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More than 200 songwriters will share their music and the stories behind it at venues from Perdido Key to Orange Beach November 5 through 15.
The 42nd Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival will bring more than 200 songwriters and over 600 performances to venues along the Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast from November 5 through 15.
The 11 day festival is built around intimate performances where songwriters play original music and explain the experiences behind familiar songs. Many performances are free, while certain venues may charge a cover or require a separate ticket.
Festival Dates and Format
The festival runs Thursday, November 5, through Sunday, November 15.
Performances scheduled November 5 through 8 will be spread across multiple venues along the Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast.
From November 9 through 15, festival programming will be concentrated almost entirely at the Flora Bama, located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive on the Florida and Alabama state line.
The festival uses more than two dozen stages during its full run. Showtimes, songwriter combinations and venue requirements vary throughout the schedule.
More Than 200 Songwriters
The festival presents nationally recognized writers alongside regional and emerging musicians.
Unlike a traditional concert where the audience primarily hears finished songs, songwriter rounds often place several writers together onstage. Each performer takes a turn playing and discussing the story, inspiration or creative process behind a song.
That format gives audiences a chance to hear well known music in a smaller setting while discovering writers whose names may not be as recognizable as the artists who recorded their work.
The complete lineup and searchable schedule are available through the festival’s official website and mobile app.
Tickets and Cover Charges
Many Frank Brown Songwriters Festival performances are free.
Some host venues charge a modest cover, and selected performances may require advance tickets. The official schedule identifies ticketed shows when applicable.
There is no single festival pass required for every performance. Visitors should open the individual schedule entry for each show and confirm the venue’s admission requirements before arriving.
Food, drinks and parking are generally handled by the host venue and are not included unless a particular ticket states otherwise.
How to Build Your Schedule
The official festival schedule can be searched by songwriter or venue.
The festival also recommends downloading its mobile app for schedule updates and personalized performance reminders. Changes can occur because the event coordinates hundreds of performances across numerous stages.
Visitors who want to experience several coastal venues should focus on November 5 through 8. Those planning for the second week will find most performances concentrated at the Flora Bama.
Because individual rooms have different capacities, arriving early is important for free performances at smaller venues.
Parking and Venue Policies
The festival does not operate one central parking area. Parking, accessibility, age restrictions and food service depend on the individual host venue.
The Flora Bama has onsite parking, but availability can become limited during major festival performances. Other locations may offer private lots, paid parking or nearby public spaces.
Guests should confirm each venue’s policies before leaving, particularly for late evening shows or performances where seating is limited.
Why This Festival Is Different
The Frank Brown festival places the people who create the songs at the center of the experience.
For Pensacola and Perdido Key visitors, it offers a multiday live music event without requiring attendance at a large arena. Audiences can build an itinerary around free songwriter rounds, ticketed showcases, coastal restaurants and familiar venues along Perdido Key.
The festival also supports the Frank Brown Foundation for Music, which funds scholarships and music education programs.
Use the searchable official schedule to choose performers and venues, then check admission requirements again on the day of each show.
If this guide helped you plan your trip, you can support Must Do Pensacola by grabbing a sticker.
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