In this town known for its strawberries and quiet sunrises, there is a different kind of harvest happening in the dimly lit corners of local coffee shops, listening rooms, and venues. It’s the raw, organic storytelling of The Songwriters Circle, at venues like Krazy Kup and others. The Songwriters Circle’s main showcase is held on the third Saturday of every month at Krazy Kup, with the show starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is completely free. These performances are more than standard entertainment; they are invitations. Invitations into Plant City’s immersive music community where artists are sharing their hearts’ art while letting you in on a secret. The secrets behind the songs. It was exciting to sit down with this month’s performing artists to peel back a few layers and discover the truths of who they are and help understand a little more depth behind the songwriter.
James Hawkins
James Hawkins was raised in Louisville, KY. From the beginning, he was exposed to all kinds of music, and “I mean all kinds.” Now he stands with the texture of a dust-bowl balladeer and the folk finger style of a seasoned storyteller, James Hawkins crafts music feels both timeless and unexpected. Carried with simple melodic warmth and picture-painting lyrical depth.
If you had to write a song about the exact street you grew up on, what are the three sensory details, maybe a smell, a specific sound, or a landmark that would have to be in the first verse?
Quiet, trees, simple.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing for a living?
There is a line from Jimmy Buffets song Migration “I might have joined the Merchant Marine, if I hadn’t learned how to sing!” Now, have I learned how to sing is any one’s guess!
If you were in a hotel lobby with someone who had never heard your music, how would you describe your sound in one sentence?
I would describe my sound as a mixture of stories and songs.
First instrument: First real instrument was a secondhand nylon string guitar
Which of your songs do you recommend to Listeners?
“Maybe in the Spring” I would say the next song I write, but it is a song that I have not recorded yet.
George Hanlon
With the soulful blend of clever hooks and nostalgia, George Hanlon captures the heart of Americana Storytelling with raw, timeless sounds that weave the tapestry of folk and blues, feeling both classic and fresh. Armed with an acoustic guitar and the resilient sound of his harmonica, his performances bridge the gap between the singer-songwriter era of the 60s and 70s and the modern age.
Was there a specific record or radio station that played constantly in your house growing up? Is there a certain “family song” that, if it came on right now, would make everyone stop and listen?
We were more of a TV family; it was always on. Soap operas, game shows. My mom was a big Lawrence Welk fan; I remember we watched all the music shows. The Smothers Brothers, Sonny & Cher, The Glen Campbell Hour, Hee-Haw. We watched a lot of TV. I did have a little cassette Walkman, and a table cassette recorder that I would record myself on.
If you weren’t a musician right now, what would you be doing for a living?
Possibly making license plates somewhere (prison) or six feet under (dead).
If you were in a waiting room with someone who had never heard your music, how would you describe your sound in one sentence?
I hate this question. I am not sure I would know how, yet. Usually, I would say I play 70s singer-songwriter style music, but those are covers, and that was 50 years ago, so I am not sure how my originals are going to land.
Hometown: I was born in Dubuque, Iowa, but I really grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where we moved when I was 3. Tampa is home now.
First Instrument: My first instrument was a harmonica. I had a Marine Band key of C, that I got from the corner store in our neighborhood for $1.25 when I was five. I got my first guitar when I was 8 years old. It was a Stella acoustic I bought for $8.00 from a neighbor kid.
Which of your songs do you recommend to Listeners? Whippoorwill Run, if it must be one of mine.
Greg Fuentes (Guest Hosting)
Greg Fuentes, this month’s Guest Host for The Songwriters Circle, was born in the heart of Plant City and raised across the backroads of Florida. A singer-songwriter whose music sits at the crossroads of a Sunday morning service and a Saturday night roadhouse, rooted in gospel but energized by folk-rock melodies. His songwriting captures the dust and gravel of small-town life. Greg easily builds melodies that move the body, share redemption, and creates stories that speak to the soul.
If I walked into your bedroom when you were 14, what would I have seen on the walls or heard coming from your speakers that explains the music you make today?
If you walked into my bedroom at 14, I’m not sure you’d see anything hanging on my walls. I was never big enough of a fan to hang posters of my musical heroes. Pretty sure I had a poster of guitar chord charts. What you’d hear would be me trying to learn guitar, and singing, I don’t know what, but I’m sure it was gospel or an old classic tune. I would fall asleep listening to oldies through a Walkman. Playing anything from The Beatles to Guns & Roses and Pearl Jam. I really loved John Denver’s voice. My roots are in gospel; I played guitar and sang in church for years.
If you weren’t a musician right now, what would you be doing for a living?
Well, unfortunately, music isn’t my career. I do have a day job, but if I couldn’t play music, I’d probably like to have pursued art. I like to think that without music I’d still be creative.
If you were in an elevator with someone who had never heard your music, how would you describe your sound in one sentence?
I think my style is stripped-down, raw acoustic storytelling.
Hometown: Plant City
First instrument: Guitar.
Which of your songs do you recommend to Listeners? Swimming in the chaos.
Laura Lonero
Laura Lonero is known for her honest storytelling with a distinct dreamy edge. Blending the warmth of country with the hooks of modern pop. Her sound is a soulful Americana fusion with lyrics that map out the messy, beautiful middle ground between indie and folk with a touch of rock and roll weighing in. Performing music for the seekers, the dreamers, and anyone who prefers their folk with a little more fire.
Songwriting is often just professional storytelling. Who was the “storyteller” in your family. The one who could command a room at a holiday or Sunday dinner? How did their way of speaking influence how you write lyrics?
My Dad was the storyteller in our family. He had a way of capturing everyone’s attention with his hilarious mannerisms and even made up his own words. He was a funny guy. I remember he’d give fake names for reservations at restaurants or change his voice when ordering food at a drive-through fast food window. He showed me how to be free with my expressions and break the rules. I see his influence in my songwriting, in the way that my lyrics are bold, don’t read like perfect sentences, and can have multiple meanings. His name was Jay.
If you weren’t a musician right now, what would you be doing for a living?
If I weren’t a musician, I would be a salon owner.
If you were in a taxicab with someone who had never heard your music, how would you describe your sound in one sentence?
Lilac Moon sounds like if Stevie Nicks and Chris Isaak started a band.
Hometown: Trinity, FL
First Instrument: A purple Ovation acoustic guitar.
Which of your songs do you recommend to Listeners? Roadtrip
The Songwriters Circle wants to invite you and your family to come and be a part of these special evenings. Plant City’s local music scene is alive and waiting for you. You don’t need to be a musician to be a part of it; you just need to show up. Support artists like James, George, Greg, and Laura by catching The Songwriters Circle’s next showcase. Admission is free, but the stories you’ll hear are priceless. Mark your calendars for the third Saturday of the month and come see what makes this town’s heartbeat.
