5th annual KW Musicians Festival is local affair

By C.S. GILBERT

Photo: Steve Mellette, Laura and Ken Floyd with emcee Will Thompson at the 2014 festival

Locals, locals, locals — the real Key West scene – is the mantra of the 5th annual Key West Musicians Festival produced by Singing Iguana Productions and set for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19 and 20

, from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon. The fest is produced by locals, for locals, showcasing local talent and benefitting Sister Season Fund, the “locals helping locals” charity, according SSF President Emeritus Ginger King.

Singing Iguana Productions is the creative child of Ken and Laura Floyd and Steve Mellette. “Laura and I came to Key West in 2009 from Texas on vacation and like many others before us we stayed,” wrote Ken. “Music has been a part of my daily life since I was around 10 and Laura has always been into art. We met Steve Mellette by chance at the Bottle Cap where he is a bartender. Steve is a major musical supporter in town. . . .Early in 2011 during one of our frequent conversations regarding the Key West music scene, I asked Steve what he thought about starting a Key West Musicians Festival, local musicians and song writers playing for locals in one intimate setting . . . without all the hoopla and aggravation of the tourist season. Steve said that was a great idea and we started to work on making it happen.”

Sister Season Fund was Laura’s idea. She “thought it would be a good idea to use the festival to raise money for a local charity and she felt she had the perfect one–Sister Season Fund,” Steve wrote. SSF is the local charity that in just over a decade has raised and distributed over $210,000 for rent and utilities to locals in the hospitality and entertainment industries who cannot work through no fault of their own. “They were a good match for the festival,” Laura said.

“With the help of another friend and musician, Jeff Shenandoah, we convinced Charlie Bauer to host the festival at Smokin’ Tuna Saloon the third weekend of September 2011.  It was a big success and we decided to make it an annual event,” Ken continued. “This year is our fifth year and we hope for many more. We record the festival and produce a Commemorative CD from the recording and Commemorative t-shirts so each festival will live on for years to come.”

Singing Iguana Productions was established by the three founders specifically “to produce the festival,” Ken wrote. “I handle the legal and financial aspects, Laura marketing, and Steve handles booking and scheduling.”

Key West Musicians Festival has been both an artistic and financial success. The festival raised over $5,000 for SSF last year, King reported.

     “The list of local musicians & songwriters who have already confirmed to play the 5th Annual Key West Musicians Festival is fantastic and more to come.  Many new players too,” said Ken. “This year’s festival is really going to rock!”

 

 For additional information phone King at (305) 849-0991.

 

Cutline: Steve Mellette, Laura and Ken Floyd with emcee Will Thompson at the 2014 festival

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