Scott Stapp returns to make SWFL rock again with Creed hits, plus Drowning Pool, Trapt and more

If you missed Scott Stapp’s Cape Coral concert in May, you’re in luck. The Creed frontman is returning to Southwest Florida this September.

The Fort Myers show is part of the annual “Make America Rock Again!” tour, which kicks off Aug. 4 in South Dakota and visits about 40 venues. That includes The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon on Friday, Sept. 15. Tickets are on sale now.

The tour also includes the rock bands Trapt, Sick Puppies, Drowning Pool and Adelitas Way.

“I’m excited to headline Make America Rock Again!” Stapp said in a publicity statement. “It’s going to be a great summer of rock and roll for the bands and the fans.”

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Last year’s Make America Rock Again tour drew nearly 100,000 fans to stops in 46 cities to see Trapt, Saliva, Alien Ant Farm and more bands, according to the tour’s website.

That inaugural tour was supposed to hit The Ranch, too, but the Sept. 29 show ended up getting canceled. That won’t happen this time, says The Ranch co-owner Jim Heckler. He blames the 2016 cancellation on an independent promoter who wasn’t connected to his venue.

“This time, we’re doing it ourselves,” Heckler says. “We’re bringing it. This is actually a Ranch show.”

Heckler missed Stapp’s Cape show in May, so he says he's looking forward to seeing him at The Ranch. “I’m a fan, big-time,” he says. “I love the lineup. It’ll be a great show!”

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The Ranch concert will feature Stapp with a full backing band playing Creed hits. His acoustic show in Cape Coral featured members of his solo band and guitarist Bumblefoot from Art of Anarchy and Guns N’ Roses. The setlist included solo songs, Art of Anarchy songs and Creed hits such as “With Arms Wide Open,” “Higher,” “One Last Breath” and “My Sacrifice.”

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The concert helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of Creed’s 1997 debut album, “My Own Prison.” In a May interview with The News-Press, Stapp said he could hardly believe how much time has passed.

“I tell you, it flew by!” he said. “It’s amazing and kinda hard to believe it’s been 20 years since it all started.

“You know, I just approach it all with such gratitude and humility, that I’ve been able to have a career for that long."

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The Fort Myers concert is part of the Sam Galloway Ford Concert Series at The Ranch. The show starts at about 8 p.m. Tickets are $47 and $89. Meet-and-greet tickets, including a picnic buffet, are $153.

For more information, call 985-9839 or visit theranchfortmyers.com.

Connect with this reporter:Charles Runnells (News-Press) (Facebook), @charlesrunnells (Twitter), @crunnells1 (Instagram)