After a pandemic-induced hiatus, the Original Marathon Seafood Festival is back! The Chamber is excited, the fishermen are excited, the volunteers are excited and the musicians are excited too! (I should know.) We have a pretty incredible lineup of talent this year, and we are eager to hit the big Marathon amphitheater stage on March 12 and 13! Let’s start with the Saturday lineup:
SATURDAY, 11 a.m.: John Bartus & Adrienne Z. Singer/songwriters John Bartus and Adrienne Z bring their songs and talents together for the Seafood Festival. Both John and Adrienne have several album releases of original songs from which to draw material, with John’s new After The Storm CD and Adrienne’s Chameleons CD sure to provide material you’ll get to hear live. Plus, they are just as likely to pull out some Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks and Pink Floyd to keep the crowd satisfied. And don’t forget the amazing harmonies.
SATURDAY, 1 p.m.: Rolando Rojas & Caribe. Sí, señor, we got your salsa and merengue music right here! A must see, Rolando Rojas & Caribe are local legends within the Keys music industry! Rolando himself is a multitalented bilingual musician and singer who plays guitar, piano and bass. Put him together with his hot band, and the Latin grooves will have you on your feet in no time.
SATURDAY, 3 p.m.: I-Land Vibe. There are many bands in South Florida that claim to be reggae bands because of the popularity of the Jamaican music form, but the members of I-Land Vibe prefer to think of the group as a Caribbean band since reggae is not the only music from the islands. Get ready to dance to calypso, soca, ska and more. The island sounds are sure to be hot hot hot!
SATURDAY, 5 p.m.: Igor & the Red Elvises. Your favorite band. Evolving over the years, Igor’s music has been labeled “Siberian Surf Rock,” and it contains humorous lyrics and grooves that force his audience to dance. Over the past 20 years, the Red Elvises have constantly toured all over the world with occasional breaks to record new music and to participate in film and television projects. They have performed for large festivals, at private parties and on massive stages such as 2005’s Live 8 Benefit Concert. No matter where they perform, Igor & the Red Elvises always bring the party.
SATURDAY, 7 p.m.: The Rock Show. This amazing show band is a modern rockumentary based on legendary music and bands from the late ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, including songs from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Pat Benatar, Pink Floyd, Heart, Journey, The Rolling Stones and many more. Featuring scorching arrangements and period-accurate costumes, The Rock Show will take you on a rocking musical journey through the best music ever made!
And now on to Sunday…
SUNDAY, 11 a.m.: Brian Roberts. Brian performs over 300 gigs each year, from Key West to Key Largo. A consummate performer with a huge list of cover songs, Brian continues to write original songs, such as “Semi-Tropical Reasons,” “Barefoot Balladeer” and “All Of This Way.” His music embodies a unique island-rock genre that draws from his diverse influences. It’s a perfect blend of acoustic music and the island lifestyle — show up early to discover why Brian is one of the busiest musicians in these islands.
SUNDAY, 1 p.m.: The Original Lady A Blues Band. Lady A, with her strong, earthy blues vocal style and harmonica playing, has carved a place all over Florida throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Now she has returned to her beloved Keys with talented guitarist Ric Arra, and they are both ready for action. Catch the blues with their four-piece band.
SUNDAY, 3 p.m.: Southern Blood. The Southern Blood Band is a salute to American southern rock, covering a wide range of music from artists such as the Allman Brothers Band, Molly Hatchet, the Marshall Tucker Band, Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more. Their performance is a throwback to the ’70s and early ’80s with signature Southern vocals, and dueling guitar force.
Come for the seafood, stay for the music! See you March 12 and 13.
– Catch John Mondays at Boondocks, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Key Colony Inn, Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, and Fridays on Facebook Live. Music available wherever you get your streaming or downloads. www.johnbartus.com
