So here's the new official unofficial logo for the show on October 15th.
GULF SHORES, Ala. — Continuing their summer-long strategy of using big-name artists to draw visitors to Baldwin County’s beaches, local tourism officials on Wednesday announced that New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi and country star Brad Paisley would headline a pair of free mid-October concerts.
Planned for the same surfside site that in May hosted the three-day Hangout Beach, Music and Arts Festival, and in July brimmed with more than 30,000 for a Jimmy Buffett concert, Oct. 15 and 17 performances will bookend a weekend that also will feature the return of the Thunder on the Gulf powerboat races.
“We have been waiting for quite a while to follow the Jimmy Buffett concert — which was a phenomenal success for our community — with something of significance,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft. “We are proud, we are delighted and we are excited about the opportunity to host a large number of folks in our community on the beach and have a great time.”
In Bon Jovi, playing on a Friday night, and Paisley, who headlines the following Sunday, Baldwin’s beaches have landed two of the biggest draws and top-selling acts of their genres.
Bon Jovi has sold more than 120 million albums since debuting in 1984 with an eponymous album and becoming one of the biggest acts in the world with hit-laden multiplatinum follow ups “Slippery When Wet” and “New Jersey.”
Meanwhile, Paisley’s last 13 singles have all ascended the country music charts to No. 1. Stops on his current tour have been attended by more than 600,000 fans over three months.
A busy fall at the beach
Bon Jovi, Brad Paisley and boat races aren’t the only things on Baldwin County’s calendar this autumn. Beginning with the long Labor Day weekend, which will feature a John Mayer concert Monday night at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach and three nights of Cajun-inspired music and feasting at The Hangout in Gulf Shores, is a steady flow of special events. Among them:
Brett/Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon on Sept. 11.
23rd annual Coastal Cleanup on Sept. 18.
Hank Williams Jr. and Gretchen Wilson at The Wharf Amphitheater on Sept. 25.
39th Annual National Shrimp Festival at Gulf Shores’ main public beach on Oct. 7-10.
26th Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival on Nov. 11-21.
Start times for both shows won’t be determined until the opening acts are selected, said Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism President Herb Malone. But both will be in the evening, after each day’s racing has wrapped up.
“We hope to take advantage of the glorious sunsets we have here on the beach,” Malone said.
Like the Buffett concert, the aim of the October shows is to use some of the $15 million given by BP PLC to Alabama to help promote tourism and offset the company’s season-wrecking oil spill. As such, admission will be free.
But concertgoers will need tickets, the requirement being an effort by organizers to limit the crowds to the 35,000 or so people that Gulf Shores officials say that section of beach can safely handle.
Wednesday morning, area hotels, condominium owners, property management companies, campgrounds and others offering lodging were notified of the event, and allotted tickets to include in rental packages, Malone said.
“Today, the best way for a person to get a ticket: book a room,” Malone said. “That’s our primary distribution.”
A limited number of tickets also will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis to area residents from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11 at three south Baldwin County locations:
Gulf Shores’ Erie Meyer Civic Center, 1930 W. 2nd St.
Orange Beach Recreation Center, 4849 Wilson Blvd.
Foley City Hall, 407 East Laurel Ave.
Each person is limited to two tickets and must show valid government photo identification. For more information, visit www.concertsforthecoast.com.
“We fully expect to pack this island out, and have no reason not to,” Malone said. “I think it’s time we’ve had some fun; time we’ve had some good news.”
