Key West Songwriters Festival comes to The Rum Barrel again

KEY WEST, Fla. (April 23, 2012) -- The Key West Songwriters Festival is the largest festival of its kind in the world, featuring five days of over 20 free shows and 100 top songwriters performing at Key West's most popular drinking holes and hot spots.

It gives attendees a chance to meet the faces, voices and stories behind the songs and jam to informal adaptations of Nashville's signature in-the-round acoustic showcases.

"We had a great turnout last year and we can't wait to get in on the music action this year," said JC Picco, Rum Barrel general manager.

RUM BARREL SONGWRITERS' FEST LINE-UP 

Thursday, May 3, 2012

8 P.M.

SHERRIE AUSTIN: An ACM New Artist of the Year nominee, Sherrie started off as an actress, but pursued a singing career that led to signings with Interscope Records and then Arista Nashville. She's held a #1 Chart position on CMT's Countdown and penned "Streets Of Heaven", which reached Top 15. Sherrie landed multiple cuts, including Tim McGraw's "ShotGun Rider," Blake Shelton's "Good At Startin' Fires," George Strait "Where've Have I Been All My Life," and the hilarious duet by Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton called "If I Was A Woman." Austin's latest release, Circus Girl, is her first in eight years.

Bruce Wallace

BRUCE WALLACE: Bruce Wallace moved to Nashville in 1987 from Oklahoma. After 18 years touring the world as a guitarist for the likes of Matraca Berg, Shelby Lynne, David Gates, and Wynona, he turned his attention to full time songwriting. He currently writes for Ole Publishing and recently landed cuts with Katie Armiger, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, Kix Brooks, and Dierks Bentley. He also received the 2010 SOCAN Country Award for having the most played song on country radio in Canada, "make hay while the sun shines", which he also produced.

MORGAN MYLES: With her late 60's, early 70's influences, Myles turned heads at BMI's Buzz and Presents artist showcases and has played the Winter Olympics, Reba Tour, U.S. Troop shows and as a solo artist opening for Rick Springfield. Whether Myles is wailing on her guitar, mandolin, harmonica, organ or just plain straight from the heart vocally she will move you.

9 P.M.

MATT STILLWELL: Matt is best known as a performer with a rowdy sense of fun, and his single "Shine" entered the Top 5 on CMT Pure and Top 10 on GAC's Top 20 Countdown. Matt broke in on Billboard's Country charts with "Shine" (52) and "Sweet Sun Angel" (58). He signed a recording contract with average Joe's Entertainment and is now working on a brand new project, writing songs with the best. He headlines across the country in between Corey Smith shows, and is gearing up for the 4th Annual Stillwell Shinefest.

Rob Hatch

ROB HATCH: Rob Hatch is a North Florida-born songwriter, who currently writes for Magic Mustang/Dan Hodges Music. He has had cuts with artists such as Jamey Johnson, Gretchen Wilson, Jake Owens and George Jones.  Hatch recently hit the No.1 spot on the Country Singles charts with a song he co-wrote entitled "If Heaven Weren't So Far Away" recorded by Justin Moore.

LANCE MILLER: A soulful vocalist, Miller was a finalist on Nashville Star in 2004 and signed a recording deal with Warner Bros. He has toured with the likes of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on the largest grossing tour in country music history and is now a staff songwriter with McGraw & Hill's StyleSonic Publishing Company. Miller has had his songs cut by McGraw, Randy Travis, Jerrod Niemann, Lee Brice, Craig Campbell and Clay Walker among others.

10 P.M.

Low Cash Cowboys

LO CASH COWBOYS: Preston Brust and Chris Lucas make up Lo Cash. They have shared bills with Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, REO Speedwagon, Tom Petty, Gretchen Wilson and  toured the country headlining Maxim's Red Man Roadhouse Tour. They have appeared on TV on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's SlamiVersary and Fox News Network's New Year's Eve Broadcast before two million in Times Square. Now, Lo Cash is prepared for their album This Is How We Do It to take them nationwide this year and are enjoying the success as songwriters for penning Keith Urban's chart topping "You Gonna Fly".

