KEY WEST -- Several thousand Friends of Bubba gathered over Labor Day weekend to celebrate the music and life of the late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett in Key West—the island where he found his musical identity and opened the original Margaritaville Store.

Just a Few Friends Key West, named for a line in Buffett’s song “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” featured five days of events, including concerts by members of his Coral Reefer Band and other musical friends, a lively look-alike competition, themed contests and parties, insiders’ tales at the Chart Room Bar where he first performed locally, on-the-water adventures and events spotlighting the Key West lifestyle and locales he sang about.
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The festival also gave fans an opportunity to remember the iconic performer, who passed away Sept. 1, 2023, and commemorate the role his music played in their lives—particularly during the highlight Second Line Memorial Walking Parade through Key West’s streets.
“Jimmy’s music changed our lives,” said Laurel Shoemaker, who traveled from Long Island, N.Y., with her husband, Gary, for Just a Few Friends. “It brought us together with Parrot Heads that are lifelong friends, that we share something wonderful with, but we also share the sorrow of losing him.”

The procession ended at Key West’s Truman Waterfront Park, where the free Party in the Park featured nonstop live music by talents including 10-time CMA Musician of the Year and longtime Coral Reefer Mac McAnally, acclaimed singer-songwriter Will Kimbrough, and Florida Keys trop-rocker Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band. Attractions also included a pop-up food court, an artisan market and sunset viewing from the park.

Buffett discovered Key West in the early 1970s and opened his original Margaritaville Store there in the mid-1980s. The island’s influence is widely credited with inspiring his musical style and persona, as well as classic songs including “A Pirate Looks at Forty”—helping make him an icon whose music touched millions.

“What makes Just a Few Friends so special is that it could only happen in Key West,” said festival co-founder Paul Menta. “We’re not simply celebrating Jimmy’s music. We’re bringing people together in the places he loved, with musicians and friends who were part of his story, while giving back to the island community that helped inspire it all.”

Other Just a Few Friends highlights included the City of Key West’s “Jimmy Buffett Day” proclamation ceremony outside his Shrimp Boat Sound recording studio; a preview of a documentary in progress about the famed studio; concerts by Kimbrough, Coral Reefer vocalist Nadirah Shakoor and former Coral Reefer guitarist Roger Bartlett, among others; and a performance by Gary Roland and the Landsharks on Key West’s Duval Street that reimagined a surprise 1998 show by Buffett and his band.

Festival attendees also enjoyed guided walking and trolley tours of Buffett’s favorite places, sailing adventures on the waters he loved, a mouthwatering Cheeseburger Beach Battle for burger masters and a pair of Margarita Bar Strolls.

Proceeds from the festival’s collectible event badges directly benefit three local causes: Reef Relief, the Bahama Village Music Program and scholarships for local students through the nonprofit Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. During the past two years, more than $75,000 in badge contributions has been raised for the organizations.

Held annually over Labor Day weekend in Key West, Just a Few Friends returns Sept. 2–6, 2027.

For additional information, visit JustAFewFriendsKeyWest.com.
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Just a Few Friends is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jimmy Buffett’s Estate or Margaritaville Enterprises.

KEY WEST, FL — More than half a century after a young Jimmy Buffett played the Chart Room for tips and drinks, acclaimed singer-songwriter and longtime Buffett collaborator Will Kimbrough will play the first official tribute concert ever staged inside the tiny Key West bar.

The show is a highlight of the 2026 Just a Few Friends festival marking the third anniversary of Buffett’s passing. Kimbrough will echo the way Buffett began: one songwriter, one guitar and a small group gathered within arm’s reach.

Live in the Chart Room with Will Kimbrough will take place on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Pier House Resort & Spa, 1 Duval Street. Due to the size of the room, capacity is limited to just 40 people, including the bartender. Guests will begin with brunch by the beach before moving inside the Chart Room for the intimate acoustic concert.

“This is not a show that could simply be moved to another venue and still be the same experience,” said Just a Few Friends organizer Jill Snodgrass. “Will is returning to the place where Jimmy started, bringing the story full circle.”

When Buffett arrived in Key West with gonzo songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker in November 1971, Walker was already famous for his hit “Mr. Bojangles.” Their first stop was the Chart Room at the then-new Pier House Motel. The funky, unpretentious gathering place soon became Buffett’s home base and the site of his first Key West gig.

It was there that bartender, author and later collaborator Tom Corcoran served Buffett his first Key West beer and Buffett spied Jane Slagsvol, his future wife, at a payphone in the lobby. He also befriended legendary bartender Phil Clark, whose tales of smuggling, sailing and Caribbean adventures helped inspire “A Pirate Looks at Forty.”

