What do Nashville entertainers and migrating sailfish have in common?

The 7^th annual Island Time Music and Fishing Fest.  This fun event features world-class catch and release sail fishing and top notch entertainment from Nashville Tennessee.  It all happens here in paradise.

Almost seven years ago, the Island Time Fishing Tournament and Country Music Concert, held its first event featuring an intimate evening with Nashville artist Phil Vassar who happens to have a personal connection with Isla Mujeres.  He was joined by entertainers and songwriters Tim Nichols, Tim Johnson, James Dean Hicks, Jon Stone and Nick Norman.  Recently renamed the Island Time Music and Fishing Fest, it has now burgeoned into a large music festival, with the added attraction of great fishing. 

Margarita Madness at the Soggy Peso 

In past years we have enjoyed the tequila-fueled entertainment of Jon Stone, Nick Norman and Lewis Brice during the wild Margarita Madness at the Soggy Peso Bar & Grill. This outrageously fun event has been relocated to a larger venue featuring six artists including the original three very popular guys.  Jax Bar & Grill was the original host restaurant for a number of years offering intimate concerts with the performers, and auctions of crazy items such as Reba McIntyre’s teeny-tiny autographed jeans. 

The bigger festival has necessitated a move to larger venues and also a change in ticket prices.  Because this is a charity event with the proceeds earmarked to help the local school for developmentally challenged children, the organizers are trying to keep the costs to a bare minimum.  The Little Yellow School House on Isla Mujeres began with one room, six students and a really big dream. The school now has six classrooms, full-time teachers and over 50 students, with fifteen more on a waiting list.

For the Music Fest the list of entertainers includes Kellie Pickler, Jerrod Niemann, Blackjack Billy, Love & Theft, Kyle Jacobs, American Young, Nick Norman, Natalie Stovall, Lewis Brice, Joal Rush, Hailey Steele, Rob Hatch, and islander Ryan Rickman.   Although the artists are generously donating their time, the non-profit society is responsible for covering expenses for travel, accommodation and meals.  Venue tickets per person for the 2016 events range from $199 for All Access Except the Opening Show to $249 for All Access Including the Opening Show at Casa Fenix.  (Food and beverages not included.)

Here’s the link for tickets:   http://www.islandtimemusicfest.com/#!events/c8k2

If you want to have a great time listening to current country hits, up close and personal with some of Nashville’s best talent – head to Isla. 

Sunrise - day one, boat captains getting ready to head out

Or maybe you actually want to go fishing; getting up before the crack of dawn to head out on the bumpy ocean and put squiggly wet things on sharp hooks to catch really big and hard fighting fish.  (You can probably guess, I won’t be doing that!)  In between the entertainment and the many cold beers, tournament competitors usually find time to go fishin’.  Trophies and bragging rights are awarded to the boats, anglers, and junior anglers with the most releases.

Whatever your choice, it's a fun way to enjoy a week in paradise and to give something back to the community.  

We’ll be waiting for you!

Cheers

Lynda & Lawrie

John & Betty Raimondo - a big thank you!

Get set for a week of world class singin' & fishin'

Sea Mistress - heading out for world class fishing

Holy cow! It's time for the 6^th Annual Island Time Fishing Tournament and Fiesta, a week of great entertainment and fabulous fishing. 

This year the fun begins with a special concert sponsored by Casa de los Sueňos on Monday February 2^nd, featuring a repeat festival favourite, Jon Stone, and his partner Kristy Osmunson. It's a dinner-auction-concert with tickets sold in advance. Limited supply - get yours now!

For the serious fishing-folks who are participating in the fishing tournament the Tuesday night boat registration and Captain's Meeting will again be held at Buho's on Playa Norte. 

After dinner performers Jon Stone and Lew Brice will be entertaining the crowd, and offering up auction items.

