Sing Out Loud welcomes thousands, raises $177,000 for charity and boosts local economy.

St. Augustine, FL – Sing Out Loud Festival returned in September 2024 for another epic celebration of live music featuring a diverse lineup of 226 artists across 16 national headliners, 168 local and regional acts and 41 singer-songwriters. Spanning four weekends, from September 6 to September 29, the festival brought together music lovers from across the nation, delivering an extraordinary impact to the culture and economy of St. Johns County.

Drawing thousands of people over the course of the festival, Sing Out Loud demonstrated its powerful draw for both locals and visitors. Sing Out Loud’s Live Wildly Showcase, featuring headlining acts such as Eric Church, Noah Kahan, Norah Jones and more, welcomed 27,500 attendees over the two-day concert weekend on Sept. 21 and 22. Meanwhile, acts such as Trampled by Turtles, Pokey LaFarge and The Watson Twins delivered intimate, yet impactful performances to nearly 2,000 fans. Free showcases highlighting local and regional talent brought music enthusiasts to multiple venues like the Colonial Oak Music Park, Sarbez!, Spinster Abbott’s and The Waterworks. The festival concluded with the St. Augustine Songwriters Festival, featuring 41 singer-songwriters, engaging fans in unique, personal performances throughout St. Augustine.

In addition to live music, Sing Out Loud attendees enjoyed beloved community events including the Gamble Rogers Concert Series, St. Augustine Record Fair, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Night Market and Pecha Kucha. Sing Out Loud and Live Wildly Foundation hosted a free screening of the award-winning documentary Path of the Panther at Flagler College, followed by a Q&A with House Speaker Paul Renner, City of St. Augustine Commissioner Professor Barbara Blonder and National Geographic Photographer George McKenzie. Aspiring musicians heard from four of the industry’s key players during the Music Business Panel. Covering a wide range of topics including how to pitch songs for movies and games, music royalites and rights, and how each panelist got their start in the industry, attendees gained invaluable insight into the business of music.

Continuing its tradition of giving back to the community, Sing Out Loud 2024 raised over $177,000 for charitable causes. Sing Out Loud’s Live Wildly Showcase raised $160,240 for land acquisition in St. Johns County – to be divided between the City of St. Augustine’s Land Conservation Program and St. Johns County’s Land Acquisition Management Program. Additionally, the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab received over $17,000 from tickets sales to Trampled by Turtles. Since its inception in 2016, Sing Out Loud has raised over $637,000 for a variety of non-profit organizations, emphasizing the festival’s ongoing commitment to philanthropy and community engagement.

The impact of hosting thousands of people reverberated throughout St. Johns County’s economy. This year, the estimated economic impact of the Sept. 21 and 22 Live Wildly Showcase alone was $4.5 million, boosting visitation and commerce during September, historically one of the lowest months for tourism in St. Johns County.

“This year’s diverse lineup helped attract visitors from all over the US,” said Gabe Pellicer, CEO & President of SJC Cultural Events, Inc., producer of Sing Out Loud Festival. “Business has been slow for many this year, making the impact of Sing Out Loud on our local tourism economy even more noticeable. Numerous businesses reported record sales, and many hotels were nearly at capacity. We’re excited to build on this momentum and have Sing Out Loud continue to serve as a source of support during challenging times.”

Sing Out Loud Festival eagerly looks forward to its ninth edition in 2025, expanding on the achievements of past years and continuing to be a powerful force for music, community, philanthropy, and tourism in St. Johns County.

Photos and Recap Videos from Sing Out Loud are available HERE.