The Wandering Minstrel: Katherine Archer at 33rd annual St. Augustine Lions Club Seafood Festival

“This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land, From California, To the New York Island…” The late Pete Seeger spoke to the hearts of America, young and old. Katherine Archer once performed with the great, senior folksinger at an environmental rally in New York and will be bringing her own brand of sassy, jazzy, bluesy love songs for planet Earth right into the crowds of festival-goers at this year’s St. Augustine Lions Club Seafood Festival.

“I’ve performed on stage at the Seafood Festival for the past few years but decided to take a cue from the medieval fairs’ wandering troubadours and take my music directly to the people. Particularly the kids.” Her repertoire of popular and original songs are from a variety of genres–blues, jazz standards, folk, rock, country and family & kid’s music. She regularly performs her “Educational, Toe-Tapping-Feel-Good Music with a Purpose” at schools, libraries, nature centers, churches and spiritual centers–any place folks and kids gather for a good time. “I just love being close and seeing the faces of children light up when you play a song – just for them. You can feel their boundless energy. There’s no bigger pay-day than the smile of a child. It’s so much different than being on stage.

Katherine is a consummate musician-songwriter and educator. She started playing guitar at age 12 and performing on stage at age 15. After touring parts of Europe, the UK and the States she settled in historic St. Augustine, drawn by the beauty and nature of the Sunshine State, where she also takes on the Seeger-message of being an environmental activist bringing awareness to Florida’s current water conservation movement. “Music can empower change. What the ears hear, the brain thinks, then the heart moves minds and attitudes.”

This is the 33rd annual St. Augustine Lions Club Seafood Festival happening Friday, March 21 through the 23rd at Francis Field, 25 Castillo Drive, next to the Visitor’s Center in Downtown St. Augustine. Stage music acts include: Bill Doyle Quartet featuring Linda Cole, Lonesome Bert & the Skinny Lizards, WestWend (from Knoxville, TN), Mayhem the Magnifico Magic Show, Go Get Gone and Collapsible B. The Arts & Crafts Village closes at Sundown. No pets or coolers allowed on festival grounds. $3 Adult Admission, Children 12 & under Free! Hours: Friday 3 – 9 pm; Saturday 10 am-9 pm; Sunday 11 am–6 pm. For details visit lionsfestival.com.

So when you visit this year’s family-friendly festival look for the smiling face of Katherine Archer meandering through the crowd, spreading her infectious energy and heartfelt message to the future stewards of our state. It’s a wonderful place to save.