Margarita Madness at the Soggy Peso - Nick, Lew, and Jon

One of the biggest changes in the programming this year is the switch of locations for our favourite event, the-over-the-top-Margarita Madness traditionally held at the Soggy Peso Bar & Grill. This year it will be held on Wednesday Feb 4^th at Fenix Restaurant and Lounge, located at Playa Norte. This hugely popular show gets underway at 1:00 in the afternoon, with Jon Stone, Lew Brice, and Joal Rush providing upbeat tunes, and raunchy repertoire until around 5:00 P.M.

Thursday Feb 5^th the Little Yellow School House will host their traditional open house day at the school, with the students cooking up Mexican BBQ for visitors. It's a great opportunity to check out their outstanding efforts to educate local children who have physical, emotional, or learning disabilities. The funds raised at various events during the Island Time Fishing Tournament & Fiesta are donated to the Little Yellow School House. It's a win-win situation for everyone. The participants have fun and the school receives a large chunk of money to help with yearly operating expenses.

By Friday night, Feb 6^th, everyone will be ready to rock! This year the El Patio Restaurant & House of Music is hosting a big concert with a number of talented musicians including Natalie Stoval, Hailey Steele, Joal Rush, plus Jon Stone and his partner Kristy Osmunson performing as American Young. The fun gets underway at 7:00 in the evening, and I have no clue how late they will rock on! We might have to investigate – just research, you understand.

Getting ready to head out

Are you tired yet? Well, you are not finished yet. There are two more events to take in before the week is finished. 

The Saturday night official wrap-up at Buho's will feature the trophy presentations, dinner, and auction and more great tunes from Jon Stone, Lew Brice, and Joal Rush. I don't know how these guys can maintain their energy to entertain every night of the week.

Lawrie at disco dance with Ashley and her boots

And ta da – the finale! The traditional Disco Dance Party held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Sunday Feb 8th, at Brisas Restaurant on the beach. It's a celebration of the end of another a great event.

In between all of the entertainment, dinners, and auctions some people actually go fishing! Go figure! 

Why would you want to spoil a completely fun week by heading out at dawn, on a big boat, rocking and rolling in the waves, then stick cold squiggly things on sharp hooks, all just to catch fishies? Dang – some people just don't know how to have a good time.

Sailfish lure

Seriously, this is a great event that benefits many islanders. 

As one of our island “gringo” friends likes to say: “Come on down!”

Hasta Luego

Lynda and Lawrie

You can also find us on the web at:

Humerous stories about critters we have known:

http://animalsandfamilymembers.blogspot.mx/

AND

The Adventures of Thomas the Cat: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Adventures-of-Thomas-the-Cat-Las-Aventuras-de-Tomás-el-Gato

It’s all for a good cause

Wake up!  Time to go fishin'

I slowly pried my eyes open. The clock shows 5:15 - in the morning!  Sighing, I quietly fumbled my way out of bed in the pre-dawn darkness, trying not to disturb my spouse, who was still slumbering.  Dressed, but with no time to wait for the coffee maker to do its thing I snuck out the door and hailed a taxi.  “Marina Villa Vera por favor.” 


  

Songwriter and ITFF Director Jeff Outlaw sound checks

It’s opening day for the 2013 Island Time Fishing Festival and I promised to take photos of the boats as they head out for day number one of fishing. The things we agree to do when sharing a bottle of wine with friends…   All of the proceeds from this multi-day event go to support the island-based non-profit organization Help a Special Child Inc., (The Little Yellow School House), so yes this is all for a very good cause.

Nick Norman, Lewis Brice and Jon Stone at Soggy Peso

This year the entertainment line-up was as interesting and as talented as previous years.  Nightly concerts featured different entertainers upstairs at Jax Bar & Grill; Rivers Rutherford, or Wynn Varble and David Lee, or Craig Wiseman and Rodney Clawson.  

On Wednesday night E.G. Kight, a good friend of Jackie Walker and Michael LeFiles, presented a fabulous dinner concert.  She had so much fun she has offered to do a second concert on Sunday evening – admission by donation, to assist the Isla Animals Society.  Whew!  Such a lot of really talented and really generous people who are donating their time and talents.

How much am I bid for Nick's sweaty shirt?

