Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival has stood the test of time

Things looked a little bit different around here along the Alabama and Florida state line back in 1984.

“I can remember when places would shut down around the first of November,” Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival Director Andy Haynes said. “And they would stay closed until around March or April. We used to call this our shoulder season, but now we’ve become a 12-month destination.”

Flora Bama Lounge & Package co-owner Joe Gilchrist could no longer deny the untapped potential the off season could bring, and wanted to find a way to draw people in from far and wide.

“He created the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, and it’s the oldest Songwriters Festival in the United States,” Haynes said. “That’s a big deal. I’m not sure if we’re still the biggest, because Joe has traveled and helped others start Songwriters Festivals of their own.”

Hailed as the “Best 11 Days on the Gulf Coast,” manned by an impressive team of 150 volunteers, 175 Songwriters are expected to take the stage at a wide variety of venues, such as Flora Bama Lounge & Package, The Coastal Arts Center in Orange Beach, and From the Ground Up Community Garden, to name a few. Each venue brings its own unique aesthetic for performers and attendees alike.

“We’ve actually pulled back on the amount of venues and songwriters this year,” Haynes said. “While we want the festival to evolve, we also don’t want to lose the intimate atmosphere that’s created. We want to keep that.”

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Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival isn’t your average music festival. Songwriters will perform songs they’ve written, but they also have the opportunity to talk about the origins of the song itself.

“They’ll essentially tell you the story behind the song,” Haynes said. “You may recognize songs you’ve heard on the radio or through streaming, performed by others. So this event really highlights what we call the unsung heroes of the music business.”

Singer-songwriter Emily Stuckey, lead singer of the Krickets, is looking forward to her fourth Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival.

“It’s one of our favorite festivals to play,” Stuckey said. “The festival organizers go above and beyond to make sure we’re being taken care of and treated well. But what was also incredible, the first year we played, we were shocked at how many people rushed over to the stage at the end of our set. They wanted to get to know us and hear more of our stories.”

Stuckey knew she always wanted to sing.

“It does something special to me,” Stuckey said. “But I was really shy, so I didn’t pursue music. I didn’t start learning the guitar until I was 24, 25. I started writing lyrics when I was 19. I had all these bits and pieces of songs in my head and now I’ve been able to put them all together.”

It’s also not uncommon for artists to play new songs.

“We released a new single on Aug. 31 called ‘Pay No Mind,’” Stuckey said. “And we really want to thank everyone for their support. Without that support, we wouldn’t have been able to do any of this. It’s quite amazing, even to be playing in the same room with those who’ve written huge hit songs.”

Proceeds from the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival go directly to the Frank Brown International Foundation for Music.

“We’ve raised more than $250,000 to date,” Haynes said. “Part of our mission is to get kids to think creatively about music. Because when they think creatively about music, it’ll spill into their other academic endeavors.”

This year’s festival will also mark the second year without Gilchrist, who passed away in May 2022.

“We’ll continue to focus on honoring Joe’s legacy,” Haynes said. “I’ll continue to quote him on this, because he always said that music brings people together. And music makes the world a better place.”

Even though most concerts and shows are free, you may have to pay a small cover charge at select venues. For the full list of concert schedules, lodging info, and more, visit www.fbisf.com or call 850- 492-7664.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival returns Nov. 9-19