Within the days earlier than switching its focus to making ready for the arrival of Hurricane Ian, Fort Myers Florida welcomed music lovers from world wide for its famed annual 10-day Island Hopper Songwriter Competition. And along with featured performances from among the biggest out of Nashville, Charleston, and even native notables from the Fort Myers Seashore space, competition goers had been handled to unique tunes from a trio that did some island hopping themselves — all the way in which from the U.Ok.
Straight off the stage after their set opening for competition headliner Gary LeVox (previously of Rascal Flatts), Pursuitist caught up with Essex County, a rustic band named for his or her dwelling county in japanese England, made up of brothers Keiran (bass), Nate (drums), and Mark (guitar) that has been rocking the style with a British bent.
“We love touring world wide and seeing the completely different cultures and simply feeling out completely different crowds — and this crowd is superior,” Keiran advised us.
He and his bothers have been enjoying collectively since adolescence after they fashioned their first pop band, Subsequent of Kin, signed to Common Data. Now, climbing the nation charts as Essex County, the household band is definitely taking influences from music they used to hearken to with their dad and mom alongside recent takes gleaned from attendance at festivals like Island Hopper.
“We’re positively coming again subsequent yr. 2023, we’re already booked in,” Nate mentioned from the stage.
“The group and the tradition right here is a lot completely different [than other festivals we have played]… in a great way,” Keiran mentioned.
“Intimate gigs [like this], you can also make the group chortle like as when you had been at dwelling. You’ll be able to simply sing your tune and discuss garbage or no matter. On a giant stage you’re simply kind of enjoying to the group. You’ll be able to’t discuss to individuals after they’re so distant, and it’s good to be intimate, you understand?” he mentioned.
Along with the primary stage for the culminating efficiency occasion of the competition, Essex County additionally graced smaller phases the place they made much more private connections with an Island Hopper viewers and venues that made them really feel proper at dwelling.
“We performed the Yucatan [Beach Stand],” Kieran advised us, considering again to the good crowd and an apparently memorable meal of Mama’s Pot Roast.
“They do an superior beef roast dinner you may’t discover anyplace in America. It’s the closest factor to a roast dinner again dwelling,” he mentioned.
(He additionally divulged that he couldn’t be discovered sipping margaritas — and even mocktails — on the seaside throughout his time within the Florida solar. “I don’t drink,” he mentioned. “Simply hydrate with water.” This will have one thing to do together with his passions and pursuits when not enjoying, which he advised us would come with racing bikes.)
Headed again to London instantly after the competition, each to flee the hurricane and to do some songwriting, American audiences can relaxation assured that Essex County has plans to return to the states, Nashville particularly, to play the Rhyman Auditorium as quickly as November 2022.
“It’s thrilling,” Keiran advised Pursuitist, about acting at what’s broadly thought to be the perfect nation music venue in Nashville. “We’ve performed there twice earlier than, however we’re enjoying with Chris Younger this time,” in a live performance and charitable occasion, Christmas 4 Youngsters, that additionally options Phil Vassar and The Frontmen.
