Free Concerts At Gulf Place Kick Off Frank Brown Songwriters Festival Preview

K. Cooper • September 17, 2026

Gulf Place concert open to the public at no charge

Gulf Shores Sunset Series

Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) —  The City of Gulf Shores will host a free outdoor concert this evening at Gulf Place, 101 Gulf Shores Parkway. Tonight’s show is part of the city's annual fall Sunset Series on the Town Green. The event is the Frank Brown Songwriters Showcase, a preview of the upcoming Frank Brown Songwriters Festival, which takes place each November at venues across the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast. The concert runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and is open to the public at no charge.


The showcase is set for Thursday, September 17, 2026, beginning at 5 p.m. Three acts will take the stage throughout the evening, with the show wrapping up at 8 p.m. The Wilson Brothers will open the show, followed by Johnny Hayes and Nashville recording artist Craig Campbell.


Chad and Kyle Wilson, known professionally as The Wilson Brothers, will perform from 5 to 6 p.m. The brothers are born-and-bred Alabamians and award-winning artists and songwriters. They were born into a musical family and have toured extensively throughout the Southeast and abroad. They are currently performing along the Gulf Coast.


Johnny Hayes, an independent singer, songwriter, and artist from Mobile, Alabama, will take the stage from 6 to 7 p.m. Over his career, Hayes has written songs with songwriters including Aaron Raitiere, Jon Decious, Drew Nix, Eric Erdman, and many others. He has shared stages with major-label artists and bands such as ERNEST, The Red Clay Strays, Lukas Nelson, Band of Heathens, Them Dirty Roses, JJ Grey & MoFro, and Blues Traveler.


Hayes has earned several notable achievements in recent years. In 2017, he made the top 24 on NBC's The Voice. In July 2025, his single "Broken Bow," written with Kapali Long, placed second in the Alt. Country category of the Wide Open Country Song contest by American Songwriter Magazine. Also in 2025, Hayes was named "best male vocalist" by the Flora-Bama.


Nashville hit songwriter Craig Campbell will close out the night from 7 to 8 p.m. Campbell built his career on a string of hits, including "Family Man," "Fish," "Keep Them Kisses Comin'," "Outta My Head," and the gold-certified "Outskirts of Heaven." In 2020, he launched Grindstone Recordings.


Campbell released two projects in recent years. Last year, he released his Class of '89 album, featuring six classic country songs that reflect the core influences that shaped his desire to pursue a career as an artist and songwriter. He also released Almost Greatest Hits, a set of re-recordings of six of his biggest songs.


Sunset Series Showcase

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