Little about the Chart Room itself has changed. Tucked inside the now-luxurious Pier House Resort & Spa, it remains small, weathered and wonderfully unpolished—a rare surviving piece of the Key West that Buffett first discovered.

That continuity took on new significance in July, when the 142-room Pier House sold for $190 million to a global investment firm. The price placed an extraordinary value on the five-acre oceanfront resort surrounding one of Key West’s smallest and most culturally significant bars.

General Manager Robert “Bob” Spoto, who will remain at the helm under the new ownership, stressed that the Chart Room would continue as a Key West institution.

“The Chart Room has never tried to clean up its act, and hopefully it never will,” Spoto said. “People’s ashes are buried in that bar. You shell your peanuts onto the floor. It’s gritty, funny, a little irreverent and full of ghosts—in the best possible way. That’s what we promise to protect.”

Kimbrough was one of Buffett’s most trusted creative collaborators during the final two decades of his recording career. His songwriting and session work appeared on every Buffett studio album released during that period, from License to Chill through Buffett’s final album, Equal Strain on All Parts.

Among their best-known collaborations is “Bubbles Up,” released posthumously as the first single from Buffett’s final album. Inspired by the diving practice of following bubbles toward the surface when disoriented underwater, the song became a message of hope, perseverance and finding one’s way home. Paul McCartney praised it as one of Buffett’s finest vocal performances.

Kimbrough also recently completed a tour with Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, helping carry the music forward to fans.

“I’ve played Jimmy’s songs on a lot of stages, but the Chart Room is different,” Kimbrough said. “That room is part of the reason those songs exist. Sitting in that little bar with a guitar, playing songs I wrote with Jimmy and sharing the stories behind them will be incredibly special.”

Live in the Chart Room is just one of the events to be held at the legendary water hole as part of Just a Few Friends, an annual Labor Day gathering taking place Sept. 2–7, 2026, throughout Key West. The festival celebrates Buffett’s life and legacy through the places, people, music and stories that shaped him, inviting guests to experience his Key West through historic locations, songwriter performances, walking tours, storytelling and community traditions.

For additional information and tickets, visit JustAFewFriendsKeyWest.com.
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Just a Few Friends is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jimmy Buffett’s Estate or Margaritaville Enterprises.

KEY WEST, FL — Artists of all experience levels are invited to grab their brushes, pencils, pastels or favorite medium and capture a piece of Key West during Painting Paradise: A Guided Plein Air Experience, part of the 2026 Just a Few Friends celebration honoring the life and legacy of Jimmy Buffett.

Co-sponsored by Keys Framing & Art Supplies, two intimate outdoor painting sessions will take participants to locations with their own connections to Buffett’s Key West story: Shrimp Boat Sound on Friday, September 4, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM, and Louie’s Backyard on Saturday, September 5, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.

The Shrimp Boat Sound session offers a particularly timely opportunity. With significant repairs to the historic waterfront building expected to begin, this may be one of the last chances for artists to capture the familiar structure as it appears today.

Each session is limited to just 20 participants and offers the opportunity to paint en plein air—outdoors and from life—surrounded by the scenery, history and island atmosphere that have long inspired artists, musicians and writers.

Participants may work in the medium of their choice, with paper/board provided. Finished works will be eligible for a $100 cash prize and will have an opportunity to be included in a special exhibit during the weekend celebration.

Registration is $20 per session, and space is limited.

Painting Paradise is part of Just a Few Friends Key West, taking place September 2–7, 2026, with concerts, storytelling, tours, gatherings and special experiences celebrating the music, places and people connected to Key West’s favorite son.
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For event information and registration, visit justafewfriendskeywest.com.

More information: www.justafewfriendskeywest.com

Link to printable schedule: https://bit.ly/JAFF2026Schedule
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“All events not affiliated with or endorsed by Jimmy Buffett’s Estate or Margaritaville Enterprises.”

KEY WEST, Fla. — The first Bubba Look-Alike Showdown, presented by Hogfish Bar & Grill, will take over the 200 block of Duval Street on Friday, Sept. 4, before Gary Roland and the Landsharks return to recreate the spirit of the legendary 1998 Meeting of the Minds street concert.
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Hosted in partnership with Sloppy Joe’s, Irish Kevin’s and Rick’s, the free outdoor celebration will run from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and bring together two tributes to Jimmy Buffett’s enduring connection to Key West: a new look-alike tradition inspired by one of his longtime local friends and a return to the Duval Street stage by the band that backed Buffett during one of the most memorable surprise appearances in Parrot Head history.

A Homage Rooted in Friendship

The Bubba Look-Alike Showdown was inspired by Hogfish Bar & Grill founder Bobby Mongelli, whose friendship with Buffett began more than 35 years ago.

