Beth Nielsen Chapman

Old Town New Folk

Tuesday, March 18, 7pm

Hugh’s View

$100 front row, $60, $50 mbrs.

Wednesday, March 19, 7pm

Hugh’s View

$100 front row, $60, $50 mbrs.

Born in Harlingen, Texas, Beth Chapman grew up in a family of five, moving frequently due to her father’s Air Force career. Settling in Alabama in 1969, her musical journey began with a German guitar and songwriting amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War and civil rights movement. Beth’s debut album, Hearing It First, recorded in Muscle Shoals, was released in 1980. Moving to Nashville in 1985, she wrote #1 hits for Tanya Tucker and Willie Nelson.

Her career includes critically acclaimed albums with Warner/Reprise and collaborations with artists like Emmylou Harris and Elton John. Following personal tragedies, she released Sand And Water, a moving reflection on loss. A breast cancer survivor, her album Deeper Still resonated deeply with fans.

Beth’s music spans genres, with notable works like Prism and the Grammy-nominated The Mighty Sky. Her 2018 album, Hearts Of Glass, showcases her lyrical depth. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016, Beth continues to inspire as a songwriter, teacher, and speaker, with her latest album, CrazyTown, was released in 2022.

Old Town New Folk is underwritten by Nick and Lorie Howley, with additional support from Doug and Sherri Montgomery, John and Marilyn Rintamaki, Nell Smets, and Michael Blades and Kathy Kilroy. Series sponsored by Blue Heaven

Listen on Spotify

John McCutcheon

Old Town New Folk

Tuesday, April 15, 7pm

Helmerich Theater

$75 front row, $50, $40 mbrs.

Wednesday, April 16, 8pm

Hugh’s View

$100 front row, $60, $50 mbrs.

John McCutcheon, a master of over a dozen traditional instruments, including the rare hammer dulcimer, is celebrated for his profound songwriting and engaging storytelling. With 30 recordings and seven Grammy nominations, John blends traditional and original music with community roots and political activism. His performances, spanning from major festivals and symphony pops to school auditoriums and farm rallies, are filled with energy and charm. Praised as folk music’s “Rustic Renaissance Man,” John’s concerts offer audiences a magical, intimate experience, connecting with listeners of all ages and backgrounds.

Old Town New Folk is underwritten by Nick and Lorie Howley, with additional support from Doug and Sherri Montgomery, John and Marilyn Rintamaki, Nell Smets, and Michael Blades and Kathy Kilroy. Series sponsored by Blue Heaven

Listen on Spotify

Henhouse Prowlers

Old Town New Folk

Tuesday, April 22, 7pm

Helmerich Theater

$75 front row, $50, $40 mbrs.

Wednesday, April 23, 8pm

Hugh’s View

$100 front row, $60, $50 mbrs.

Founded nearly two decades ago with the simple desire to play original and powerful bluegrass, this quartet now finds themselves at the intersection of performance, diplomacy and education. Onstage, the group’s enthralling performances give audiences a sense of how much they love what they do. On record – including their latest offering, 2023’s Lead and Iron, released via Dark Shadow Recording – the band explores their collective life experiences through songwriting and intricate instrumentation. While bluegrass is the undeniable foundation of the Prowlers’ music, the band bends and squeezes the traditional form into a keenly developed sound all their own.

The Prowlers have now been to more than 25 countries across the globe, working with the U.S. State Department and under their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors, and incorporating music from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and more into their already robust repertoire of unique traditional American music. On stage, in workshops and wherever they are, the Henhouse Prowlers find and spread the commonality we share as human beings through the universal language of music.

Old Town New Folk is underwritten by Nick and Lorie Howley, with additional support from Doug and Sherri Montgomery, John and Marilyn Rintamaki, Nell Smets, and Michael Blades and Kathy Kilroy. Series sponsored by Blue Heaven

Listen on Spotify

Susan Werner and Jonatha Brooke

Old Town New Folk

Tuesday, January 7, 7pm

Helmerich Theater

$100 front row, $50, $40 mbrs.

Wednesday, January 8, 6pm

Hugh’s View

$100 front row, $70, $60 mbrs.

Over the course of her twenty five year career, Susan Werner has earned a reputation as “one of the most innovative songwriters working today” (Chicago Tribune). With formidable chops on guitar (she began playing at age 5) and piano (she was a guest on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz), along with a graduate degree in voice performance, her shows are a one-woman master class in musicianship. Although best known as an acoustic songwriter that came up through coffeehouses and folk festivals, the Chicago-based artist has written songs in the style of Gershwin and Cole Porter (I Can’t Be New, 2004), gospel music (The Gospel Truth, 2007), traditional Cuban “son” (An American In Havana, 2016), and New Orleans junk piano (NOLA, 2019). In 2014 she composed the music and lyrics to the musical theater score Bull Durham, The Musical (MGM). Her songs have been recorded by Tom Jones, Michael Feinstein, and Shemekia Copeland, and her latest recording of originals, The Birds of Florida, took flight in 2022.

Jonatha Brooke is an acclaimed American folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist from Massachusetts. Combining elements of folk, rock, and pop with poignant lyrics and complex harmonies, Brooke’s music has captivated audiences since the late 1980s. Her career began at Amherst College with Jennifer Kimball as the duo “The Story,” gaining attention for their witty wordplay and lush harmonies. They released two albums before Brooke pursued a solo career in 1994. Brooke’s solo debut, Plumb (1995), showcased her distinctive soprano and intricate songwriting. Despite industry challenges, she thrived independently, founding Bad Dog Records and releasing Jonatha Brooke Live (1999). Her albums, like Steady Pull (2001) and Careful What You Wish For (2007), reflect her evolution as an artist, marked by collaborations with renowned musicians and contributions to soundtracks, including Disney’s Return to Never Land. Brooke’s work often draws comparisons to Joni Mitchell and other 90s folk-rock talents. Her more recent projects include My Mother Has 4 Noses (2014), an off-Broadway play and album, and Midnight. Hallelujah. (2016). She continues to innovate and inspire, living in Minneapolis and producing music that resonates deeply with her audience.

Old Town New Folk is underwritten by Nick and Lorie Howley, with additional support from Doug and Sherri Montgomery, John and Marilyn Rintamaki, Nell Smets, and Michael Blades and Kathy Kilroy. Series sponsored by Blue Heaven

Listen on Spotify

Glow Hours on Hugh’s View

Free and open to the public!

Our Hugh’s View roof terrace offers the best views in town, and an ideal spot to catch the sunset and a drink with friends. The bar is open, admission is free, and everyone looks great in the golden twilight.

Mondays & Tuesdays, 6-8pm

Blackout dates: Tuesday, March 18; Monday, April 14

Tuesdays sponsored by Island House

CHECK US OUT ON KEYTV!

Hugh’s View is proud to be a winner of the Danny Toppino “Business for Beauty” Award from the Key West Chamber of Commerce!

photos: Adam Gonzalez, Johnny White, sky by Iris Moore, marquee sign by Lynne Bentley-Kemp