Songwriters Take the Spotlight at Annual Music Festival

The Gulf of Mexico and its white-sand beaches are the backdrop for the 29th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. Rated one of the top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, the Frank Brown festival showcases the talents of songwriters from around the world.

This year, the 11-day event runs from Thursday, November 7, through Sunday, November 17, and features more than 200 songwriters. They’ll be performing at multiple venues — from Perdido Key and Pensacola, Florida, to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama. The headquarters for the festival is the iconic Flora-Bama Lounge on Perdido Key.

The line-up of songwriters includes Larry Henley, who wrote the 1989 Better Midler hit “Wind Beneath My Wings”; Will Rambeaux, who wrote “Wild One,” performed by Faith Hill; and Brett Jones, who penned “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” sung by Justin Moore. Past performers include Earl Bud Lee, whose “Friends in Low Places” was recorded by Garth Brooks, and Steve Dean, who has co-written six number one hits, including “Walk On” for Reba McEntire and “Southern Star” for Alabama.

Named for the late Frank Brown, music lover and night watchman at the Flora-Bama for 28 years, the festival is unique in that it spotlights songwriters rather than performing artists, giving them their own opportunity to shine. And because most of the entertainment venues are small, they also have plenty of chances to interact with the audience and share the stories behind their songs.

For more information on the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival and lists of venues and entertainers, visit www.fbisf.com. Admission at most venues is free; some may have a small cover charge.

November is off-season at the beach, and plenty of vacation rentals are available at reasonable rates. For places to stay in the area, check out our listings of condos, beach houses, and hotels at Gulf Shores vacation rentals, Orange Beach vacation rentals, Perdido Key vacation rentals, and Pensacola Beach vacation rentals. And click on the links for Gulf Shores restaurants, Orange Beach restaurants, Perdido Key restaurants, and Pensacola Beach restaurants  for places to eat.