Gavin Adcock

Opening Wednesday, the 11th annual Maui Songwriters Festival features a lineup of country, pop and rock songwriters and performers at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.

With headliners Hudson Westbrook and Gavin Adcock, the four-day event includes intimate showcases and larger concerts, highlighting the storytelling and craft behind commercially successful songs across various genres.

The lineup also features Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Chris DeStefano, Christian music star Josiah Queen, Nashville singer-songwriter Alana Springsteen, “The Voice” contestant Kameron Marlowe, Alabama’s Reid Haughton, songwriter Dan Alley, Neil Medley, Lauren LaRue, Grammy U Songwriting Competition winner Sara Bares, Kapali Long, Maui’s Akoni Palomino and the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Hawaii from Pearl Harbor. On-air personality Katie Neal will host the events.

Dubbed by Billboard as “one of country music’s most buzzed-about artists,” Adcock started writing songs in high school. After tearing his knee playing football, the Georgia native used the time he spent healing to record and release his first original single. Since then, he has amassed more than 1.5 billion global streams.

“Since the release of his very first single, 2021’s ‘Ain’t No Cure,’ Gavin Adcock has stormed his way through the country genre, practically willing himself into the limelight. Adcock really shines as a bold, brash new voice in the country genre,” Holler Country praised of his album, “Own Worst Enemy.”

Westbrook is celebrated for blending authentic Texas Red Dirt roots with modern country sensibilities. Known for heartfelt storytelling and a distinctive voice, he has quickly risen from a viral sensation to being one of country music’s most talked-about young artists.

Hudson Westbrook

Studying to be a landman (a professional in the energy industry) at Texas Tech University, he began tinkering around with a guitar and teaching himself to play. He soon became one of the biggest rising artists in the country music scene, boasting over 5 million monthly Spotify listeners and hundreds of millions of streams.

With a weathered voice made for country, Westbrook’s music is rooted in traditional country sounds with acoustic guitars, raw storytelling and heartfelt lyricism. His debut album, “Texas Forever,” released in 2025, featured 17 tracks that honored his Texas roots while appealing to a broad audience.

Both Adcock and Westbrook will open country star Morgan Wallen’s “Still the Problem” tour later in 2026.

The festival schedule begins with the Maui Alaloa Live Songwriter Showcase from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the hotel’s Alaloa Lounge, featuring Maui musician Akoni Palomino and the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Hawaii. Admission is free.

On Feb. 12, the festival will continue in the Alaloa Lounge beginning with the “Find” Showcase from 7 to 8 p.m., spotlighting Oahu-born, Nashville-based songwriter Kapali Long. The Nashville Alaloa Live Songwriter Showcase will follow from 8 to 9:30 p.m., with Reid Haughton, Dan Alley and Neil Medley. Admission to both events is free.

The “How I Wrote That Song” VIP Experience, including a wine tasting, is set for 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Aloha Garden Pavilion. The evening includes storytelling sessions with Josiah Queen and a performance by DeStefano, Mark Nessler, Marlowe and Springsteen.

The Valentine’s Day Finale & VIP Experience will be from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Aloha Garden Pavilion. The finale includes an opening by the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific, a performance by Long, a live auction and headline performances by Adcock and Westbrook.

Tickets for both “How I Wrote That Song” events are $265, and $106 for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets for the Valentine’s Day Finale are $159 for general admission and $265 for VIP. Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui. More information is available at www.mauisongwritersfestival.com.