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Creative Coast Concerts return to Matlacha

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Special to the Eagle Headlining the first of the season Olde Fish House Creative Coast Concert will be nationally acclaimed slide guitarist, Kraig Kenning who will be joined by the group Skinny Water and a special lecture from author Robert Macomber.

Patterned after the popular open air concerts once enjoyed in St. James City, concert organizer, Kip Lawrence is pleased to announce the resurgence of this old tradition as he presents the Olde Fish House Creative Coast Concert this weekend. On Friday, Jan. 8, everyone is welcome to bring a lawn chair and cooler to enjoy an evening of free entertainment at the Olde Fish House Marina in Matlacha. The festivities will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will kick off with a special presentation with Matlacha novelist, Robert Macomber.

The author of the “Honor Series,” Macomber will present a lecture on the tradition of “grog” in the British and American Navies. A traditional repast for sailors of yore, grog is a mixture of rum and water that was often spiced with cinnamon or nutmeg to enhance the flavor and was served to overworked and underpaid sailors in the late 1600s and early 1700s. This popular libation was also popular with pirates of the same era. Macomber will invite those attending to enjoy their beverage of choice while he offers traditional seagoing toasts. In addition, Macomber will have copies of his latest book “The Honored Dead” available for purchase. The Honored Dead finds Macomber’s character Lt. Cmdr. Peter Wake aboard a riverboat in the Mekong River on his way to deliver a message from the president of the United States to the King of Cambodia. During his travels, Wake encounters Chinese-Malay pirates, French gangsters and falls in love with a beautiful widow. The seventh in the Honor Series, Macomber promises the Honored Dead will surprise even his greatest followers. Macomber also will be happy to personalize any copies of his books which include; At the Edge of Honor, Point of Honor, Honorable Mention, A Dishonorable Few, An Affair of Honor and A Different Kind of Honor. His next novel, “The Darkest Shade of Honor” is scheduled to be released in March 2010.

The musical performances for the evening will commence at 6:30 p.m. with the headlining act, Kraig Kenning. Hailing from Chicago, Kenning is a national slide guitar champion. His musical stylings were inspired by legendary performers such as Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Bob Dylan and Jackson Brown. Performing contemporary folk, blues, rock and Americana melodies has earned Kenning national recognition and has played more than 200 dates spanning the country just last year. He also has received airplay on 40 radio stations nationwide and has sold more than 60,000 recordings of his six self-produced CDs.

Joining Kenning for the evening will be the latest rage to hit the streets of Matlacha, the new band “Skinny Water” fronted by Lawrence. Combining bluegrass with island music, the group refers to its style as “seagrass” music. The group consists of Lawrence on vocals and acoustic guitar, Bob Brandt on bass, Tim Kelly on percussion and Jim Seldon on dobro or slide guitar. Skinny Water is steadily gaining a following and can be seen every Monday evening at Miceli’s Restaruant in Matlacha.