The Key West Songwriters Festival Presented by BMI Celebrates 30th Anniversary

The annual Key West Songwriters Festival presented by BMI celebrated its landmark 30th anniversary this past week, April 29 through May 3, as the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and Rams Head Presents hosted more than 250 BMI multi-genre creators. The largest event of its kind offered more than 80 shows across five days ranging from morning poolside rounds to sunset showcases. Wednesday, April 29, highlights included the official “Sunset Pier Kick Off Party” at the Ocean Key Resort & Spa hosted by Storme Warren with performances by DJ Smoke, The Brummies and Jeffrey Steele; a two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year and festival staple since 1998. Steele dedicated his hit “What Hurts The Most” to the late Ronnie Bowman, a beloved festival regular since 2017. The tribute set a reflective tone for the weekend as the community honored Bowman, who was originally scheduled for his ninth consecutive appearance.

Following the festival’s launch, fans sold-out the Key West Theater for a distinguished lineup featuring Ashley Cooke, Thomas Edwards, Aaron Raitiere, Tyler Reeve and James Slater. The momentum carried into Thursday, April 30, with multiple rounds hosted poolside at several island venues, including The Marker Harbor Resort and La Concha Hotel, where Bryan Frazier, Kurtis John, and Casey Levasseur performed. The Blue Flamingo Resort hosted Marti Frederiksen, Jack Ingram, and Trent Tomlinson, as all three have been integral to the festival’s success since 2015. A capacity crowd gathered at Blue Heaven for the annual Bluebird Presents Liz Rose & Friends, where the BMI Songwriter of the Year was joined by Gloria Anderson, Phil Barton, Johnny Clawson, Mags Duval, Jack Ingram, Luke Laird, Lori McKenna, Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley, Summer Overstreet, Peytan Porter, Abbey Rowe and Paul Sikes. Rose wrapped by inviting the next wave of female songwriters to stage for a collaborative performance of the Taylor Swift co-written smash, “You Belong With Me.” The day concluded at sunset with an intimate acoustic performance by Ashley Cooke at Lunara Live: Waterfront.

The festival’s headquarters, Rams Head Southernmost Bar & Restaurant, became a hotspot on Friday, May 1, with all-star rounds featuring artists like Mark Collie, Hayden Blount, Rob Hatch and Jim McCormick, while Curry Mansion Inn presented by Brightwild featured heavy-hitters like Chord Overstreet and Hannah McFarland. Fans overflowed into the street outside of Sloppy Joe’s Bar for sets by songwriters rooted in the festival’s history like Bob DiPiero, HARDY, Lee Thomas Miller, Bobby Pinson, Jeffrey Steele and Craig Wiseman. That night, the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association and Texas Music office presented the San Carlos Institute with Gloria Anderson, Jack Ingram, Robert Earl Keen, Lori Mckenna, Bruce Robison, Liz Rose and Larry Joe Taylor.

On Saturday, May 2, BMI and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association celebrated the festival’s 30th anniversary with a VIP reception where Charlie Bauer, the founder of the event, was presented with the BMI Ambassador award. BMI’s Clay Bradley and Mason Hunter as well as past award recipients Storme Warren and Xperi’s Joe D’Angelo alongside FRLA’s Carol Dover, praised Bauer’s significant impact on the songwriting community. Following his 2019 festival debut, ERNEST headlined the annual block party at Main Stage on Duval Street, with direct support from Ashley Cooke and Cody Lohden. The final day, May 3, brought attendees together for gospel music with “Sunday Songs: Music & Mimosas” at Williams Hall, featuring BMI’s Shannon Sanders, Chuck Cannon, Elisha Hoffman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Megan Linville, Danny Myrick, Tommy Sims and DJ Smoke.

The Key West Songwriters Festival has served as a place of discovery since its inception as BMI continues to nurture and maintain relationships with music creators at every stage of their career. The Key West Songwriters Festival brought to you by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council was sponsored by Gallagher, Xperi, Texas Roadhouse, WP Global Partners, Dulce Vida Tequila, Empress Gin, Ketel One, Captain Morgan and Bud Light.