Key West Art & Historical Society hosts third annual Coast is Clear concert at the Key West Lighthouse
On Friday, December 6, Key West Art & Historical Society teams with Coast Projects to host the third annual Coast is Clear concert on the grounds of historic Key West Lighthouse, 938 Whitehead Street. The all-day event kicks off at noon with an arts market, food vendors, and a cash bar, and at 3:30pm, an evolving lineup of local and nationally-recognized folk and Americana talent that includes Rayland Baxter, SUSTO, Electric Blue Yonder, Chris Kasper, Sam Carlson, and Square Roots.
The concert is part of the larger Coast is Clear Music and Arts Festival, which takes place December 5-7 at the Lighthouse, featuring the best of local artisans. Festival-goers can enjoy the first hour of musical entertainment free that Saturday; after that, tickets can be purchased or shown at the gate. The tentative schedule is Philly’s Chris Kasper from 3:30pm- 4:15pm, Key West’s Square Roots from 4:30pm – 5:15pm, Nashville’s Sam Carlson from 5:30pm – 6:15pm, Montgomery’s Electric Blue Yonder from 6:30pm – 7:15pm, Charleston’s SUSTO from 7:30pm – 8:30pm, and Nashville’s Rayland Baxter playing solo from 8:30pm – 9:00pm and the last 90 minutes of the evening with his full band.
“We originally created the concert in response to Hurricane Irma in 2017 as a way to bring the community together and mark the official end to a particularly difficult hurricane season,” says event organizer Billy Kearins. “The goal is still almost entirely focused on celebrating a time of year when locals have survived the storms and slow season and can look forward to the good fortunes of the high season ahead.”
And while concertgoers can rock out to the evening’s jam-packed night of bands while celebrating the fortuitous times to come, Kearins also encourages them to support the neighboring Bahamian islands decimated by Hurricane Dorian by making contributions at the gate, which will benefit support recovery efforts organized by Key West Cares.
Tickets for the December 6th event are $45 and can be purchased at coastprojects.com, children under 15 are $10, payable at the gate. Limited parking is available; bicycling is encouraged. Chairs and blankets are welcome. Your Museums. Your Community. It Takes an Island.
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Nashville, Tennessee-based musician Rayland Baxter will perform solo from 8:30-9:00pm, and with his full band for the final 90 minutes of the upcoming Coast is Clear concert event on the grounds of the historic Key West Lighthouse, taking place on Friday, December 6. Kicking off at noon, live music commences at 3:30pm, with an evolving line-up of local and nationally recognized talent. (Photo of Rayland Baxter by Martin Schumann)