Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heather Graves. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Heather, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

“Into The Graves Productions has really changed our focus from putting punk events on in southwest Florida, and have expanded our brand into embracing other genres such as surf music, rockabilly, and tiki style events.” says Heather Graves, owner of Into The Graves Productions and head event coordinator for the company. “We are now putting together events that have a tropical style to them, including fancy drinks that look as good as they taste, vendor market that goes with the events theme, audience participation in creating a vibe by wearing interesting fashion, pinup contests with crowns, sashes, prizes, and surfabilly music. People travel in from all over the country and there is a sense of family that tends to form at these type of events.” says Heather. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, then make sure you go to “Pulp Paradise: A Tropical Surf Music Event” in November 2025 at Redbones Bar and Grill in Ft.Myers, FL, brought to you by Into The Graves Productions.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

“I got into the events industry and became an event coordinator because I simply didn’t want to travel far from home everytime I wanted to see a certian band, or a certian type of themed event. I took the initiative and just started booking shows myself.” Heather explains. “Cory my husband, who is co-owner of Into The Graves Productions, is an entertainer and I often use whichever project he is apart of as an act in the lineup of my shows.” Cory Graves is currently the drummer in a Surfabilly band (surf music/rockabilly music) called ‘The Patina Turners’, who Heather Graves manages. “Pulp Paradise: A Tropical Surf Music Event” that happens in November at Redbones Bar and Grill in Ft.Myers, FL. is Heathers latest event that has tiki vibes, surf music, vendor market, and pinup contest. “I felt like all the really good tiki events in Florida were all so far away from home, so I wanted to create a tiki scene right here in southwest Florida, near me.” says Heather. It looks like the people agree. Pulp Paradise was a huge success. Heather continues, “As far as your question, ‘What am I most proud of’ in relation to this company? I guess I would have to say that I am proud the transition from one genre to another didn’t break my spirit. It was hard at first. We were essentially starting over agian without the full support from our punk scene. We were the ‘newbies’ in this surfabilly scene, and I wasn’t sure how we would be accepted, but we were actually accepted with big open arms from this community and I look forward to continue working with them. We are still here with no sign of stopping in sight.” Watch Into The Graves Productions social medias for updates on more events coming in the future, including the next Pulp Paradise in November of 2025.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

“Naturally when my husband Cory Graves was the drummer/lead singer for the punk band ‘Diphallia’, a band I also managed, almost all of Into The Graves Productions events were punk events. Almost all of our following was punk rockers looking for specifically punk shows.” says Heather. When ‘Diphallia’ came to an end back in 2022, Cory Graves new surfabilly project, ‘The Patina Turners’, was already on the rise. Heather continues, “We decided to pivot our events more twords a Surf/Rockabilly audience. It was hard at the beginning, because we were presenting a different kind of show to our punk following, but a lot of people have responded well to the transition. I am seeing a lot of spectators from our old punk shows that we hosted at these new events we are doing, and enjoying it. We are finding our newer audience rather quickly as well, so I’m very excited for what this new adventure I am on will bring.” Heather Graves, who is also the manager of ‘The Patina Turners’, travels on the road with the band to their events all over the state (and beyond). Heather says, “I am making a lot of connections while on my travels with the band to start bringing you the best surf, rockabilly, pinup, tiki events in southwest Florida.”

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Heather Graves and Cory Graves are a married couple based out of Ft.Myers, FL. “We put on the kind of fun events that we would like to attend ourselves, but with a DIY feel.” says Heather. (DIY stands for “Do it yourself”). Heather continues, “We met the old fashioned way. Cory moved to Cape Coral, FL in 2015, where I was already living, and we met in a bar on his birthday 2 days later. We had love at first sight, and we have been inseparable ever since.” Cory Graves is an incredible musician/entertainer especially known for his drumming skills, and Heather Graves manages his bands and projects. Together, they are Into The Graves Productions.
They are an unstoppable duo and are the definition of a power couple. Follow them on social media to watch their journey in the music and events scene!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothegravesproductions?igsh=MWhiYWcxeGR4ejN4Nw==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/intothegraves?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/pulp.paradise.swfl?igsh=ZTF0ZnNtZnRob2pm

Image Credits

Image credits belong to Heather Graves.

Pulp Paradise: A Tropical Surf Music Event logo drawn by Andy Howl.