KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Music lovers can savor tunes by more than 200 top performing songwriters in intimate, audience-friendly settings during the 20th Key West Songwriters Festival. An annual tradition for some of America's leading country and pop music hitmakers, the festival is presented Wednesday through Sunday, May 6-10.

Fans of live music can choose from more than 50 shows at venues including favorite Key West bars and restaurants, waterfront resorts and boutique inns, a historic Cuban cultural center and a catamaran during sunset sailing cruises.

Most shows feature a rotating group of writer/performers who play their hits, introduce new melodies, share creative insights and relate the stories behind their songs. Many performances are free including afternoon and late-night offerings at the festival's headquarters, the Smokin' Tuna Saloon at 4 Charles St.

The star-studded talent lineup features Raul Malo, solo artist and frontman for the Grammy-winning Mavericks; Liz Rose, acclaimed for co-writing numerous hits with pop sensation Taylor Swift; Jack Ingram, whose hits include the summertime anthem “Barefoot and Crazy”; Jeffrey Steele, writer of more than 80 top 10 songs; Rhett Akins, who has penned 18 number-one singles; festival mainstay Chuck Cannon, whose songs for countless artists have received more than 25 million airplays; Texas singer/songwriter and master storyteller Robert Earl Keen; and BMI Icon Award winner Dean Dillon.

Featured musicians are to star in a free outdoor concert in the 200 block of Key West's famed Duval Street beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 9. The “main stage” performers are Grammy-nominated recording artist Chris Young, singer/songwriter Josh Dorr and country rocker Logan Mize.

Other scheduled festival highlights include ticketed Thursday and Friday evening shows at the Key West Theater at 512 Eaton St., Tropic Cinema at 416 Eaton St. and the majestic Cuban cultural center known as the San Carlos Institute at 516 Duval St.

In addition, attendees can celebrate the Key West sunset with celebrated musicians during ticketed Friday and Saturday sailing excursions on the Fury Catamarans.

Presented by international performing rights organization BMI, the Key West Songwriters Festival benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Event information, schedule and ticketing: www.kwswf.com

Key West visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY

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