20th Annual Key West Songwriter’s Festival

May 9, 2015

Robert Earl Keen 

Robin, Mark & Kathy

Michael & Misty Loggins

20^th Annual Key West Songwriter’s Festival

Kathy

Celebrating its twentieth year of bringing some of the most talented and exciting songwriters to the island of Key West, The Key West Songwriter’s Festival is one of the best events held in Key West and must certainly rank among the best songwriter events in the world. It is truly a wonderful and staggering event that brings almost every major writer from Nashville and beyond, as well as industry insiders, agents, talent scouts and fans to Key West.

Nick

Mayor Cates 

Rob

The festival has grown from somewhat humble beginnings in to a mega-event that brings over 150 songwriters and performers who perform over forty shows at just about every available venue in town over a five day stretch in early May.  Kudos to our friends Charlie, Nadene, Dani and Morgan who organize this amazing event and out-do themselves year after year.

 

Eileen & Graf

It is probably Kathy’s favorite event of the year and is certainly at or near the top of my list, which is saying a great deal in a town with so many awesome entertainment events and options. Sadly for me, I was only able to catch the opening few shows this year as I was off to Indianapolis to catch some Indy Car racing- which is about the only thing that could pull me away. Kathy stayed for the entire event and her cousin Mark and his wife Robin were here from Massachusetts to attend as well.

Misty & Eliza

Key West Mayor Craig Cates & Cheryl

The opening kick-off concert at the Ocean Key House Pier is always a rousing start to the events of the week and this year was no exception. Headlined by country music star Jack Ingram the show and party kick off the Festival and the Pier is packed with both locals and those in town for the Festival itself and the music is fantastic as the beautiful Key West sunset sinks into the sky. It is a just about perfect setting.

Jack Ingraham

The Grossmans

Effie & Michael 

The party also featured Gutherie Trapp and the Mulekickers and Key West’s own Caffine Carl and the Buzz to get things started. The party moved on to other venues as the night progressed with shows at the Pier House on the beach and at the Conch Republic Seafood Company that we checked out before calling it a night.

Chuck Cannon

Nadene & Morgan

The Pier house show featured the lovely and talented Brooke Eden as well as established songwriters like Wendall Mobley, Chuck Cannon and Kendall Marvell. Raul Malo was scheduled to appear, but was apparently ill and was too sick to travel. Even so, it was a wonderful evening of fantastic music on the beautiful beachside setting at the Pier House and the place was packed with music fans.

Brooke Eden

Later in the evening, it was over to the Conch Farm to see the likes of Al Anderson, Bob DiPiero, Sara Haze, Lee Miller and Aaron Watson. It was yet another solid round of great music as well as an opportunity to grab a bite at the Conch Farm. I tried to pack in as much music as I could before having to take off Thursday evening, but I was still disappointed to have to miss so much. Kathy, Mark and Robin were able to enjoy the entire breadth of the Festival and an entire five days of amazing music.

Mark & Kathy

Bob DiPiero

Greta, Effie & Tom 

Before departing though, I was able to slip in what the highlight for me, a morning set by the legendary Robert Earl Keen at the Smoking Tuna Saloon in what was dubbed Robert Earl Keen’s Bloody Mary Brunch. Liberally poured Bloody Mary’s and an amazing solo acoustic set by Robert Earl Keeen that included many of my all-time favorite REK songs including, “Shades of Grey”, “Amarillo Highway”, “Merry Xmas from the Family” and of course, “The Road Goes On Forever”.

Robert Earl Keen

 

http://www.keywestsongwritersfestival.com/