Sea Level Art and Music Festival at the Amp on March 18 

Conch Town Records is sponsoring the Sea Level Art and Music Festival at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater on Saturday, March 18. Doors open at 1:00 p.m., music starts at 2:00, and the last band will take the stage at 9:15.

Tickets are $49.50, with those 13-17 paying $24.75 and 12 and under free. The Festival is a family-friendly event with entertainment and an Artisan Village as well as music on the main stage. You may enter and leave the Coffee Butler Amphitheater at will.

The headliners are Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. Celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, the band tours nationally and internationally. Playing their own unique sound they call “Mutrock,” a blend of rock, funk, metal, with elements of ska and reggae, they signed to Elton John’s Rocket Records.  Their single, “High,” reached number 10 on the Billboard Active Rock Chart.

Jimmie’s Chicken Shack includes founding member Jimi Haha on vocals and guitar, Jerome Maffeo on drums, Christian Vallente on bass, Island Styles on guitar, and past member guitarist Matt Jones, who has re-joined the band on guitar to make them a 5-piece.

Their new record, “Seconds,” is out now.

Astro-Yeti

Turner Harrison, Hiram Garzaro,and Mark King are Astro-Yeti.  Harrison says he really enjoys having three front men in Astro-Yeti. With King on bass, Garzaro on drums and Harrison on lead guitar, the three can alternate singing lead.

The band’s first video and song, “The Long Road,”  aired in August 2022.  The song was written by King, who .  won an Iggie, a Key West Music Award, for the best single of the year.

All three members of AstroYeti are songwriters. Their album was released in October of 2022.

Marjory Lee

 

Marjory Lee is a South Carolina bred independent artist-songwriter. Her versatility combines the Southern roots and charm of South Carolina, the musicality of Nashville, and fun-loving “Key Weirdness” of Key West.

A BMI writer, the Nashville veteran has participated in numerous songwriting events and festivals including the Key West Songwriters Festival, Tin Pan South, and Frank Brown Songwriters Festival. Marjory Lee had five cuts on LifeTime’s movie “Status: Unknown” Following up her last EP “Bottled Lightning,” produced by Alabama’s Teddy Gentry and Charles English, Marjory Lee has been back in the studio in Key West with UK producer Ian Shaw of Warmfuzz Studios. Her most recently released singles are a Christmas satire titled “Karen Less, Carol More” and an homage to one of her greatest musical inspirations entitled “Sheryl Crow.”

Tony Baltimore and the Wilde Awake

Years before building his genre-bending “alternative roots rock” sound in the beachside bars and clubs of Key West, Tony Baltimore grew up in urban Maryland, raised by working class parents who taught their son the value of hard work and long hours.

“I come from a family of Italian immigrants, Says the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who regularly plays upwards of five gigs a week. Their work ethic was part of my upbringing. That work ethic carried him through graduate school, where he earned his MFA in poetry.

Coming to Key West in 2010, for what he planned as a year’s trial run, has brought creative and popular success. His third album, “Let’s All Go Insane,” was released by his new label, Conch Town Records. A fourth album is in the works.

Tony Baltimore was awarded the Iggie for 2022 Songwriter of the Year at the Key West Music Awards and “Let’s All Go Insane” reached number one in Florida.  He was the Grand Marshall of the 2022 Fantasy Fest Parade. His second album with CTR will be released later this year.

The Wilde Awake includes Henry Lysy, Jr., Randy Stindt, Vincent Bergamo, and Tony Baltimore.

Andy Westcott Band

Fresh from recording their first album at Skywalker Sound in California, Key West’s Andy Westcott Band includes Hiram Garzarro, Rick Fusco, Henry Lysy, Jr., and Andy Westcott.

Gary Hempsey and the Hemptones

Gary Hempsey’s latest record, “Don’t Forget Where You Come From,” is a product of a collaboration with Ian Shaw. “I must have 50 songs I’ve written that I’ve never really done anything with. Two years ago I decided I wanted to try to do something real with those songs so I put together a little demo of them and brought it to Ian Shaw.“

Joining Conch Town Records is the latest big step in Gary Hempsey’s long career, and it feels good to him.

“I’ve made a living as a solo musician for a long time .

Solo, alone to and from the show.

Now no matter if it’s a solo gig or a full band gig I am not alone.

I have a band and Conch Town Records,  an entire musical family with me everywhere every day and that is a feeling I’m not used to .  I’m so appreciative of the acceptance.”

Hempsey just released his first single,” Ganja Gnomes,” from his upcoming album on CTR. Look  for the super fun video.

He is hosting That Hippie Band on 4/20 at The Key West Theater.

The Hemptones include Matt Backer, Randall Harrison, Geoffrey Lowe, Randy Morrow, Vincent Bergamo, and Gary Hempsey.

Bill Hoebee

 Emcee of The Sea Level Music and Art Festival, Bill Hoebee broadcasts on  Wail 99.5/Sun 1031/iheart radio. Listen to Hoebee in the Afternoon for updates.

Hoebee is Key West’s most popular host.

 DJ Sanaris

DJ Sanaris is Key West’s Best DJ according to multiple BUBBA Awards.Through his Fantasy Fest King Campaign and the weekly vibrator races, he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local Key West charities.

He is so much fun to listen to and to watch when he is onstage. His infectious energy will keep everyone entertained between sets at the Sea Level Festival.

Taylor Made Movements 

Taylor Tarn will be performing aerial arts at the event.

She recently had an outstanding performance at the Tennessee Williams Theatre with her show – The Goddesses.

Her performances are mesmerizing, so we are glad that she is able to perform at Sea Level.

Bahama Village Music Program

Provides free musical education and instruction to local children.

The program also creates a framework for the children to be part of a community, develop mentorship relationships, and improve themselves.

They have a tent at the festival to raise money, so if you enjoy their performance, please consider donating to keep this wonderful program going.

Artist Village

The artist village was curated by Kristen Norman and Jack MacDonald at 416 Productions.

This space brings together a group of local artists with different styles and perspectives, so it’s a great place to buy a one-of-a-kind keepsake or a gift.

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