- May 3, 2024
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Songwriter Tucker Beathard: "There’s a lot of things people are dealing with internally that they don’t have voices for right now, and I’ve learned that if I write from the heart, if I sing from experience, I can be that voice." Read his story at https://www.palmcoastsongwritersfestival.com/tucker-beathard.
Songwriter Tucker Beathard: "There’s a lot of things people are dealing with internally that they don’t have voices for right now, and I’ve learned that if I write from the heart, if I sing from experience, I can be that voice." Read his story at https://www.palmcoastsongwritersfestival.com/tucker-beathard.
Casey Beathard has written many hit songs, including “Boys of Fall,” "No Shoes, No Shirts, No Problem," Hot Mama," and "Why We Drink." Photo by Brian McMillan
Casey Beathard has written many hit songs, including “Boys of Fall,” "No Shoes, No Shirts, No Problem," Hot Mama," and "Why We Drink." Photo by Brian McMillan
Casey Beathard, with his granddaughter and Garry Lubi and Shawn Parr. Photo by Brian McMillan
Casey Beathard and festival founder Garry Lubi. Photo by Brian McMillan
Kix Country host Kandi Lowe and emcee Shawn Parr have some fun on stage with a Dolly Parton Imagination Library cutout. Parr has been nominated for National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards, where Parton will also be performing. Parr's show can be heard on 84 stations, including Kix 98.7. Photo by Brian McMillan
Brice Long and Wynn Varble. Photo by Brian McMillan
Elisa and Aurelio Sampaio, of Palm Coast. Photo by Brian McMillan
Renee Newton, of Palm Coast, and Karen Dietterick, of Pennsylvania. Photo by Brian McMillan
Former DSC Dean Kent Ryan, with Flagler Broadcasting President David Ayres. Photo by Brian McMillan
Angie and Andy Churney have been the drivers for the artists for the past four years in Palm Coast. Photo by Brian McMillan
Nana Dee Mascitti (left) and Mary Anne Giampapa (right) traveled from Nashville to see Lauren Mascitti perform at the Palm Coast Songwriters Festival. Photo by Brian McMillan
Master Deputy Nancy Malheiros and Deputy Derek Logsdon. Photo by Brian McMillan
Tina Chalmers and Grace Chalmers. Photo by Brian McMillan
Brice Long and Wynn Varble. Photo by Brian McMillan
Among the 125 No. 1 hit songs performed by 35 songwriters at the annual Palm Coast Songwriters Festival this weekend, at least one brought festival founder Garry Lubi to tears.
Casey Beathard co-wrote “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” with Ed Hill, and the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in 2007. When Beathard performed the song during the free kickoff show May 3, 2023, at the Daytona State College Palm Coast Amphitheatre, Lubi thanked Beathard personally. He said the song reminded him of the value of true friends — those who have supported him through recent health struggles.
“Everybody wants to slap your back, wants to shake your hand/ When you're up on top of that mountain,” the song goes, “But let one of those rocks give way, then you slide back down/ Look up and see who's around then.”
Lubi has developed close friendships, as well, with many of the songwriters who have come to the festival since it started five years ago. Artists this year included Deana Carter, Darryl Worley, Ira Dean (formerly of Trick Pony), Matraca Berg, and Anthony Smith.
The festival supports charitable organizations including the Gold Star Mentors Foundation, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library/Early Learning Coalition for Flagler and Volusia Counties and the Daytona State College Foundation.
Visit www.palmcoastsongwritersfestival.com.
