Local artists to take the stage at Ocoee Music Fest

Apopka’s Dallas Tyler always has had an affinity for music and went on to create a band and open for John Anderson, Chayce Beckham, War Hippies and Twitty and Lynn. 

He has loved his music journey so far and has crossed many places off his performance list, including the House of Blues and Apopka Amphitheater. 

For some time now, Ocoee Music Festival has been on his wish list, and finally, his time has come to take the stage Saturday, Nov. 15. 

Tyler is one of three Orange County artists taking the stage at the free, two-day music festival Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15, at Bill Breeze Park. 

Bre Hopkins

Courtesy Photo

Bre Hopkins will be the opening act Friday, Nov. 14, for classic rock night. 

She was born in Rhode Island and moved to Lake Nona 15 years ago, still calling it her home today. 

Although she’s a singer now, she wasn’t always interested in music. 

“My parents tried to make me (sing as a child), but it never went very well,” she said. “They’d have me sing in the choir. They’d pull out solos for me, and I was the last person that wanted them. I would choke, and it was scary. I had such debilitating stage fright; it was ridiculous.”

She went to college for recording arts and thought she wanted to work in the studio, but life had other plans. 

Hopkins played softball in college and ended up tearing her shoulder, which ultimately led her to her singing career. 

Her friends were karaoke jockeys, and she started hanging out with them — although she’d still never sing. 

One day, while hanging out at a karaoke bar, her friend convinced her to sing. No one was at the bar, so she took the mic. 

“I went, and I sang a song and people came back in and they were like, ‘Why’d you put the radio on?’ And I was just dumbfounded,” Hopkins said. “It just went uphill from there, and karaoke became my jam. Everybody’s super nice to (one another), very supportive. Everybody was like, ‘You need to try for ‘The Voice,’’ but they would say that to everybody, so I still didn’t think I could sing.” 

It wasn’t until she posted a singing video on Facebook about 10 years ago that she started believing in herself and her ability to sing. 

Duggystone Radio, a U.K. radio station, found her video and played it on the radio.

“He said, ‘It’s a cell phone recording. Could you imagine if this girl recorded a song?’” she said. “And that right there was enough for me. I was like, ‘That’s insane.’”

Now, she has an 11-song album and is performing all over the state, with her upcoming performance at Ocoee Music Festival being her biggest one yet. 

“This is the most excited I’ve been for a show ever,” Hopkins said. “This is such a big opportunity for us. … I’m kind of lost for words for how big of an opportunity this is. This is definitely going to be our biggest show to this day.” 

She’ll be performing her debut album, which includes a little bit of rock and a little bit of country. 

“We also have a couple of pretty awesome rock covers that they’re not going to be expecting us to do,” she said.  

Making this performance all the more special is the fact she will be performing right before John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Coincidentally, her father’s band opened for them 50 years ago in Rhode Island. 

“Now, 50 years later in Florida, I’m opening for them instead of my dad,” she said with pride. “It’s such a small world, I couldn’t believe that was even happening. … The universe is speaking, telling me I’m on the right path.” 

Dallas Tyler

Courtesy Photo

Like Hopkins, Dallas Tyler also did a lot of karaoke and from then on decided to pursue a career in country music, starting a band and booking venues. 

He will be performing at Ocoee Music Fest Saturday, Nov. 15, and as an Apopka native, that brings him tremendous joy. 

Tyler grew up in the music industry as his grandfather ran the Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival. 

“I’m here to inspire people that country music is still here, and it ain’t going nowhere,” he said. 

Performing at Ocoee Music Festival means the world to him.

“This has been on my to-do bucket list and finally the opportunity came about,” Tyler said. “I always thank the man upstairs, if it weren’t for him, a lot of things wouldn’t happen.”

He will be playing various songs from artists including Clint Black, Hank Williams Jr., George Strait and David Allen Coe. 

Tyler will perform “Faded Ole Picture,” his original ballad song, first played at the House of Blues in September. 

“If you listen to it and the words, it’d put a lot of tears in your eyes,” he said. 

The song talks about his grandparents’ love story and how there’s a picture on a shelf depicting their love for one another — a reminder of love, good memories and family. 

He can’t wait to meet attendees at the event and rock his heart out. 

“When we hit the big stage, they’re going to say, ‘Where has this band been the whole time?, Why haven’t we had them on stage before?’” he said. “I put a lot of work and effort into my music, and I push hard every day as much as I can.” 

John Ashley 

Courtesy Photo

John Ashley is an Orlando singer who grew up with a love for music and even played with the band Paramore years ago. 

He started his music career playing rock music but switched to country music, a genre he’s loved since his childhood.

“My dad listened to country music, and I grew up on it,” he said. “I’ve always been passionate about it. My first concert I ever went and saw was Randy Travis.”

That passion for country never left him, so he decided to debut his solo career two years ago at Ocoee Music Fest and has been playing at the festival ever since. 

“This is all new to me,” he said. “I played with the band Paramore a long time ago, and I had done the whole traveling and touring with them, and I realized that wasn’t really the lifestyle I was looking for — especially at that time in my life.”

He decided to quit music after that for some years and now is back into it.

“Once I got to a place in my life where I just felt like I wanted to do my own thing, I started writing my own songs and my own music,” Ashley said. “I put a lot of time and a lot of energy into it.” 

Now, he’s performing at Ocoee Music Festival Saturday, Nov. 15, as a country music act. 

Ashley said he is super excited to perform in his backyard at this top-notch festival and perform new and unreleased songs, although he is a bit anxious. 

“When there is a lot of people there that you know, whether it’s family, friends or whatever, you get a little more anxious about playing,” he said. “At the end of the day, as an artist, you start to get used to it. I’d love for people to come say hi and meet me and the guys. I’d love for people to come get to know me and find out who we are and what we’re about. At the same time, I just hope that we bring a lot of energy and bring a lot of joy to people.”