Kristin Key cracks up crowds with comedy and a guitar

Kristin Key, a Missouri-born, California-based comedian and musician, will bring her CA-CAW tour to Portland’s State Theatre on Oct. 8. She last visited Maine a few years ago when a cruise ship performance stopped in Bar Harbor due to a hurricane heading for Bermuda. Key said she loves Portland and Maine, crediting her understanding of the state to Stephen King. She also referenced Maine in her song “Lesbian National Anthem,” including a lyric about Burt’s Bees, and noted the company was founded in Maine. Viral clips have earned her more than 100 million views and just under 1.2 million followers. Key began blending guitar into her sets during the pandemic.