When Rams Head Presents purchased one of the island’s most recognized music festivals a few years ago, operator Kyle Muehlhauser, who has a great appreciation for the art of songwriting and storytelling, already felt connected to the Key West Songwriters Festival.
The strategies he and his team employed resulted in bigger lineups and more visitors. Now the event will celebrate its 30th edition from April 29 through May 3 with many first-time acts and returning favorites including The Brummies, Ashley Cooke, ERNEST, HARDY, Jack Ingram, Ben Johnson, Robert Earl Keen, Brian Kelley, Lori McKenna, Lee Thomas Miller, Liz Rose, James T. Slater, and Bob DiPiero and Jeffrey Steele who helped establish the event with festival founder Charlie Bauer. Plus, dozens more.
BMI is the event’s presenting sponsor and secures the talent that appears each year. The group represents the public performance rights of well over a million composers, publishers, and songwriters.
The Key West Theater, one of the festival’s largest indoor hosts, has often made for many of the breakthrough moments and unforgettable performances that leave attendees eager to return for each new edition. Muehlhauser explained that it is hard to beat a close setting like this theater, where you are in the middle of the music world for a moment.
“This festival allows people to do that. It’s shown over its history the amount of talent that has come out of this festival. I mean, if you look at the names, Chris Stapleton, Casey Musgraves, Hardy, Luke Combs, all of these huge names that have come out of this festival.”
The event organizers believe they are consistent at balancing emerging and superstar names. Another feature of the festival is to spotlight local artists from the Keys and provide them with the opportunity to interact with visiting professionals and guests who might very well go on to be part of their growing audience.
When the festival highlights its “in the round” performances, it is referring to a similar experience to sitting around in a small group telling stories. In the case of these songwriters, they each take turns song by song and often explore the origins or inspiration behind lyrics. It can feel like an unguided Q&A that always shifts into another performance, maintaining momentum and entertainment for the audience in the room.
As Muehlhauser described it, the typical attendee here has always wanted more than just seeing and listening to a great live act. Music lovers at the Songwriters Festival want to learn about the process and people responsible for so many hits.
“It allows the artists to just be comfortable,” Muehlhauser said of this format. “And when they’re comfortable, then they usually give you the best stories and the best versions of themselves.”
Key West Songwriters Festival
April 29 – May 3
KeyWestSongwritersFestival.com
