Non-stop music to play at Snapper’s, Sundowners, Señor Frijoles and Cactus Jack
Jazz, blues, country, rock — multiple music offerings will be served up during the annual Key Largo Original Music Festival coming up Thursday through Sunday, May 14-17. The music suits all ages, tastes, and fetaures multiple stages at fabulous waterfront locations.
Audiences will enjoy the return of many songwriters and Americana rock lyricists such as Stephen Salyers, Jer Gregg, Megan Conner, Melody Guy, Brian White and Julie Gribble — all from Nashville. From Texas we welcome back the earthy and folk-inspired Jim Halfpenny, from New Orleans, Davin McCoy and from Australia, Dianna Corcoran, considered one of her home country’s most distinguished country vocalist and songwriting talents.
Several South Florida and Florida Keys country, rock, blues and tropically flavored darlings are to light up the stages as well, such as Dave Feder, Micah, Scott Youngberg and JJ Crown. Maggie Baugh — the 14-year-old teen guitarist and fiddle player who wowed Festival audiences last year — returns by popular demand. Maggie has shared the stage with Charlie Daniels accompanying him on fiddle in a rendition of his famous hit song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
Newcomers this year include up and coming singer songwriters from Nashville Dan Henig, Jordan DePaul, Lainey Edwards, Marti Dodson, Shawn Byrne, Robinson Treacher and the exciting duo of John Gurney and Tyler Filmore. Florida musicians include John Korbel from Orlando and Frankie Raye from Tampa. Check out these musicians’ bios on the festival web site.
Once again the festival has scheduled several full-scale bands and welcomes back Grayson Rogers with their incredibly high-energy show. Grayson’s first single, “Party Rocker” released in September 2014, immediately charted in the Top 20 on the PlayMPE charts and later acheived “Favorite New Song” in the 2014 SFCM Country Music Awards. Considered the fastest growing country band in the entire state of Florida, Grayson Rogers has played at numerous major concerts and opened for artists such as Alan Jackson, Rodney Atkins, Travis Tritt, Sara Evens and more. Look for Grayson during the first two days of the Festival Thursday and Friday. Also returning to the festival are the ever popular favorites 33 Years Band, Saints of Havana and Cecilia Lauren and the Ocoee River Band.
Featuring more than 30 performers, the festival is set to kick off with a 3 p.m. live show Thursday, May 15, at Snapper’s Waterfront Restaurant at 139 Seaside Ave., MM 94.5 and the music continues into Thursday evening with performances on stages at both Snapper’s and Sundowners Restaurant, MM 104 bayside. Friday and Saturday there are to be multiple stages set up at Snappers, Sundowners Restaurant, Cactus Jack’s and Señor Frijoles.
On Sunday, May 17, musicians are scheduled to appear at both Snappers and Sundowners Restaurants starting at 3.30 p.m. The final evenings events will feature a VIP Musicians Sunset Cruise aboard the 78-foot Island Time paddle wheel boat, with food and libations, festival songwriters are to be aboard to relax and jam together playing their favorite songs. Space is limited to 75. Cost is $45 per person, and the cruise departs at 5:30 p.m. from the dock at Sundowners. For landlubbers there will be a free concert with bands and musicians playing on shore on the point at Sundowners throughout the evening until 10 p.m.
Entry is free to all venues throughout the festival and a complete performance and event schedule can be found at www.keylargooriginalmusicfest.com
