On the final Friday of the Andes Hotel’s Cans & Clams summer series, the flowers throughout the courtyard were in full bloom following a week that alternated between rain showers and sunshine. The weather provided a fitting welcome for Meghan Barter, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter who made the journey north from Key West, Florida, for a weekend of performances in the Catskills. A few passing sprinkles certainly did not bother the musician accustomed to a tropical climate, and neither did performing for audiences more than 1,500 miles from home.
Barter brought a beautiful balance of confidence and friendly humility to performances at the Andes Hotel, Oakley’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Grill in Arkville, and The Colonial Inn in Pine Hill. Her combination of original compositions and familiar covers created a relaxed atmosphere that kept audiences focused on her song after song. Her voice carries impressive strength when called upon, but she never seemed interested in overpowering a room. Instead, Barter allowed her storytelling, lyrics and natural interaction with the audience to draw listeners closer.
Asked how she developed such an accomplished musical foundation at a relatively young age, Barter explained that it began early. “I picked up the guitar at 10 years old and I learned on YouTube,” she said. After learning a few songs, she began busking at Mallory Square in Key West and spent roughly a decade as a street performer through her high school years. She later studied musical theater at the University of West Florida, earning her BFA in 2023 before returning her attention to performing full time.
Key West provided an unusual training ground. With multiple shifts of live music happening throughout the day and throughout the week, Barter found endless opportunities to develop her setlists, guitar playing and stage presence. After three years of performing full time there, she decided this summer to take her music on the road through Florida, Nashville, New England and New York.
Her first visit to upstate New York also supplied some unexpected inspiration. When asked what she would remember most about the Catskills, Barter pointed to a remarkable moment during her first performance. “It was raining the night of the first gig, but then the sun came out and there was a rainbow over the mountains,” she recalled. Barter responded by singing “Rainbow Connection,” turning a passing change in the weather into one of those spontaneous moments live music occasionally delivers perfectly.
She was equally struck by how closely Catskills audiences followed her original material. “The people up here listen with a lot of intention,” Barter said. That attentiveness was evident throughout the weekend as listeners responded not only to her covers, but to the stories and lyrics behind her own compositions. “I just appreciate that they like my originals and ask about my lyrics. That’s the greatest compliment!”
Those originals are increasingly becoming an important part of Barter’s career. Her EP “Human Jukebox” is approaching its first anniversary, with the title track earning Key West Song of the Year. The recording is available through major streaming platforms, while additional music and information can be found through her website. Barter has continued writing while traveling and is currently preparing more original material for future release.
The northern Catskills also offered another attraction for a musician escaping a Key West summer: cool evenings. Barter laughed about encountering a 68-degree night and immediately reaching for a sweatshirt and sweatpants. “I keep saying my goal in life is to be a snowbird,” she joked. “I noticed that everyone disappeared in the summer. Turns out they’re all up here!”
By the conclusion of her third performance, Barter appeared to have found more than cooler temperatures. Audiences warmly received her at all three venues, and the venue owners expressed enthusiasm about bringing her back. Barter seems equally interested in returning, perhaps during the fall or winter before another summer visit. “It’d be great to make it a regular stop on the summer tour,” she said. “Thanks for making me feel so welcome!”
Judging by the response Meghan Barter received during her first weekend in the Catskills, the welcome mat will be waiting.
Meghan Barter at Oakleys
