Nash to Naples – Florida Weekly

Jason Cooper, Bob DiPiero, Mitch Vanderhagen, Tyler Hubbard, Carter Hamric, Craig Wiseman, Armando Hernandez. -COURTESY PHOTO

The fifth annual Nash to Naples Songwriter Fest presented by Naples Florida Rentals is set for 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24, at Cambier Park.

The lineup of musicians for this year’s event will bring thousands of music lovers to downtown Naples to hear live performances of America’s favorite country songs and the songwriting stories behind them by award-winning Nashville songwriters.

Carter Hamric, Jenny Gezella, Mitch Vanderhagen. -COURTESY PHOTO

The songwriter event will feature Nashville songwriters Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Trevor Terndrup and Heather Morgan. During this unforgettable evening, the artists will give an inside look at the songwriting stories behind their most memorable songs while guests enjoy local food trucks, a VIP Happy Hour, pre-show kid-friendly festivities and fundraising opportunities for local Veterans, Military Families, and children in need. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 6 p.m.

For the last four years, Nash to Naples has been inspiring community, creativity, and generosity through their annual Songwriter Fest. As the event has grown in popularity, the organization has created additional opportunities and unique events including the new Nash to Naples: A Night on the Naples Princess held in October 2025 for VIP guests that raised $75,000 for Home Base Florida and Hacienda of Hope. Also new this year is a Songwriter Workshop with Wayne Kirkpatrick to be held the morning of the Songwriter Fest at 10:00 am at Baker Park Gomez Center. To increase fundraising, this year guests can now Sponsor a Veteran to attend the Songwriter Fest and Sponsor a Song that includes the opportunity to have the songwriter dedicate it live on stage.

“The theme is family this year,” said Mitch Vanderhagen Nash to Naples Co-founder. “We feel like that’s at the heart of both organizations who are benefiting from this year’s proceeds. Matt and Josh Jenkins are brothers, and Wayne Kirkpatrick is Trevor’s father-in-law, so the family ties run deep this year. We feel this will make for a cool, unique dynamic on stage.”

Tickets 

Premium Lawn Seating is available for $62.24 and includes access to local food trucks, the Nash to Naples merchandise tent and a guaranteed spot to enjoy the show. Tickets for the Songwriter Workshop are $104.52. Sponsorship opportunities range from $1,500 to $10,000. Proceeds benefit SWFL-based, local charity Home Base Florida and international charity Hacienda of Hope, based in Ecuador. Tickets can be purchased at NashToNaples.com.

About the Songwriters

Josh Jenkins is a Grammy-nominated, Nashville-based singer-songwriter whose songs have been recorded by artists such as Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Walker Hayes, Randy Houser, and more. His top chart-topping hits include “Fancy Like” song by Walker Hayes, “Buy Dirt” performed by Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan and “Tucson Too Late” also song by Jordan Davis. These successes contributed to Jenkins being named the No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Songwriter, 2022 SESAC Songwriter of the Year, and Music Row Rising Songwriter of the Year. Before he started songwriting full time, he spent 15 years as the lead singer of the band Green River Ordinance.

Matt Jenkins is a singer-songwriter from Ft. Worth, Texas. Perfectly riding the line between cool and commercial, Jenkins’ songs always leave the listener wanting more. A 2017 CMA Triple Play Award Winner, he has earned 9 #1 singles, including “Buy Dirt” by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan, “Happy Anywhere” from Blake Shelton ft. Gwen Stefani, “Do I Make You Wanna” by Billy Currington, “Song for Another Time” by Old Dominion, and “Setting The World on Fire” by Kenny Chesney ft. Pink. He also wrote Florida Georgia Line’s “Confession,” Dustin Lynch’s “Where It’s At,” and Keith Urban’s hit single “Cop Car.” Not only do his songs top charts, but they also set the mood for TV’s biggest shows, including his song “Fade Into You,” placed in ABC’s show Nashville. Jenkins has also appeared multiple times on the Grand Ole Opry.

Wayne Kirkpatrick is most well-known for his 1996 Grammy Award-winning song of the year, “Change The World”, recorded by Babyface and Eric Clapton. But he has recorded over 200 songs in the last 30 years helping to secure his spot in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has enjoyed Country, R&B, CCM and Pop success with top ten songs such as “Every Heartbeat” and “Good For Me” by Amy Grant and “Place In This World” by Michael W. Smith, as well as recordings by Don Henley, Wynonna, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Tyler Hilton, Gabe Dixon, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Joe Cocker, Reba McEntire, and The Wreckers. His songs have also been featured in movies, TV shows, and Broadway musicals. Notable titles include Almost Famous, Phenomenon and Bruce Almighty, Grey’s Anatomy, Hart of Dixie, True Blood, Nashville, Something Rotten!, Smallfoot, and Mrs. Doubtfire The Musical.

Heather Morgan. -COURTESY PHOTO

Trevor Terndrup is best known as the frontman of the Nashville-based indie rock band Moon Taxi. Over the past 15 years, the group has built a reputation for strong songwriting and high-energy live performances, earning invitations to major festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo. They have also appeared on late-night television programs such as The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and most recently, Jimmy Kimmel Live!. In 2017, Moon Taxi released their major-label debut on RCA Records, which featured the peace anthem “Two High”—a track that became their first #1 at AAA radio. To date, the band has accumulated nearly 500 million streams across platforms.

Heather Morgan, a Texas native, has written songs for top country artists including Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Maren Morris, Scotty McCreery, Luke Bryan, and Keith Urban, among others. She’s penned four #1 hits and earned a BMI Song of the Year award for Brett Eldredge’s “Beat of the Music.” Most recently, she co-wrote five songs on Brett Eldredge’s Beautifully Lonely EP. Her vocals appear on albums by Jordan Davis, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, and the Eli Young Band. In 2018, she released her debut album Borrowed Heart. Heather is also the co-founder of Girls of Nashville, a female-focused songwriter series supporting local causes.

About the Benefiting Charities

Home Base is one of the first and largest non-profits in the country dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war through clinical care, wellness, education, and research – all at no cost to Veterans and Families. Concerned by the rising suicides and health challenges Florida Veterans were facing when they returned home, Home Base opened Home Base Florida in 2014. Home Base Florida provides world-class clinical care, wellness-based programs, and peer support for Veterans, Service Members, and their Families. To learn more, visit HomeBase.org/Florida.

Hacienda House of Hope, based in Ecuador, is doing life-changing work for young mothers and children who have faced incredible hardships. Through safe shelter, loving care, and education, they help build stronger, safer futures for families who deserve every opportunity to thrive. To learn more, visit HaciendaofHope.org.

About Nash to Naples

Nash to Naples was founded in 2021 by Carter Hamric, a Nashville native, and Mitch Vanderhagen, a Naples native, who set out on a mission to host a Songwriter Fest that would bring the best songwriters from Nashville to the heart of Naples with proceeds benefiting worthwhile causes. After four years and over 3,500 attendees, the events have grown in popularity, size, and venues, and have raised more than $295,000 for local and international charities. To learn more, visit NashToNaples.com.