Mongelli first entered Buffett’s Key West circle through Sunshine Smith, J.L. Jamison and the musicians working at Shrimp Boat Sound. The friendship continued through the late-night years at PT’s and, later, over seafood lunches at the picnic tables beside the shrimp boats at Hogfish.

Mongelli found inspiration for the contest in Key West’s Hemingway Look-Alike Contest and the way that tradition has introduced new generations to Ernest Hemingway. He believes a Jimmy Buffett look-alike event can do something similar—not simply by finding someone wearing the right mustache, sunglasses or flowered shirt, but by celebrating the many versions of Jimmy people remember.

Contestants may portray any age or era: the young musician who arrived in Key West in the early 1970s, the mustached pirate with a guitar, the barefoot island storyteller or the older troubadour who quietly returned to town, climbed onto his rusty red bicycle and revisited his old haunts.
Mongelli hopes the Showdown will grow into an annual Key West tradition celebrating the music, personality and sense of place Buffett shared with the world.

Local Buffett impersonator Caleb Hogan, creator of the daily tribute and cheeseburger show A Pirate’s Look Back, will open the program at approximately 5:30 p.m. and serve as emcee for the Showdown, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

Each contestant will introduce himself, pick up the guitar provided onstage and perform lip sync to a randomly selected Buffett song. A panel of local judges including Mongelli, Kit Carson (Sit With Kit), winner of last year’s Pencil Thin Mustache Contest and Tim Stockwell, 2024 Hemmingway look-alike champion, will narrow the field to three finalists before the Duval Street audience takes over and chooses the winner through live QR-code voting.

The first official Bubba will leave Duval Street with the Golden Coconut Trophy, ultimate festival bragging rights and a $1,000 cash prize. (register at www.justafewfriendskeywest.com)

Recreating a Legendary Duval Street Night

Following the Showdown, Gary Roland and the Landsharks will headline the evening with a concert honoring the night that forever connected the band to Jimmy Buffett and the Parrot Head world.

During the 1998 Meeting of the Minds convention, rumors once again traveled through Key West that “Jimmy’s in town.” That year, the whispers were true.

Buffett made a surprise appearance during the Landsharks’ Duval Street concert, stepped onstage with the band and turned the street into one enormous Key West sing-along. He famously told the crowd, “I told you I was here.”

Nearly three decades later, Gary Roland and the Landsharks will return to the Duval Street stage to recreate the energy and spirit of that historic performance. Gary will also be joined by special surprise guests for a concert that Buffett fans will not want to miss. Admission is free, standing only.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase from host bars Sloppy Joe’s, Irish Kevin’s and Rick’s. No outside coolers or alcoholic beverages are permitted.

The Duval Street celebration is part of Just a Few Friends Key West, held Sept. 3–7 to honor the life, music and Key West legacy of Jimmy Buffett.
More information: www.justafewfriendskeywest.com

Link to printable schedule: https://bit.ly/JAFF2026Schedule

“All events not affiliated with or endorsed by Jimmy Buffett’s Estate or Margaritaville Enterprises.”

KEY WEST, FL — The life and legacy of Jimmy Buffett are to be honored Sept. 3-7 in Key West, the place where the singer-songwriter developed the “tropical rock” style and carefree persona that made him a world-renowned musical icon.
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“Just a Few Friends Key West” is to feature events including a “second line” memorial walking parade, rollicking Party in the Park, concerts by Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band members and other musical friends, beach parties, insiders’ tales at the Chart Room Bar where he first performed locally, margarita-making classes, showcases by tribute bands, themed walking and trolley tours, on-the-water adventures, and other activities that recall the Key West lifestyle he sang about.

Buffett, who passed away Sept. 1, 2023, discovered the island in the early 1970s and lived there during some of his most productive years. Key West — and its characters, landmarks and freewheeling vibe — helped inspire some of his most enduring songs including the classic hit “Margaritaville.”

Many of his lyrics reference Key West locales like Fausto’s Food Palace, the Blue Heaven restaurant, and legendary bars Captain Tony’s and the Chart Room. In the mid-1980s Buffett launched the original Margaritaville Store in the island’s Land’s End Village — and what began as a laid-back waterfront enterprise grew into an empire.

“Just a Few Friends” begins Thursday, Sept. 3, with events including Tails from the Chart Room, a “Cheeseburger Beach Battle” competition and oceanfront concert, and an after-party at the Margaritaville Café starring Coral Reefer vocalist Nadirah Shakoor.

