Welcome to Key West Music Magazine!
Its premise is pretty simple, really: celebrate the Key West music scene and introduce the people who make it possible.
The amount of talent on this small island is the inspiration for everything that comes from this desk. On any given day, one can walk down Duval Street and hear and see such diverse musical expression that it surprises those who are new to Key West and gives a bit of continuity to those of us who play. We know we can take chances here and try something new, or lay into the tried and true with equal vigor.
Because we live in such a small place, we all get to know each other as players and as fans. When you begin to play gigs regularly on the island you notice a number of people who not only enjoy live music, but support it wholeheartedly. They become fans and friends and unofficial publicists, posting pictures and videos of our work on social media, and getting others interested. These connections soon become as important as any aspect of this musical life we are lucky to lead.
We are fortunate in other ways. You can find live music on our island every single day from 8 a.m. until whatever time Willy T’s decides to close. There is a plethora of opportunity. There are bands, solo artists, karaoke, drag shows, disco, funk, country, reggae, jazz and almost anything else you can think of, all happening on one street. It’s a safe place to be an artist and a fan.
We also know one another. We live nearby and see each other daily. We hold benefits when someone needs help and parties when they are feeling good. With the amount of work to be had competition is way down on the list of priorities here. That makes for a unique scene, one where the norm is to help each other, not hinder someone for fear of not having work. If someone needs some equipment in an emergency situation, one post on social media garners numerous responses offering aid and advice. We are thankful for the situation we find ourselves in and want to celebrate our luck. Hence Key West Music Magazine.
We hope this publication follows in the same vein as the community in which we live. Personally, I would like to this to be a magazine that I would want to be in.
In the near future we will be including a musician’s directory to help people new to the island figure out who to see and where.