AFE: Battle of the Keys Down Under

Battle of the Keys Down Under will be touring with Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) this summer, as part of a recurring Battle of the Keys tour series. This live music show will feature artists Pamela Hopkins, a frequent AFE performer, alongside Marc Van Lue and Rory John Zak, both of whom have performed with AFE in the past as part of the Battle of the Keys series. The tour will perform two shows at military bases in Australia this September.

Pamela Hopkins plays piano, drums, cello, bass, and harmonica. She can recall more than 1,000 Top 40 songs from the 1950s to today. In addition to her past dueling piano tours with AFE, she performs weekly as a dueling piano player in Little Rock, AK. Hopkins travels throughout the year to perform with other dueling pianists and performs her original country music as a solo artist and lead singer of her band. She married her high school sweetheart, Jason, a disabled veteran who served in Iraq in 2004–2005.

Marc Van Lue was born in Las Vegas and moved to Kansas City, MO, at five. He was introduced to music by his mother, a classically trained pianist. While attending Missouri State University, he would sneak into the music hall between classes to play. He now plays in some of the most highly regarded piano rooms in the country.

Rory John Zak was born with a gift for piano in North Carolina, becoming the youngest full-time cast member in the Carolina Opry Theater’s history at 17. His Nashville connections allow him to write, play, and tour across the Southeastern states while releasing singles on streaming platforms and radio. Rory’s music melds his southern roots with coastal influences from his early years spent on the Outer Banks and beach life in South Carolina.

This tour is presented by AFE. Since 1951, AFE has been providing the best performances for U.S. troops and their families stationed overseas, and they are committed to boosting the morale and well-being of service members through world-class live events and performances.