Key West Updates

Sunday Donavon Frankenreiter Key West concert update - Rain or Shine

Sunday’s scheduled early evening Donavon Frandenreiter concert at Fort East Martello parade grounds in Key West will take place rain or shine. “I’ll play acoustic guitar in a sideways rain if I have to. I never cancel,” said Frankenreiter in a phone conversation with concert co-producer Evan Haskell on Saturday. “It’ll take an act of God to keep me from playing this show.”

“We’ve got tents to protect the band and their equipment, and more tenting for concert attendee’s,” said Haskell, co-owner of Key West Concerts, who is producing the show in partnership with the Key West Art & Historical Society. “We anticipate windows of clear weather, but also recommend that concertgoer’s bring their rain-gear. We are not in a remote field in Woodstock, NY, but there actually is precedent that mud and music, mixed just-so in the right place and time can create magic,” he added.

Events at the historic fort will kick off at 3 p.m. with a KWAHS ArtCamp! exhibit. Concert grounds open at 4:30 and live music kicks off with opening act Tony Roberts at 5:45pm (Roberts replaces originally scheduled opening act Cody Simpson, who encountered storm related travel complications), followed at 7pm by Frankenreiter who will perform from nearly ten years of solo hit recordings, including his May 2015 release “The Heart”.

Portions of the concert’s proceeds, which is sponsored in part by Pirate Radio, Florida Keys Media, We Cycle, Ecoscapes, Help Yourself, Shipyard Brewing, and WonderDog Productions, will help support KWAHS's community outreach and educational programs. $25 advanced discounted ticket purchase is available at keywestconcerts.com all day. Tickets purchased on site are $30; children under 12 are free. Key West Art & Historical Society members can call 305.295.6616 x 106 for special member-priced tickets and to join KWAHS to receive member benefits.

Parking will be available for $5, bike parking is free. For more information call 305.295.6616 x 106 or visit KWAHS.com. Your Museums. Your Community. It Takes an Island.

Key West Midsummer's Night Dream and Spectacle is tomorrow 5-11 pm, at Fort East Martello (by the Airport)!

$10 advance tix price special ends at noon tomorrow. Here's the scoop: Tickets available at the door for $15; $10 in advance by visiting http://www.kwahs.org/learn/midsummers-night-dream-spectacle/ KWAHS members pay only $10 at any time, children 12 and under admitted free.

Co-produced by Key West Art & Historical Society and Michael Shields’ Java Studios— Midsummer's Night Dream & Spectacle was started 9 years ago by Shields as a way to celebrate the creative people of Key West with a night of expression, feasting, dancing, singing, and theatrical antics. The colorful festivity is an annual favorite among locals who revel in the interactive art projects and spontaneous celebration, many costumed for merrymaking in attire ranging from Key West cool and casual to Midsummer’s magical vying for the title of Solstice King and Queen.

The civil war-era fort and grounds will feature artists of local and national renown—including musicians, face-painters, singers, dancers, sculptors, actors, poets, illusionists and storytellers— coming together in celestial celebration.

While the evening itself welcomes spontaneous play and creative exploration from attendees, there are several prepared highlights included: the Dream Wall with Debbie Butterbaugh, the Grand Dream Mural facilitated by artist Kate Peachey and more than 60 participants, Dream Projections by Nicolas Bergery, ambush poetry with the Key West Poetry Guild, dance performances by the fabulous Key West Comparsa, The Southernmost Shimmies, and the Southernmost Dance Theatre Youth Company, sculptural works by Bill Lorraine and historic artist Stanley Papio, Shakespearean scene performances by Key West Fringe actors and tarot card readings by Mary Beth Hurd.

Music will resonate throughout the fort’s historic brick walls with performances on the main stage emceed by Jenna Stauffer and orchestrated by Skipper Kripitz to include: Larry Smith and Kathleen Peace show with special guests, George Hemund and Les Dudley on horns, Key West Soul R***e with Clayton Clayton L. Lopez, Calvin and Mina Lopez, Zack and Kai Seemiller, Ray Sigismondi Band, Pro Magnum featuring Ross Brown, Mike Emerson, Tyler Smith, Bubba Lownotes, Gary Rivenson, Christine Cordone Smith, Din Allen, Camille and Chris Toler, Bounce Margil and OohLaLa and many more.

Libations and delectable food will be available throughout the annual fundraiser, which this year benefits Key West Art & Historical Society’s Education programs.

“The Society is very excited to host this year’s event,” says KWAHS Executive Director Michael Gieda. “As part of our growing educational offerings, what better way to celebrate the art and history of the Keys than to offer a family-friendly event showcasing the islands’ many talented artists with the historic Fort East Martello as the backdrop?”

Children of all ages will delight in good faery Joyce Straiton and friends, who will create glittery enchantment in faery-land with stardust and face painting, faery wings and hula-hooping.

Key West Art & Historical Society & Java Studios invite everyone to be a part of this playful and spontaneous celebration that tips hearts and hats to the summer solstice and the power of dreams.

“It all begins with a dream,” says Shields.

This year’s event is particularly poignant for Shields, who tragically lost his son last week. Jason Shields would have celebrated his 40 th birthday on that evening, and Michael hopes the community will come together to remember both the impermanence of life and the magic that is offered in it while we are here together.

Fort East Martello is located at 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West. Parking is available on site. Tickets will be available at the door for $15 or $10 in advance by visiting http://www.kwahs.org/learn/midsummers-night-dream-spectacle/ KWAHS members pay only $10 at any time, children 12 and under admitted free. For more information and to volunteer, contact Christine Nottage at 305. 295.6616 x 111. Interested artists contact: [email protected] / 305-394-3804.

Volunteers are sought for the inaugural Mystery Writers Key West Fest, a gathering of premier South Florida based mystery writers and local storytellers set for June 13-15, 2014.

Open to writers and non-writing mystery-buffs alike, registration includes panel events with acclaimed crime fiction and true crime authors, a drawing for a “walk-on” cameo appearance in an upcoming mystery tale, buffet luncheon with best-selling mystery and detective fiction author William E. Butterworth IV (aka W.E.B. Griffin), a group book signing event, one-on-one consultations with publishing and editing experts, a Key West night-life stroll, and a noir movie night at the award winning Tropic Cinema, hosted by author Mike Dennis.

To become a much-appreciated volunteer, email [email protected]. Registration and lodging information for the sleuthfest is available at www.mysterywriterskeywestfest.com