Songwriters Under the Stars: Buddy Mondlock, Robert Bidney, & Bruce Gallant

Name: Songwriters Under the Stars: Buddy Mondlock, Robert Bidney, & Bruce Gallant
Start: 2025-10-23T19:00:00-04:00
Location: Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium

Schedule

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium | Fort Myers, FL

The ACMA is excited to co-host another concert in the Music Under the Stars Series with the Calusa Nature Center. The concert takes place INSIDE the Planetarium under the stars.
Doors at 6:30, Show at 7 PM.
Advance tickets highly recommended!
Here's a bit about the three musicians who are performing in the round.
Buddy Mondlock:
Buddy Mondlock writes songs. He does it so well that some great songwriters have
recorded his songs on their own albums. Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith and Janis Ian, to name
just a few. But there’s nothing like hearing the guy who wrote ‘em sing ‘em. He’s not going
to pin your ears back with those songs. He’s going to draw you into his world.
It was Guy Clark who first discovered Buddy playing under a tree at the Kerrville Folk
Festival in 1986. Guy went back to Nashville, opened the door and yelled, “Pay attention
y’all, this kid’s good.” Soon after, Buddy was driving a U-Haul south from his native
Chicago. A publishing deal with EMI was waiting. In the years that followed, cuts with the
likes of Garth Brooks, Joan Baez and David Wilcox cemented his reputation as
a songwriter. Peter, Paul and Mary recorded his song, “The Kid” and he sang it with them
on their 1996 “Great Performances” PBS television special.
But Buddy never considered just laying back and writing songs for others. He’s always
been a performer first. The joy he takes in singing and playing and telling stories for folks
shines through and his audiences take that with them.
And although never one to rush things, he’s accumulated a string of critically acclaimed
CDs including 2002’s “Everything Waits To Be Noticed,” a writing and recording
collaboration with Maia Sharp and Art Garfunkel. And his latest album, “Filament,”
produced by Brad Jones, explores some new territory for him, both sonically and
rhythmically.
In recent years Buddy has been writing songs with military veterans through a program
sponsored by an organization called Music Therapy of the Rockies and he includes several
of those songs in his shows (and one on his new album). “This has been such a powerful
experience and I’m honored to have been trusted with these stories of trauma, and of
triumph too,” he says.
Turns out he’s also a fine teacher, hosting songwriting workshops across the US and
overseas, sharing the wonder of making something out of nothing and helping others to find
their own creative sparks. He’s been on staff at the famed Swannanoa Gathering as well as
at the songwriting schools at festivals like Kerrville and Sisters.
“Buddy Mondlock writes beautiful songs and plays the kind of guitar they deserve. He’s a
fine person and a fine artist.” Townes Van Zandt

Bruce Gallant:
For over 40 years, Bruce has been writing songs, using them as a journal to reflect the different times in his life. "I started writing songs in my late 20s and have never stopped. Anything of importance in my life is in one of my songs. Writing is essential for my survival it is what I live for.” He grew up with many musical influences from his Mother and Hank Williams to the Beatles and beyound. "It was just part of my life",As he has said many times, "without my music I would have no purpose." Bruce is from the State of Maine and has been "Living in Paradise" scince 2011. He has won awards such as "Hope by Song" song writer of the year and has participated in events like "The Island Hopper" and both "Ft. Myers Art and Music Walk".
Bruce is a proud member of the "Ft. Myers Americanna Comunity Music Ass". (A. C. M. A.) of which he is both a Board member and co-host of the weekly "Singer Songwriting Circle" sponsord by the Ft. Myers A.C.M.A.
Bruce can be found at local markets and establishments in both Ft. Myers and Punta Gorda. He also preforms at Senior Living facilities in the area.
Bruce has one album on "Spotify" titled "Kiss me Goodnight" and you can also listen to, and purchase his music at "brucegallant.bandcamp.com".
Robert Bidney:
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.