Cross Canadian Ragweed, Mile 0 Fest Take Over Key West

As much of the rest of the United States was stuck fast in an ice storm, Key West, FL was set ablaze Tuesday evening (1-27) as Mile 0 Fest returned to their old tradition of opening the festival with a free street party on the island’s legendary Duval Street.

Cross Canadian Ragweed were billed as the headliners for the event. These days they’re being booked out at football stadiums as part of their Boys From Oklahoma gatherings, giving those who trekked down to the Conch Republic a unique opportunity to see them relatively up close and personal. It was officially/unofficially Mile 0 Fest in 2025 where Ragweed first took the stage after a 14-year hiatus.

Shelby Stone opened the festivities, and made a big impression, and not just from her blue hair. The expression “leave it all out on the stage” was coined for a performer like Shelby, who took her job of opening the show seriously, and whipped the audience into a frenzy, finishing accompanied by Josh Weathers, who was scheduled to play second.

Josh Weathers was able to make it to Key West, but his band wasn’t. Similar to Shinyribs and perhaps a couple of others on the Mile 0 Fest bill, they couldn’t make it due to inclement weather. But the good thing about Weathers is he can fill a room—or in this case, a street—all with just his voice and an acoustic guitar. The guy can sing just about anything, and did, from selections from his new album Neon Never Fades, to his famous covers.

Silverada all made it to Key West in one piece, and now featuring keys player Parker Twomey as a full-time member. They put on a hell of a show for Key West, and this was their official return to the festival after missing 2025, and being like the Mile 0 house band all the years previous.

Mike Harmeier also dropped the knowledge that Silverada has got a new album in the can for later this year. They also debuted a new song whose chorus went along the lines of, “You’re a highway man.” They actually been playing a few new songs recently. Stay tuned for more details.

One very Key West moment happened while Silverada was signing their signature song “Steak Night at the Prairie Rose.” Parrots were brought up on stage, first hanging out in front of Parker Twomey’s keyboards, and later perched on Mike’s shoulders (see video).

But Cross Canadian Ragweed is why so many had trekked to Key West. They came out to The Grateful Dead’s “Alabama Getaway” playing, and then launched into a choice variety of the band’s deep catalog. Frontman Cody Canada also took time in the middle of the set to pay tribute to Todd Snider, performing Todd’s song “I Believe In You.” They also invited the ‘Queen of Mile 0 Fest” Jamie Lin Wilson onto the stage to sing the signature Ragweed song “17.”

The penultimate song was pretty epic. It was of course “The Boys From Oklahoma,” but this version utilized the large level of talent that had assembled on the island for Mile 0 Fest. This included the Red Dirt Rangers, members of Silverada, Micky Braun of Micky and the Motorcars, Jason Eady, Graycie York who now sits in with CCR pretty much permanently, and others.

The party didn’t end there. Honky tonk hardliner Ellis Bullard held court on the stage of Durty Harrys, while Jamie Lin Wilson, Courtney Patton, and Heather Stalling on fiddle held court across the street at Irish Kevin’s into the later hours of the night.

There’s a whole week left of music to happen on Key West as part of Mile 0 Fest, with dozens of different venues and performance spaces being utilized all across the island—from beaches, to piers, to clubs and theaters, and the big headliners taking the stage at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater every night. But the party on Duval street that famously connects The Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico (America?) was one for the books, and worth the trip to Key West all on its own.

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