We unfortunately missed the E.G. Kight concert due to the after-effects of the annual Margarita Madness Wednesday at the Soggy Peso Bar & Grill.

Returning favourites Nick Norman and Jon Stone, with the addition this year of Lewis Brice, rocked the Soggy Peso with their original compositions, and old favourites.  

Margarita Madness at the Soggy Peso

The party rolled on from two until five in the afternoon culminating with the auction of Nick Norman’s t-shirt; reportedly fetching a whopping amount of money.  This great group of guys will also wind up the Island Time Fishing Festival on Saturday night at the Awards Presentation.  It’s a sold out concert, but occasionally the fishermen are too worn out by a week of fun to attend.  So, if you are really, really lucky you might be able to snap up a spare ticket late Saturday afternoon.  Check with the staff at Jax.

Carnivore and Relax - heading out fishin'

And this year there are even more events to keep fishermen, their friends, and locals entertained.  The Hair of the Dog Poker Run, organized by the Isla Animals Society happens on Saturday afternoon.  

Then there is a wind-up Disco Party hosted by Brisas Restaurante and the Disco Queen herself Deb C, from four until seven on Sunday afternoon.   The disco dancers can then disco right on down the street to the E.G. Kight benefit concert at Jax Bar & Grill starting at seven-thirty in the evening.  

As the Island Time Fishing Festival website says: The Fishing is Legendary, and the Party Never Ends.

John & Betty Raimondo and friends

In between the entertainment, and the great dinners, and the many cold beers the competitors always find time to go fishin’.  This is a catch and release tournament – for trophies, and bragging rights.  Trophies are given to boats, anglers, and junior anglers with the most releases.  

And since it is a fishing tournament, in the middle of a music festival, our Texan friends cajoled me into taking photos of the sport fishing boats as they departed at dawn.

As I got in the taxi at 5:45 in the morning, I realized I was wearing one green sock and one blue sock with my sneakers.  That’s what dressing in the dark does for my personal fashion sense. 





But, it’s all for a good cause, a really good cause; Help a Special Child Inc., 
(The Little Yellow School House).

Relax - LED underwater lights on transom

                    

Great Music & Deep Sea Fishing



                   782 photos later, I think I got it! 

Nick Norman and Jon Stone at Soggy Peso

Mal Richards introducing singer Danielle Braund

I think I captured the essence of the Soggy Peso country music event on Wednesday February 15th. 

As part of the third annual Island Time Fishing Festival, that includes a fishing tournament and a fabulous line-up of country music stars, the Soggy Peso Bar and Grill once again hosted a fun-filled afternoon of music and laughter.  It's a great way to raise money to help support the Little Yellow School House charity.  www.Islandtimefishingfestival.com

The afternoon started off with a thirty-minute performance by singer-songwriter Danielle Braund.  

She had an opportunity to showcase her gorgeous voice and original material, singing just before Nick Norman and Jon Stone arrived to perform.  Danielle is originally from Ontario Canada.  She and her friend Kristi Kirik both worked with Lawrie at Hillside Estate Winery in the Okanagan Valley BC.  http://www.daniellebraund.com/



Nick Norman and Jon Stone performing at Soggy Peso



The two guys were fabulous - entertaining, joking with the crowd while singing non-stop.  Nick's a South Carolina Southern-Baptist boy who dreamed of playing his guitar instead of attending Sunday school.  His killer smile and bluesy raspy voice are beautiful compliments to the smooth guitar notes.  He calls his music country rock.   Check out Nick's website for more information about his music.  http://www.nicknormanband.com/    

Jon Stone of The Jon Stone Band is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based artist who performs tributes to country music outlaws of the 60's and 70's.  He pays homage to artists such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and David Allan Coe.   These two guys played together last year at the Soggy Peso, wowing the crowd with their music and humour.

http://www.jonstonemusic.com/home.cfm

Enjoying Danielle Braund's music at the Soggy Peso Bar

And tonight, Friday February 17th, the annual Carnival festivities rev up. One festival is ending, and the other is just beginning! 



Thank you! Sally and Mal Richards, Soggy Peso Bar & Grill