Friday, Sept. 4, includes the City of Key West’s “Jimmy Buffett Day” proclamation ceremony outside his Shrimp Boat Sound recording studio — and a behind-the-scenes look at filmmaker Michael Kirk’s documentary-in-progress on the famed studio. That evening, Gary and the Landsharks — who backed Buffett during his surprise 1998 Duval Street concert — will return to re-create the spirit of that memorable performance following a Bubba Look-Alike Showdown, where contestants can channel Buffett’s signature look and stage presence for a chance to win a $1,000 prize.

Saturday, Sept. 5, features activities including a waterfront sunset concert by surf-rock storytellers The Wheeland Brothers, a series of sunset sailing cruises, and two margarita bar strolls — one on Duval Street and the other in the colorful Historic Seaport district. Each is a lively tasting tour that features 10 bars eager to prove they make the island city’s best margarita.

The festival highlight is the Second Line Memorial Walking Parade, a joyful procession for fans of Buffett’s music and fun-loving attitude. Beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, in the 100 block of Duval Street, the march features strolling musicians, colorfully garbed participants, giant Buffett photo banners and impromptu singalongs.

Marchers will proceed up Duval Street, stop at the original Margaritaville Store and Margaritaville Café, to the Truman Waterfront Park for the exuberant Party in the Park celebration.

Set for 6-10 p.m. Sunday, the free-admission gathering features nonstop live music by talents including longtime Coral Reefer Mac McAnally; Will Kimbrough, co-writer of Buffett’s posthumous hit “Bubbles Up”; and Florida Keys trop rocker Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band. Among other planned attractions are a pop-up food court, artisan booths and sunset viewing from the park.

The festival concludes on Labor Day — Monday, Sept. 7 — with events including two performances by Kimbrough, a “pencil thin mustache” contest, sailing cruises and a waterfront sunset concert by Cayman and the Mango Men that evokes the spirit of Key West’s Buffett era.

In the true spirit of Buffett’s commitment to giving back, the festival supports the Key West community. Souvenir badge contributions have raised more than $75,000 for local causes the past two years, with proceeds benefiting Reef Relief, the Bahama Village Music Program and scholarships for local students through the nonprofit Community Foundation of the Florida Keys.

Jimmy Buffett drew on the island’s influence to create the tropical mystique that flavored his music throughout his life. Fans are invited to celebrate the man and the mystique on the island that inspired both — during “Just a Few Friends Key West.”

More information: www.justafewfriendskeywest.com
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Link to printable schedule: https://bit.ly/JAFF2026Schedule
 
“All events not affiliated with or endorsed by Jimmy Buffett’s Estate or Margaritaville Enterprises.”

KEY WEST, KEY WEST, FL — Just a Few Friends Key West will present its signature Party in the Park on Sunday, September 6, from 6–10 PM at Truman Waterfront Park. The free, family- and pet-friendly waterfront celebration will feature performances by Mac McAnally, Will Kimbrough and Howard Livingston & the Mile Marker 24 Band.

The evening begins with the Second Line Memorial Parade. Participants will gather beginning at 4 PM in the 100 block of Duval Street before stepping off promptly at 5 PM. Led by Howard Livingston, Will Kimbrough and special guests, the procession will travel five blocks up Duval Street, turn onto Southard Street and continue to Truman Waterfront Park, arriving around 6 PM as the music begins.

Costumes, decorated parasols, placards, banners, bubbles and tropical attire are encouraged.

MUSIC WITH A DEEP CONNECTION
Howard Livingston & the Mile Marker 24 Band open the stage at 6 PM. Livingston’s music has become a soundtrack for island living, capturing the humor, heart and laid-back character of the Florida Keys. His role leading the Second Line makes for a natural transition from the streets of Key West to the waterfront stage.

At 7:15 PM, acclaimed singer-songwriter, producer and guitarist Will Kimbrough will perform. Kimbrough’s creative partnership with Jimmy Buffett produced some of the most meaningful songs from Buffett’s later years, including “Bubbles Up,” “Nobody from Nowhere,” “Wings,” “Piece of Work” and “Soulfully.”

Mac McAnally takes the stage at 8:30 PM. A longtime Coral Reefer, producer, songwriter and one of Buffett’s closest friends and musical collaborators, McAnally’s voice and guitar can be heard throughout Buffett’s catalog. The ten-time CMA Musician of the Year has spent decades helping shape the music that continues to connect this community.

“Party in the Park is the moment when the entire weekend comes together,” said event producer Jill Snodgrass. “The parade, the music, the food, the sunset and the memories all meet in one place. Having Howard, Will and Mac share this stage creates a direct connection to the Keys, the songs and the friendships we’ve gathered to celebrate.”

FOOD TRUCKS, FESTIVAL BARS AND LOCAL SHOPPING
Guests are encouraged to make dinner at Party in the Park part of their plans. A waterfront food court will feature food trucks and local vendors serving a broad selection of full meals, snacks and desserts.

