like the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest or Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café.
Expect a fun evening of professional-quality Americana music, blending blues, roots, folk, bluegrass, and country.
Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy an evening under the stars.
Shows will move indoors if needed.
The ACMA, a Fort Myers-based nonprofit, is dedicated to supporting and promoting original music.
🎶 Live music: 6:30–8:00 PM
🪑 Bring a chair or blanket
🅿️ Plenty of free parking
📍 The Collaboratory — Downtown Fort Myers
🎟️ FREE and open to the public
Meet the three featured songwriters below!
Bill Metts started singing playing guitar during the Country Blues revival of the 1960s and fell in love with the art of finger-style guitar. He has performed at the prestigious Mississippi John Hurt Blues Festival, the world famous “Ground Zero” in Clarksdale Mississippi, at the Will McLean Festival in Brooksville Florida and numerous times in the BMI sponsored Island Hopper Songwriter Festival. For four years he hosted the weekly Songwriter Circle at the Americana Community Music Association located in Fort Myers Florida. Though he occasionally will do selected covers, originals are his preference. https://billmetts.bandcamp.com/
Robert Bidney is a Southwest Florida-based singer-songwriter whose songs are both relatable and have a strong commercial sensibility. A seasoned performer, who connects with his audiences through his infectious energy and emotional performances, he has been writing songs for most of his life. Bidney has recorded three studio albums, while an eclectic array of artists around the world have also covered his songs with meaning – songs that define him and reveal his soul. His creativity and commercial awareness merged while Bidney was employed by advertising agencies for which he wrote and produced a number of national radio and TV jingles for clients and worked closely with many top musicians, producers and songwriters throughout the U.S. and Canada. https://robertbidney.com
“Houseboat” Jim Visone has been picking and singing for a long, long time. He got his start in the late ’50s in Greenwich Village, right in the heart of the folk scene that helped launch the careers of so many great musicians.
And these days, Jim has been a familiar face on the Fort Myers music scene for many years, sharing his original music wherever he can.
As for what he’ll bring to the next show—banjo? Guitar? With Houseboat Jim, you just never know. But you do know you’re going to hear some good songs and a whole lot of character. If you see Jim playing around town, stop by and catch him. He’s one of those local musicians who has a story behind every song.