HAMPTON — The spirit of Key West is heading north. From Aug. 20 to 23, more than a dozen musicians from the Florida Keys will perform in Hampton Beach, bringing island vibes to the heart of the Seacoast.
Key West Days kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. with an “Opening Jam” at the Seashell Stage, where all the artists will join forces for a showcase of Key West’s signature sound. From there, the rolling musical celebration continues through Saturday, with daily sets in 10 different venues running from 9 a.m. to midnight. Each performer will take the stage for three- to four-hour sessions, offering a full immersion in the rhythms of the Keys.
Zack Seemiller will be one of the performers during Key West Days at Hampton Beach from Aug. 20-23.
According to event spokesperson Amanda Heintzelman, this marks the inaugural year of the festival, dreamed up by former Hampton Beach hotel owner Dave Hartnett and his wife, Kara. Now retired and spending winters in Key West, Hartnett wanted to share the island’s musical magic with the community where he raised his family — blending two beloved coastal worlds into one unforgettable week.
“We see so many Hampton Beach people down at Key West,” Hartnett said. “We organized Key West Days because we want to expose the rest of the Hampton community to what we experience there.”
Hartnett credits Key West entertainer Zack Seemiller as his “partner in crime” in setting up the event for the Hampton community.
“Zach’s a great musician, and he opened for (the late) Jimmy Buffett many times,” Hartnett said. “He helped pull together all the performers. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”
Each highlighted spot on this map is a host venue for live performances during Key West Days at Hampton Beach.
With support from local sponsors, the visiting Key West musicians will be hosted in town and perform at 10 Hampton Beach venues. Participating establishments include McGuirk’s Ocean View, Sea Ketch, Wally’s, Point Break, Boardwalk Inn and Cafe, Bernie’s Beach Bar, JB’s on the Boardwalk, L Street Tavern, The Pier, and The Goat.
A main attraction of this event is that admission to all performances is free.
“People are free to come and watch shows,” Heintzelman said. “All these venues are restaurants, so people can also order food and drinks there.”
The show at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, does offer the option of purchasing reserve seating for the performance that takes place at McGuirk’s when the duo of Scott Kirby and Gabriel Donohue enter the spotlight. Both men also perform separately during Key West Days, Kirby with his masterful finger-picking guitar playing that blends American folk with blues-rock, and Donohue, who brings traditional Celtic ballads, mixed with Broadway and a touch of Flamenco.
The ticket price for reserve seating for that event is $23, and can be purchased at www.keywestdays.com. That site also offers the lineup, schedule, and bios on each artist, as well as an offer to purchase a $100 VIP pass, which gains entry into a cocktail hour before Wednesday night’s opening jam.
“The cocktail event takes place at Ronaldo’s on D Street,” Hartnett said. “And people with the VIP pass can meet all the sponsors and all the musicians who’ll be performing. There will also be a gift bag with a T-shirt, a poster, and other items. Our major sponsors – Preston Real Estate and Sun Cruiser – will also provide gifts.”
Although the Seashell Stage wasn’t available for a finale, according to Heintzelman, the “Final Jam,” when all performers will once again appear together on the same stage, will be Friday night at McGuirks beginning at 8 p.m.
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What is the lineup for Key West Days at Hampton Beach?
Each artist performs more than once during the three-day event. Music enthusiasts are encouraged to check out the online schedule to see all the options.
Songwriter Zach Seemiller launches Key West Days’ first set on Aug. 21, singing his creations interspersed with his humor, with Key West guitar troubadour and storyteller Jeff Harris following.
Jeff Harris
Musical couple Kari and Jack Wolf will perform separately, offering Kari’s soulful vocals and acoustic guitar with Jack’s rock-infused energy.
South African-born Shelton Benton delivers dynamic performances that fuse contemporary sounds with timeless classics, while John La Mere’s sets draw deeply from the roots of classic rock and Americana.
Not a stranger to the Granite State, Chris Toler pairs a gritty voice with a high-octane stage presence, delivering sets packed with alt-rock anthems and crowd favorites. Louisiana’s Sid Ordoyne anchors the rhythm section with seasoned bass lines — versatile, steady, and impossible to shake.
Sid Ordoyne
From the heart of the South, Marjory Lee brings a sunshine-soaked sound, weaving her musical artistry into every note. And behind the kit once shared with legends like B.B. King, drummer Tony Coleman supplies a deep groove with a rich history and unmistakable style that’s become part of Key West’s island fabric.
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More artists may be announced soon
According to Heintzelman, other artists are currently being pursued to add to the musical diversity during Key West Days. Stay tuned for the final lineup by checking the website.
The musical extravaganza wouldn’t be possible without sponsorship by 10 local groups, including Preston Real Estate, Sun Cruiser, the Hampton Beach Village District and Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, along with Aces and Eights Casino, Experience Hampton New Hampshire, New Hampshire Distributors, Harris Real Estate, Atlantic Breeze Suites, and Kelly Properties and Construction Management.
As for whether or not Key West Days becomes an annual event, Hartnett said, it’s possible, but it all depends on how things go this year during Hampton Beach’s version of Margaritaville.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Key West Days at Hampton Beach: Florida musicians bring Island vibes
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
