QBE Shootout: Live Fest concert could be on tap for 2019

Last year, the QBE Shootout tried a Friday concert after play by local country act Ben Allen Band, and it was successful enough that they brought back the group this year.

Country stars Darius Rucker and Charles Kelley (of Lady Antebellum), who both played in the pro-am, also had a private concert after Thursday night's gala.

"We've had significant success starting with our Friday concert last year with the Ben Allen Band," tournament director Rob Hartman said. "We had a private show this year with Darius Rucker and Charles Kelley, which was an unbelievable experience for our customers.

"Couple that with a growing Friday night concert, and we really believe there's an opportunity to blend music and golf, and create a substantial music event for the Naples community."

So next year, the Shootout is sticking to its mantra of bigger and bolder.

Fans exiting the Shootout this week may have seen a pair of banners promoting "Live Fest 2019." If it comes off, that will greatly expand the concert, and potentially be on the Tiburón Golf Club driving range on Saturday, Dec. 14.

It's somewhere in the planning stages at this point.

"We are working with some partners that we will continue to develop over the next few months with a goal of hosting it during Saturday of tournament week next year," Hartman said. 

Hartman seems to feel they're close enough to that goal. Social media accounts and a livefest.com website already are up.

"We will do something next year to bring together music and golf," he said. "We're going to make something happen. We believe in this Live Fest idea."