Expected offerings include barbecue, Argentinian specialties, pizza, fritters, sliders and sandwiches, fresh fruit and juices, breads and dips, chips and salsa, mini donuts, popsicles and other desserts. Most vendors will accept cash and credit cards.

A large full-service bar and a satellite bar for Ultimate and Best Friends will serve beer, wine, cocktails, Milagro Margaritas, Lucky One Vodka Lemonade and First Legal Rum tropical cocktails.

Guests may also browse a Key West Artisan Market pop-up featuring local artists, makers and independent merchants. Just a Few Friends will operate an official merchandise booth at Party in the Park and other signature festival events with a limited supply of exclusive festival merchandise.

Festival photo opportunities and selfie stations will be located throughout the park.

COMPLIMENTARY WATER AND PHONE CHARGING
The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority will provide a complimentary refillable water station. Guests are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles.
Keys Energy Services will offer a complimentary onsite charging station for mobile devices.

SEATING AND ACCESS
Party in the Park takes place on the waterfront lawn at Truman Waterfront Park, not inside the amphitheater.

Ultimate Friend VIPs will have a reserved front section with chairs, followed by reserved seating for Best Friend VIPs. Event badge holders will have a dedicated lawn section and first access to chair rentals. General admission lawn seating will be available behind those sections.

Rental chairs will be available at two for $25 while supplies last. Guests may also bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. The lawn has naturally uneven terrain; additional accessibility information is available in the event FAQ.

A COMMUNITY MEMORIAL
Placards carried during the Second Line will form the backdrop for a spontaneous community Memorial Wall at the park. Guests may leave a sign, write a message, bring a small memento or pause for a moment of reflection.

As the sun goes down, complimentary LED candles will be provided so participants can light up the waterfront and lift one another up in remembrance and joy.

Those unable to attend may submit a message to [email protected] to be added to the wall.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
Just a Few Friends supports Reef Relief, the Bahama Village Music Program and scholarships administered through the Florida Keys Community Foundation for students pursuing music, music production, technical arts, marine science and conservation.

Representatives and information will be available during the event to help guests learn more about the organizations and their work.

BIKING AND TRANSPORTATION ENCOURAGED
Parking at Truman Waterfront Park will be extremely limited. Guests are encouraged to rent bicycles from Eaton Bikes, decorate them and walk them in the Second Line. Bicycle parking will be available at the park.

Those who drive must pay at the parking station and display the receipt on the vehicle dashboard. A designated rideshare pickup location will also be available.

The event is rain or shine unless conditions become unsafe. Coolers, outside alcohol, smoking, weapons and drones are prohibited. Well-behaved pets must remain leashed.

OFFICIAL AFTER-PARTY AT HISTORIC POST 168
Following Party in the Park, guests can take a two-block walk to historic William Weech American Legion Post 168, 803 Emma Street, for Bubba’s Official After Party from 10 PM to midnight.

Pianist, vocalist and interactive entertainer Aaron Luka will present “Songs We Know by Heart,” an audience-request sing-along featuring Jimmy Buffett favorites, Trop Rock classics and familiar island songs.

The free after-party offers air conditioning, comfortable seating, a dance floor, restrooms and inexpensive drinks.

Admission to Party in the Park and the official after-party is free. For the complete schedule, accessibility details, transportation information and event policies, visit JustAFewFriendsKeyWest.com.

ABOUT JUST A FEW FRIENDS KEY WEST
Just a Few Friends Key West is an annual Labor Day weekend gathering celebrating the music, memories, friendships and generous spirit that continue to connect fans with Key West. The multi-day festival includes live music, storytelling, island excursions, competitions, charitable activities and the Second Line Memorial Parade.

KEY WEST, FL — Just a Few Friends is calling on locals and visiting fans to help welcome guests and bring its annual Labor Day weekend celebration to life September 3–7 in Key West.

Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the weekend, from greeting guests at Festival Headquarters and hosting stops along the Margarita Bar Stroll to helping guide the Second Line Memorial Parade and checking credentials at Party in the Park.

“Our volunteers are a huge part of what makes this celebration feel so welcoming and distinctly Key West,” said organizer Jill Snodgrass. “They give their time because they love this community, understand what the weekend represents and want to help us support the local charities at the heart of it. We truly could not do it without them.”
Available assignments include Festival Headquarters from noon to 3 p.m. daily Thursday, September 3, through Monday, September 7; Cheeseburger on the Beach from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, September 3; the Duval Street Party from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, September 4; the Margarita Bar Stroll from 1:45 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, September 5; and the Second Line Memorial Parade beginning at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, September 6.

