Island Dogs hosts top performers for Key West Songwriters Festival

KEY WEST, Fla. (April 2012) -- For five days, Key West's most popular drinking holes and hot spots come alive with Songwriters Festival action with over 20 free shows and 100 top songwriters. This year, Island Dogs joins the festival venue roster once again.

Now in its 17th year, the Key West Songwriters Festival sponsored by BMI is the largest festival of its kind in the world. A favorite of locals and tourists alike, attendees meet the faces, voices and stories behind the songs and jam to informal adaptations of Nashville's signature in-the-round acoustic showcases.

"Our patrons have a blast every year here at Songwriters and we're looking forward to another year of great tunes and good times," said David Thibault, Island Dogs' co-owner and general manager.

Island Dogs Songwriters Festival Line-Up

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012
5 P.M.

Lauren Lucas

MELISSA PEIRCE: Melissa has had 2 top ten singles and is a recipient of the 2004 ASCAP Country Music Award for writing the country single "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain" for Reba McEntire, one of the year's most played songs and a number one video hit on CMT. She released her first independent solo album "Lonesome Lullaby" this year.

LAUREN LUCAS: A Tony Award-nominated composer at 19, Lauren partnered with Grammy-winning engineer, Chad Carlson, for her critically acclaimed 2007 EP, "If I Was Your Girl". Her new record, "On With the Show", blends rootsy soul with more pop-tinged melodies and is gaining momentum with fans and critics.

JEFF BLACK: Jeff's songs have been covered by Waylon Jennings, Sam Bush and BlackHawk, whose cover of Jeff's song, "That's Just About Right", was a Top 10 Country single in 1994. Since then Black has released four of his own albums and tours widely. He also maintains his own free weekly podcast, Black Tuesdays.

6 P.M.
 

BRIDGETTE TATUM: Bridgette co-wrote "She's Country" (2009), recorded by country superstar Jason Aldean. It was the Most Played Song on U.S. country radio stations that held the #1 position on the chart for two consecutive weeks. In 2010, her song, "Loud" was the Official Theme Song for ACC Football's 2010 Season.

AARON PARKER: Two of Aaron's popular singles include "Open Season" for the "Open Season" TV show and "Anything Alabama". He grew up in a big family on a farm in Southern Alabama and says, "Everything that comes through your speakers from me you can bet has a whole lot of dust, corn, heartland south in it. It's just who I am."

BLAKE GRAY: Nashville-based Blake was signed to Blue Guitar Music in 2009. She lists her influences as Erin McCarley, Sara Bareilles, Florence and the Machine, Bryan Adams, Christina Aguilera, Jewel, Fiona Apple, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, The Judds, Shania Twain, and The Cranberries.

7 P.M.
 

Kree Harrison

KREE HARRISON: At just 8 years old, Kree performed on the "Rosie O'Donnell Show" several times. After label signings and then enduring family tragedies that reset her musical course, the 21-year-old now writes with Nashville songwriters such as Natalie Hemby, Trent Dabbs, and Jeffrey Steele, and performs at Nashville venues like 3rd & Lindsley, The Basement, and Hotel Indigo.

PHILLIP LAMMONDS: Originally from Georgetown, South Carolina, Lammonds is currently a staff songwriter for Zavitson Music Group and a singer/songwriter/acoustic guitarist.

DEAN ALEXANDER: Writer/artist Dean signed with Stage Three Music, Inc., in 2010 plays on stages across the country, opening up for artists such as Josh Turner. He has performed as part of Laura Bell Bundy's band, live at the ACM's, Good Morning America and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Featured Artist: Randy Mac

Randy Mac won't talk much about the time in his life filled with 3-piece bands, album recordings, a record label signing and music awards. And he won't talk much about life off stage. Self-promotion? Not for him. Because what's important, what truly makes him happy, is happening now--playing music live.

"I've got chapters of history, but when I come to Key West, it's irrelevant," Randy Mac said.

Seven years ago, he left Montreal to get away from the cold and ended up in Key West, cruising down Duval Street in his VW bus, kiteboard locked and loaded. Within a week, he had his first solo gig.

Randy Mac's repertoire--he plays the acoustic guitar, harmonica and bass--includes his own versions of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Stone Temple Pilots, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hendrix, Clapton, Neil Young, and Stevie Ray Vaughan among others.

"I survive without playing the local shtick," Randy Mac told us. "I know that it's authentic and sought after; songs that everyone knows but not what people play on the streets."

Needless to say, he doesn't play songs he doesn't like.

