Songwriters in the Round: : Grant Peeples, Larry Mangum and Doug Spears.

Name: Songwriters in the Round: : Grant Peeples, Larry Mangum and Doug Spears.
Start: 2026-01-10T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Americana Community Music Association

Schedule

Sat, 10 Jan, 2026 at 07:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Americana Community Music Association | Fort Myers, FL

Doors at 6:30
Show at 7:00
Suggested donation at the door $18/22
The ACMA is tickled pink to be able to bring these three venerable Crackers back together for a songwriting round you won’t forget! It's been 12 years since their original songwriter round. but these songwriters have not been sitting around on their (ahem) laurels while life passed them by. Read on for a bit about each of their accomplishments.
Grant Peeples: A self-described “tree-hugger that watches NASCAR,” Grant Peeples is known for his axe-sharp socio-political tunes, raucous humor and heart-gigging ballads.
He is the recipient of the Focus Foundation Award for Creative Excellence, which cited the “humor, compassion and wisdom of his songs,” and their “unflinching social insight and cultural acuity.” Grant tours coast to coast and is a repeat performer at The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, the 30A Songwriters Festival, and The Florida Folk Festival. In June 2023 he made his debut at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival.
He has been a keen observer of the American condition for five decades, ever since a friend introduced him to the music of Bob Dylan. Through many years on the road, running a night club/music venue in Tallahassee, and after a ten-year stint on an isolated island off the coast of Nicaragua, Peeples turned to writing with a vengeance. He wrote poetry and songs that turned a critical eye on American culture and identity, the very definition of contemporary folk music.
January 2019 marked a second tour in The Netherlands, where FolkForum.nl described him “…a pure storyteller, in the best American folk tradition…” and his show “…one of those gems that you will remember for a long time…”
We know you’ll want to join us for this almost once in a lifetime experience with the PMS songwriters round
Larry Mangum:Jacksonville, FL singer/songwriter LARRY MANGUM has nearly 3000 performances over 5 decades as a folk, rock, country and Americana artist. For over 100 years somebody from Larry's North Carolina family has been playing. Larry's Mom, Kate was Randy Travis' guitar teacher and Uncle Homer was a member of the legendary WBT Briarhoppers!
A Floridian since 1970, known for his butter smooth voice, Larry has released 10 albums of original music and 2 live albums since 1980. An award winning songwriter, Larry writes from a keen sense of observation and experience capturing the moments that reveal the human truths that bind us all together. An evening of Larry’s songs is an emotional roller coaster touching the heart, the mind and the soul that stays with the listener long after the performance.
Larry makes regular appearances at the Florida Folk Festival (featured performer in 2010 2015 2022) the Will McLean Festival (featured performer 2010), the South Florida Folk Festival, the Sarasota Folk Festival, the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, Barberville, the Lake County Folk Festival, Riverhawk and many more! He is also host and co-founder of THE SONGWRITERS’ CIRCLE in Jacksonville-a monthly program featuring many of the best regional and national touring acts. Since 2006, Larry has hosted a monthly Songwriters' Circle in Jacksonville and around the state.
Larry's concert appearances with music legends include the late Waylon Jennings, Roger McGuinn, David Mallett, The Texas Playboys, Billy Joe Shaver, Vassar Clements, Ray Price, Martina McBride, Juice Newton, Steve Young, Gene Watson, T.G. Sheppard, T. Graham Brown, Alabama and many more.
After years of high quality performances at festivals, country clubs, fairs and honky tonks, Larry Mangum has become one of the premiere performers in Florida!
And Doug Spears:Engaging and entertaining, Doug Spears is a veteran performing songwriter with a storyteller’s soul. A rare fifth generation Florida native from Lake County, Florida, Doug is a regular throughout the state of Florida in concert series, listening rooms, festivals and house concerts and at similar venues throughout the U.S. He received particular attention for his 2010 album “Welcome Home” which was a top forty album of the year on the independent folk music radio charts and appeared on the preliminary Grammy ballots in three categories. He has earned recognition for his songwriting from the International Acoustic Music Awards and his song “Break Some Stones” has been published by American Songwriter Magazine.
Accompanied by a pure acoustic, Americana / folk sound and seasoned vocal delivery, Doug’s songs are drawn from his childhood roots and the world as he’s seen and experienced it. His writing runs from rich tales and vivid portraits of fascinating people, places and events to honest and vulnerable examinations of life’s joys and sorrows. Doug’s performances are a very personal experience that draw you in by deftly blending the story, the song, a measure of humor and a dash of emotion. Hank Weisman of the Savannah Folk Music Society says, "Great songs combined with fine play and entertaining, informative patter makes Doug a sure-fire success with any audience." “Doug’s words and music go straight to the heart and he doesn’t let up, from start to finish.” Ron Johnson, Florida Times Union
Please plan to join us for what promises to be a very memorable evening of song.