Why Bacardi Reserva Limitada is sort of a big deal

Back in the early days of the Bacardi rum distillery, Maestro de Ron (rum master) Luis Planas created a special blend for the Bacardi family to honor the founder, Don Facundo Bacardi Massó. It was exclusive to the family for generations before it was released in 2003 to celebrate the inauguration of the Bacardi Visitors Centre in Cataño, Puerto Rico, and then to select locations in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

When Bacardi released it in the U.S. in 2010 as the company's top-of-the-line "founder's blend", there were only 6,000 bottles on the market! It's still a coup to procure a bottle.

Aged and mellowed in lightly-charred American white oak casks for 10-16 years, the deep reddish-gold dark rum has woody aroma and a nose of vanilla, oak and dried fruits with a rich, mellow taste. Rum experts say that it should never be mixed since it is the ultimate expression of Bacardi craftsmanship.

In fact, Bacardi was just awarded the International High Quality Trophy for its Reserva Limitada, among other rums. The prestigious Monde Selection International Institute for Quality Selections presents this honor to a product that has achieved a high quality level for three consecutive years after Grand Gold and Gold Awards.

The bottle may look similar like the Bacardi 8, but it's very different in caliber and cost. It retails for roughly $15 a shot at The Rum Barrel.

Rum Barrel to host Formula H2O's 3rd Annual Vandenberg Underwater Grand Prix Racers

The Rum Barrel welcomes racers from Formula H2O's 3rd Annual Vandenberg Underwater Grand Prix on May 18 at 6:30 p.m. on the Quarterdeck for the Racers' Meeting!

The weekend celebration by the Wreck Racing League will kick off the 2012 Formula H2O Racing Circuit and honor the 3rd anniversary of the sinking of the Vandenberg with the annual race and events May 18 to 20, 2012.

Photo via DiverWire.com

Originally a U.S. Navy transport ship in WWII, the Vandenberg was sunk in May 2009. It is the largest artificial reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the second largest in the world. The ship is now home to pelagic and reef fish, and many other species of marine plants and animals.

The Vandenberg Underwater Grand Prix festivities begin with the Racers' Meeting on the Rum Barrel rooftop at the corner of Front and Simonton streets in Downtown Key West.

At 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, participants will meet at the Florida Keys Community College Lagoon for DPV certification, testing, and Manufacturers Races. Lunch, gear and tank rentals will be available through the FKCC Dive Club. A free BBQ will be held for racers and Wreck Racing League fans at 7:00 p.m. at the Seaduction Dive Shop on Truman Avenue.

On Sunday, May 20, divers will race around the superstructure of the ship in the 3rd Annual Vandenberg Underwater Grand Prix. Supporting hotel properties include the Quality Inn and Lexington Hotel in Key West. Visit www.wreckracingleague.com for booking discounts, information and race registration.

The Vandenberg was placed in her final resting place three years ago, six miles off the coast of Key West, and has become one of the world's premier scuba diving venues. It was the inspiration for the creation of the Wreck Racing League and Formula H2O.

"We wanted to mark the 1st anniversary of the sinking in a big way, we accomplished that and now the Wreck Racing League has its grown its own national and international following!" said Joe Weatherby, Co-Founder of the League. Weatherby is also responsible for spearheading the Vandenberg project.

"We are all about clean water and alternative power as well as promoting the sport of scuba diving and our host destinations," Weatherby said.

Anyone interested in competing or participating in the events should contact the Wreck Racing League at info@wreckracingleague.com. Visit www.wreckracingleague.com and Formula H2O Racing on Facebook for more information.

Taste of the Rum Bible: Rum Jungle

With four kinds of rum, how can you resist?

RUM JUNGLE

• 1/2 oz. Light Rum
• 1/2 oz. Dark Rum
• 1/2 oz. Coconut Rum
• 1/2 oz. Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 2 oz. Orange Juice

Blend ingredients with ice until smooth. Pour into a chilled goblet. Garnish with a whole banana.

Phillies tailgate

So you think Thursday's tailgate was bad ass? It's happening again Sunday! Get free beer and free hot dogs from 11 a.m. straight up to game time at 1 p.m.!