Fest’s musical message extends from Silverhill to Pensacola

Fest’s musical message extends from Silverhill to Pensacola

The annual celebration of the magic of musical prose continues for the 38th consecutive year during the Nov. 3-13 Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. Shows are scheduled at more than 20 venues from Gulf Shores to Pensacola.
Most shows are free; a few venues charge a modest cover fee. The festival is named after the late Frank Brown, who was night watchman at the Flora-Bama for 28 years before retiring at age 91.
Most FBISF concerts include at least three songwriters trading songs and telling the stories behind their lyrics in an intimate setting. And each FBISF venue will host a diverse lineup, with writers often sharing the stage, swapping songs, and turning some sets into spellbinding jam sessions.
From Gulf Shores, Orange Beach to Perdido Key and Pensacola there are so many wonderful places to view the Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival. Events will be held at Flora-Bama Central Church and three Flora-Bama stages, Perdido Key; Coastal art Center, Orange Beach; Fresh Off The Boat, Orange Beach; The Frog Pond, Silverhill; From the Ground Up Community Garden, Pensacola; City of Gulf Shores Public Library; Gulf Shores Museum; Hub Stacy’s, Innerarity; Johnny B’s – The Front Porch, Lillian; Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s, Gulf Shores; Moe’s BBQ, Orange Beach; The Oar House on Chico Bayou, Pensacola; Perdido Key Breakfast Club; Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach; Playa del Rio RV Resort, Perdido Key; Sandshaker at the Wharf, Orange Beach; Sunset Cork Room, Gulf Shores; The Point Restaurant, Innerarity; Saenger Theatre, Pensacola; Southwest Branch Library, Pensacola; Tacky Jacks, Gulf Shores; Woodside Restaurant @ Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores.
Special events will include an annual memorial concert, which this year will honor festival founder Joe Gilchrist, the late-great Flora-Bama co-owner who founded the FBISF in 1984 as a way to celebrate the end of the season with local artists, visiting Nashcats and other musical friends. The first official FBISF was held at The Saenger Theatre in Pensacola. Fest alumi include Mac Davis, Billy Jo Shaver, Tanya Tucker, Dean Dillon, Jason Aldean and Thompson Square.
Both Billboard and American Songwriters magazines have recognized FBISF as the granddaddy of songwriter festivals, and it’s been called one of the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society. For more fest info, visit FrankBrownSongwriters.com.