Party in the Park volunteers are also needed Sunday evening, with most shifts running from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. These volunteers will primarily staff entrance points, welcome guests and check VIP credentials and souvenir charity Event Badges. Additional assignments are available for setup, guest information, the Memorial Wall, backstage access, volunteer relief and breakdown.

Every volunteer will receive a complimentary 2026 souvenir charity Event Badge, a $35 value, to keep or share with a friend. The badge includes special benefits throughout the weekend.

Just a Few Friends is different from a typical festival. Many of its signature events are free and open to everyone, while fundraising benefits Reef Relief, the Bahama Village Music Program and scholarships for local students through the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. Volunteers help make those free community events possible while creating the friendly, personal guest experience for which the celebration has become known.

Volunteer assignments and registration are available at https://bit.ly/JAFFVolunteers .
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Just a Few Friends takes place September 3–7, 2026, and honors Jimmy Buffett’s life, music and enduring connection to Key West through live music, storytelling, local history and charitable giving.

KEY WEST, FL — A historic music hall that once welcomed legends including James Brown, B.B. King, Otis Redding, Etta James and Key West's own Coffee Butler will once again fill with music during Labor Day weekend as historic William Weech American Legion Post 168 hosts the official Friends of Bubba After Party for the 2026 Just a Few Friends Key West festival.

Following the festival's signature free Party in the Park concert featuring Coral Reefer Mac McAnally on Sunday, September 6, pianist, vocalist and interactive entertainer Aaron Luka will lead "Songs We Know By Heart," an audience-request sing-along celebrating Jimmy Buffett favorites, Trop Rock classics and the island songs that have become the soundtrack of generations of Parrotheads.

Luka's musical career spans jazz, dueling pianos, live piano karaoke and interactive performances that turn complete strangers into a room full of friends. Rather than a traditional concert, he'll take requests throughout the evening, inviting everyone to sing along.

Buffett fans may appreciate another connection. Early in his career, Luka crossed paths with original Coral Reefer guitarist Roger Bartlett while performing in North Carolina, where Bartlett served as music director for the musical The Cowboy Café. Years later, those musical paths come full circle during a weekend dedicated to celebrating Jimmy Buffett and the musicians who helped create his unmistakable sound.


The venue itself tells an important story.
Built in 1951 by local Black veterans, American Legion Post 168 became known for generations as Key West's "Black Town Hall." As a stop on the historic Chitlin' Circuit, it welcomed many of the era's greatest performers like Brown, Redding, Sam Cooke and BB King, while serving as a gathering place for veterans, families and the Bahama Village community—a musical legacy that continues to seven decades later.

Today, thanks to the efforts of American Legion Post 168, the Key West Cultural Center & Veterans Museum, and dedicated local musicians and supporters, live music has returned to that storied stage. Once again, the hall has become a place where artists gather, collaborate and celebrate Key West's rich musical heritage, making it a fitting setting for this year's official Friends of Bubba After Party.

The connections in this neighborhood community run deep. Just around the corner, the Bahama Village Music Program—one of the three charitable beneficiaries of Just a Few Friends—has spent more than two decades providing free music education to neighborhood children. Among its proudest moments was welcoming the late Robert , Jimmy Buffett's beloved steel pan virtuoso and longtime Coral Reefer, who performed with the students, generously supported the program and inspired a new generation of young musicians.

Following an evening outdoors at Truman Waterfront Park, guests will appreciate the comfort of Post 168's cold air conditioning, dance floor, comfortable seating, real restrooms and inexpensive drinks. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy one of the many food trucks at Party in the Park before making the short walk to the after-party.
Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

For the complete schedule of events, visit www.JustAFewFriendsKeyWest.com

About Just a Few Friends
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Just a Few Friends is an annual Labor Day weekend celebration in Key West honoring the music, memories, friendships and generous spirit that continue to connect fans with the island. The five-day gathering includes concerts, storytelling, island excursions, competitions, charitable activities and the Second Line Memorial Parade through Key West.

KEY WEST, FL — The fate of Jimmy Buffett’s iconic, windowless recording studio at the Historic Seaport took a major step forward this week. At its July 15 meeting, the Key West Bight Management District Board voted 4–1 to recommend a comprehensive lease package for the historic Shrimp Boat Sound facility on Lazy Way Lane.

The approved recommendation would hand the reins to David Bernsen dba Shrimp Boat Sound Key West, LLC under a 10-year initial term featuring two five-year renewal options. The unified vision aims to fully restore the concrete structure into a functional working studio, an interactive music museum, and a small, 20-seat outdoor tropical drink and margarita bar.

While the advisory board’s approval marks a major milestone, the deal is not finalized. According to sources close to the matter, the lease language is now being fast-tracked for placement on the full Key West City Commission and Caroline Street Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency calendar for a definitive vote this August.

