May 2nd & 3rd, nearly 500 islanders, neighbors and visitors gathered to witness the birth of Fort Myers Beach's first two day blues festival, and the reviews were so positive that plans for next year's celebration are already underway. The Seaside Soul Serenade - Blues on the Green was held at the Fort Myers Beach Golf Club on Saturday and Sunday, and the cloudless sky and soft Gulf breeze created the perfect ambiance for attendees to enjoy the seamless performance of blues greats from around the country.

 

Headlining the show was American icon Sir Mack Rice, writer and composer of Mustang Sally, who was commandeered to the stage by a fleet of Mustangs provided by the Gulfshore Mustang Club. Mack then got the crowd to its feet by getting them to participate in the singing of his trademark song, even leaving the stage and dancing with some lucky ladies. Sir Mack had a wonderful time enjoying a sunny break from his home in Detroit, and when we were giving him a ride to the airport on Monday, he told us that it was the people he met in our community that made his trip here extra special. Read more...

It was a perfect afternoon to witness a fine drama in the open air, as the audience at the Purple Heart Theater discovered. Steve Carroll captivated the crowd with his stirring performance as the first world-renowned aviator and media celebrity.