Annapolis Songwriters Festival Returns This Weekend With Blondie Headlining

ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Annapolis Songwriters Festival returns Thursday and runs through Sunday in the state capital. 

The festival will bring dozens of concerts, both free and paid, to venues across the city. One show will be on a boat.

Blondie will headline the festival with her Friday evening performance at City Dock. LeAnn Rimes, the second headliner, takes the stage Sunday evening at City Dock. 

Other highlights include:

• Michelle Branch (Thursday at Maryland Hall)
• Amanda Shires (Thursday at Rams Head On Stage)
• James McMurtry (Friday at Rams Head On Stage)
• The Chattahoochies (Friday at Rams Head On Stage)
• Songwriters on the Severn (Friday on a Watermark Cruise)
• Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives (Saturday at Maryland Hall)
• K. Michelle (Saturday at Rams Head On Stage)
• Patty Griffin (Sunday at Maryland Hall)

Tickets are required for the shows mentioned above. All others are free.

Venues stretch from Maryland Hall to City Dock, a path dubbed the "songwriters trail."

This is the festival's second year. It is modeled after the popular Key West Songwriters Festival.

"Last year was amazing," Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said in a press release. "The way this festival uses the beauty of this historic City as a backdrop and integrates music into venues large and small is no small feat for the organizers. I applaud and thank them for making this a signature event for the City of Annapolis."

The festival will bring parking restrictions to Dock Street from the Harbormaster's office to Susan Campbell Park and to Prince George Street from Craig Street to the water.

The newly rebuilt Hillman Garage is the closest garage to City Dock and Main Street. The Gott's Court Garage is in the middle of the songwriters trail. The Park Place Garage is another option, lying along the West Street corridor. There is on-site parking at Maryland Hall.

Tickets and a schedule are available at annapolissongwritersfestival.com.

The event is sponsored by Rams Head, BMI (A music rights nonprofit), Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, and the City of Annapolis.

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