The “Lost” Tracks and the Coral Reefer Connection
Beyond the physical restoration of the building—which was completely emptied of its instruments and vintage Neve mixing console by the Buffett estate last year—the boardroom discussions dropped a major revelation for music fans.

Official Request for Proposals documentation confirms the existence of a treasure trove of unreleased, archival Jimmy Buffett master tracks recorded at the studio over the decades.

This revelation ties directly back to Buffett’s longtime musical director and Coral Reefer Band leader, Mac McAnally. McAnally, who co-produced Buffett’s final 2023 studio album, Equal Strain on All Parts, has been quietly working in step with the estate to preserve Jimmy’s sonic legacy.

While McAnally has not publicly announced a track list or release date (though rumor has March 2027 as a projection), the city paperwork legally binds the project together: if and when these archival master recordings are commercially mixed and released, a dedicated portion of the studio’s streaming and sales royalties will be funneled directly back into Key West community charities.

Who is David Bernsen?
To the public, David Bernsen has been affectionately dubbed by locals as the “barefoot idealist with a real estate portfolio, trailed by troubadours and true believers.” Behind the laid-back island moniker, however, is a sophisticated operator with deep roots in technology, hospitality and entertainment.

Hospitality Roots
Bernsen is well known in the Duval corridor as the former majority owner of the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, a local live-music hub that anchors the annual Key West Songwriters Festival.


Gaming and Tech Executive
Nationally, Bernsen serves as a principal executive for the Las Vegas-based Global Wagering Group LLC, directing advanced digital infrastructure and pari-mutuel wagering technologies for the international horse racing industry. Under David A. Bernsen LLC, he is also a prominent thoroughbred racehorse owner, campaigning stakes winners across the American racing circuit.


The Inside Track
What ultimately won Bernsen the lease over competing corporate bids was his personal equity with Buffett’s inner circle. Rather than approaching the Bight as a standard developer, Bernsen secured direct, written backing from McAnally, country stars Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown, and Buffett family members including daughter Savannah and sister LuLu.

What Happens Next
By structure, Bernsen’s operating model ensures that while the outdoor margarita bar handles standard commercial overhead, 100% of the profits generated by the recording studio will go straight to local Key West nonprofits—a structure many locals hope the City Commission will enthusiastically lock in next month.

Reality Check for Fans
Even if an agreement is signed, the facility is months – if not years even – away from fruition. Extensive renovations will be required with each step mired in city and HARC processes and approvals. Stay tuned for updates.

Read our original story here ==> https://www.justafewfriendskeywest.com/post/7-14-26-update-from-just-a-few-friends

Key West, FL — Before the music fills the streets and old friends reunite, a small group gathers outside an unassuming white building along Key West's Historic Seaport. There are no flashing lights, no grand stage and no admission gate. To someone passing by, it could easily be mistaken for another waterfront warehouse.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

For nearly four decades, Shrimp Boat Sound quietly became one of the most respected recording studios in America. More than thirty albums were recorded or mixed within its walls, and some of the biggest names in country and popular music found their way to the little building tucked beside Lazy Way Lane. It was here that Jimmy Buffett escaped the pressures of Nashville and Los Angeles to create music on his own terms. It was also here that artists including George Strait, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Old Dominion, Toby Keith, Billy Corgan, James Slater, Mac McAnally and members of the Coral Reefer Band discovered that there was something about recording in Key West that simply couldn't be duplicated anywhere else.

The story Begins in 1986
At the end of a tour in Hawaii, Jimmy Buffett announced he was going to open a little restaurant in Key West called Margaritaville. He brought one of his most trusted road crew members, John Lynch "J.L." Jamison, south to help make it happen. J.L. stayed at Jimmy's house while they got started, but Buffett soon had to leave town. Before he left, he introduced J.L. to his landscaper, Bobby Mongelli.

"Show him around."

Mongelli did exactly that.

Long before Hogfish Bar & Grill and Roostica made him one of Key West's best-known restaurateurs, Bobby introduced J.L. to the island that would become his home for nearly forty years. By the time Buffett returned, J.L. was already beginning to feel like a local. Together, Jimmy and J.L. opened Margaritaville, with J.L. booking bands, running sound and handling just about anything else that needed to be done.

That same year, Buffett leased an old shrimp ice house from Singleton Enterprises near the working waterfront. The plain concrete building hardly looked like the future home of a legendary recording studio, but Jimmy saw something others didn't. He envisioned a place where musicians could slow down, play together, and make records without the distractions of the commercial music industry.

