Darius Rucker, Russel Dickerson, O.A.R. and Rock Republic put on an amazing show at Southwest Florida’s largest outdoor music festival. The Live Fest event held at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton was once again sold out for the sixth year in a row. It blends country with rock and roll and other genres to create “a something for everyone” feeling. The weather was again perfect on December 13th and the crowd electric.
Darius headlined Live Fest for the second time duplicating his 2019 standout performance with additional hits. Russel Dickerson who has the current #1 song, “Happened to Me,” was quite the showman letting SW Florida understand what “Russellmania” really is. O.A.R, who has sold out Madison Square Garden and played Red Rocks fifteen times, brought their refined 90s rock to a new level after local hometown heroes Rock Republic open the show.
DJ Sinister, who has toured with Big and Rich for 8 years, keeps the energy going in between sets as he runs the turntables, sings along and keeps the crowd pumped up.
Since its genesis in 2019 Live Fest continues to grow and attract major sponsors such as the presenting sponsor First Horizon Bank, Seagate Development, Stock Development, TerraCap, Bramshill Investments, Cutwater, Grant Thornton, QBE Insurance, Allegro Group, iHeart Radio, UBS, Tito’s, Dunkin' Donuts, Zoom Tan to name a few.
From the very beginning Live Fest founder Steve Hagenbuckle wanted to give something back to Southwest Florida. Growing up here, he saw a big live music void. After careful planning, he found the right operating partner in Wasserman Group and the right location that met a higher-end demographic. That location being Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton. Holding the event during a major PGA/LPGA event added to the appeal and draw. After discussions with Taylor Ives and Rob Hartman at Wasserman, the trio attained the necessary approvals from Greg Norman and the PGA back as well as Kevin DeDonato from Tiburon in 2019 and the rest is history, as they say.
When asked “what are the most challenging parts to the puzzle,” Hagenbuckle states talent blend first, and then logistics and ensuring a memorable safe experience for all attendees with a commitment to further refine every subsequent year. The team seems to do just that year after year continually increasing the investment in the event to improve the experience for all. Over 300 Live Fest team members, local first responders and volunteers work together to deliver the experience.
It is notable to mention that Live Fest was our magazine’s first cover feature story and has been multiple times since. Greg Dodge and Steve Hagenbuckle have developed a strong bond and friendship ever since their first publishing years ago.
When on stage, Steve invited up his new friend and new Naples part-time resident, Ira Dean. Ira, who used to live with Johnny Cash when he was in his twenties in the Nashville area, was introduced to Steve by good friend and Lenkbar founder, Erik Papenfuss. Ira was the 2003 ACM AMA Artist of the Year and New Country Artist winner as well as a Grammy nominee with his band Trick Pony. He recently hit iTunes #1 top music video with “What Would Charlie Daniels Do” which he performs with Ted Nugent who also has had local ties to Southwest Florida. Ira Dean has over 100 songs to his credit has even written songs with Darius Rucker back in the early 2000s.
The Live Fest Team is already at work planning for Live Fest 2026! An event not to miss and one to mark your calendar with. It is always the second Saturday of every December!