Our Local Artists for 2025
Michelle Anders
Singer-songwriter Michele Anders has been playing music in Northeast Florida since 2011, but she has been playing instruments, writing lyrics, and singing since she was a young girl growing up in central Pennsylvania. Before moving to Florida, you could catch her playing music up and down the Delaware/Maryland coast, from Rehoboth Beach to Ocean City and back. After moving to North Florida, Michele befriended local guitar legend Dan Voll, and they forged a musical bond that led them to perform together many times (in bands and as a duo) until his tragic passing in January 2018. Since then, Michele switched instruments from bass to acoustic guitar, and has been performing solo and with local bands from time to time.
In her spare time, Michele enjoys hanging at the beach, fishing, kayaking, and traveling with her husband, Chad.
Hupp Huppman
Hupp is a native of Baltimore, Maryland who began performing in bands at the age of 15. A career in the U.S. Navy allowed him to perform at locations up and down the east coast until he settled in Northeast Florida in 1995. Joining the cover music scene on Amelia Island starting in 1998, he has built a reputation as a gifted singer/songwriter with an uncanny ability to fill entire evenings by fielding requests from his audience.
He completed the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in 2022, rowing over 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean with his veteran teammates. The 51-day journey was completed to drive awareness to Veteran Suicide and PTSD related issues and resulted in the team raising over $900,000 for veteran charities.
His original material is crafted in open tunings as influenced by folk artists like David Wilcox, Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Local favorites include his songs “Baltimore Bound”, “Swim Your Kiss”, “Uncharted Waters” and “Riptide”.
Melissa Joiner
Hailing from the Gulf Coast, Internationally touring singer-songwriter Melissa Joiner has been immersed in music since birth. Her creative use of formal opera training and delta blues influence has created a diverse style that has made her a standout in the singer songwriter world.
After reaching her goal of playing 30 countries by the age of 30, Melissa decided to call the East Coast home. Her music can still be heard on radio stations, at festivals, and at shows all over the world. Her recent album Changing, featured a #1 song in Norway.
To learn more and hear her music, check out www.melissajoinermusic.com
Deacon Parks
A duo that started out about six years ago playing open mics at the legendary unknown venue known as The Patio Place, Deacon Parks turned their dual harmony, acoustic guitar-driven open mic adventures into a full-fledged musical journey. After months of playing, practicing, and jamming together, they collaborated on three new songs and their first full gig.
Since then, they’ve been playing together all over the island, concentrating on Americana as their sound: country music, bluegrass, and classic 70’s music enrich their sound. Playing in the round at the Fernandina Beach Songwriters Festival will be old hat for Deacon Parks, having sat in on several jams with local artists for years.