Shrimp Boat Sound was Born
J.L. soon transitioned from Margaritaville to managing the studio, a role he would hold for every Jimmy Buffett album recorded there. If Jimmy Buffett was the creative force behind Shrimp Boat Sound, J.L. became its caretaker. He maintained the equipment, welcomed artists, solved problems before anyone knew they existed, and made sure the music always came first.

The studio itself reflected Jimmy's personality as much as his music.

The property stretched beyond what visitors see today. Trees and old shrimp nets screened the building from view. An abandoned satellite dish became a goldfish pond. There was a barbecue pit, a horseshoe pit, a wandering peacock, a pet goat and a steady stream of musicians, friends and neighbors stopping by.

Behind the studio, Lazy Jake Fisher watched over the property while running his hammock business along what is now Lazy Way. According to J.L., Jake once hid an extension cord beneath a homemade speed bump, "borrowing" electricity from the studio for years before anyone realized what he had done.

When recording sessions wrapped, the celebrations often continued offshore. Buffett and the musicians would load into a flotilla of boats and head for Ballast Key, where longtime friend David Wolkowsky, founder of the Pier House and the infamous Chart Room, welcomed them to his private island retreat. Albums were celebrated the same way they had been created—with good friends, good stories and the understanding that music was only one part of a much larger life.

Inside the control room sat the heart of the studio; a vintage 1969 Neve mixing console once owned by Gordon Lightfoot. Engineers revered it for its unmistakable analog warmth, while J.L. took pride in keeping every switch, meter and channel strip working exactly as intended. Around the room hung Jimmy's recording awards, a replica of the Hemisphere Dancer, a campaign poster from Kinky Friedman's run for Texas governor, and Jimmy's own high school graduation portrait. Shrimp Boat Sound never felt like a commercial studio. It felt like Jimmy's living room—if your living room happened to produce platinum records.

Word spread through the music industry. Among the artists who fell in love with Shrimp Boat Sound was George Strait. He became one of the studio's biggest champions, often escaping Nashville to record in Key West, where the climate offered relief from the allergies that plagued him back home.

Artists worked differently there. Entire bands recorded together in the same room, feeding off one another's energy rather than piecing songs together one track at a time. The result was music that sounded less manufactured and more alive.

No one imagined it would ever end.

After Jimmy Buffett's passing, the equipment inside Shrimp Boat Sound was sold to a single buyer. The Neve console was removed. Jimmy's microphone found a new home. The walls that had witnessed decades of creativity suddenly became quiet.

The last full album recorded before the studio fell silent was Shipwreck, by Key West singer-songwriter Cliff Cody. Describing the project as his love letter to the island, Cody invested his life savings into the recording. Wanting to honor Buffett's legacy, he asked to sing every vocal through Jimmy's personal microphone. For the album's final track, he chose his favorite Buffett song, A Pirate Looks at Forty. Only after the sessions were complete did he learn that Shipwreck would become the final full-length album recorded at Shrimp Boat Sound.

Shrimp Boat Sound is more than the place where the festival begins; it becomes a thread that runs throughout the weekend. The Jimmy Buffett Day Proclamation opens the celebration outside its doors, where Cliff Cody comes full circle to perform Rest in Paradise. Sean K's walking tours invite guests to explore the neighborhood that shaped Jimmy's life, while filmmaker Michael J. Kirk shares the ongoing story of the studio through his documentary project, Shrimp Boat Sound: Echoes From the Edge, during a special presentation at Williams Hall. Volunteers will lend a hand during the annual waterfront cleanup, runners and walkers will pass along historic Lazy Way in the 5k, and artists participating in Painting Paradise will preserve the studio in watercolor, capturing not only an iconic landmark but a moment in time before its next chapter begins.

Following Jimmy Buffett's passing, Shrimp Boat Sound became an unlikely place of pilgrimage. Fans from around the world covered the studio with handwritten notes, flowers, photographs, guitar picks and thousands of stickers, creating one of the most heartfelt tributes Key West has ever witnessed.

That is the moment preserved on this year's official Just a Few Friends Charity Badge. Whatever the future holds for Shrimp Boat Sound, the building is expected to undergo significant renovation, making the image on the badge a lasting reminder of a chapter in Key West history that can never be recreated.

Today, two proposals envision new life for Shrimp Boat Sound. Whether it once again becomes a working recording studio, evolves into a museum celebrating Jimmy Buffett's extraordinary musical legacy, or finds another purpose entirely, its future remains uncertain.

Its legacy does not.

Every Labor Day Weekend, friends still gather here. They remember the music. They share stories. They experience the people who made this remarkable place so special.

Jimmy Buffett once wrote, "Some of it's magic. Some of it's tragic."

Standing outside Shrimp Boat Sound, it's impossible not to realize he understood both.