"I'm singing and playing four hours every day, but I'm listening, too," Randy Mac said.

With almost three decades of playing professionally under his belt, he's performed on stages from the Virgin Islands and Austria to Switzerland, France and Italy. But he keeps coming back to Key West.

"I'm doing what I want to do and it's getting better every year," he said.



Randy Mac plays tonight at Island Dogs from 8 p.m. and again on April 28. He doesn't play often, so be sure to check him out!

Here's Randy rockin' out on the acoustic guitar, playing it with a violin bow!

Hollywood glamor comes to Key West with movie shoot at Island Dogs Bar

Win a chance to be in 'Exposure' starring Corey Feldman!

KEY WEST, Fla. (March 9, 2012) -- Hollywood glamor comes to Key West with scenes from upcoming suspense thriller Exposure starring Corey Feldman to be shot at Island Dogs Bar. And bar patrons have a chance to win a spot in the movie!

On March 29, 2012, Island Dogs hosts the Win-A-Part-In-A-Movie Contest. Filming will take place at 7 p.m. at the bar, with the contest at 9 p.m.

"We chose Island Dogs based on its look, appeal, and location," said Gary Metz, executive vice president at Ft. Lauderdale-based The Movie Studio, Inc. "One of the objects was to film in the Keys and we only selected a certain number of locations to shoot at."

Exposure is a "suspense thriller with a romantic heart... showcasing South Florida and shining a much needed light on the dangers in the un-regulated modeling industry," according to the movie's website.

"This is a great opportunity to showcase Key West and Island Dog's popular laid-back vibe," said managing partner David Thibault. "We're really excited to have them here."

Gordon Scott Venters is the executive producer; Peter Langone serves as producer; Carlos Nunez is director; and visual effects supervisor is Dean Lyon (Lord of the Rings).

In Exposure, Nikki (Ali Sonoma of Spike TV's Ultimate Fighter fame) answers an ad for models wanted and leaves small town Alabama with her boyfriend Blain (Feldman) for Miami's glittering South Beach. The two connect with Seth Black, owner of the Exposure Model Agency, who promptly sets them up nicely in an oceanfront penthouse.

But Blain becomes suspicious at the couple drifts apart and models go missing. Nikki finds herself in the dark side of every model's worst nightmare. For more information on the movie, visit www.exposurethemovie.net

Island Dogs introduces a new night of chic to laid back Key West

KEY WEST, Fla. (January 27, 2012) -- Kick off the flip flops and slip on some stilettos. Switch out the shorts for a little black dress. It's time to play dress up for Key West's hottest new night of chic!

Island Dogs introduces the Little Black Dress Party, the place to be the second Wednesday of every month from 8 p.m. starting Feb. 8. Sponsored by Ultimat Vodka, the sophisticated monthly event will feature $5 Ultimat Martinis all night and dance music by DJ Chaka.

"We're billing this as a night for local ladies to dress up and get out and party. You don't get a chance to do that much in Key West--dress up, that is," said general manager David Thibault. "Plus, it's for a good cause."

Each party features a raffle; 100% of raffle proceeds will benefit a local charity. On Feb. 8, the raffle will include a gift basket of Paul Mitchell hair and spa products, $100 gift card to the Pier House Caribbean Spa and a bottle of Ultimat Vodka.

Proceeds from the first event will go to the Key West Shrine Club, which supports treatment and transportation of Key West children to Shriner's Hospitals for Children. The hospitals treat pediatric medical cases at no cost.

Super Bowl football action at Island Dogs with the SoMo New England Pats Fan Club!

KEY WEST, Fla. (January 25, 2012) -- Join the Southernmost New England Patriots Fan Club at Island Dogs for a Super Bowl Party -- New England style.

Only 61 pre-sale tickets are available at $75 per seat. Sale ends Jan. 31. Tickets after Jan. 31 will run $100.

Here's what you get:

• A seat of your choice reserved (first come; first pick)
• An official Super Bowl program from the actual game(!)
• A bucket of Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Light or Coors Light
• A Maine lobster dinner with lobster flown in fresh from New England from Fresh Catch in Mansfield, Mass., the official seafood supplier of the New England Patriots(!) Dinner includes corn on the cob and baby red potatoes

Fresh Catch in Mansfield, Mass., is also the official seafood supplier for Island Dogs for the Super Bowl. It's going to be a Wicked Pissa Super Bowl Party at Island Dogs!

For more info on the event, come into Island Dogs for details or call 305-509-7136.