The city of Gulf Shores has launched a new music series in a new area for all to enjoy. Each Thursday at 5:30 p.m., the Waterway Village will come alive with music, food trucks and more. The series kicked off on March 7 with Matt Schofield and This Side of 49.

The Waterway Village Series, a six-concert series, is free to attend and runs through April 11. The concerts will take place on East 24th Avenue in the vacant lot west of ACME Oyster.

In addition to the bands and performers, a food truck will be present at each performance and the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber will be on-site selling beverages for all ages to enjoy.

The Waterway Village location is ideal as it provides residents and visitors with a variety of dining options from ACME Oyster House to The Sloop. The Gulf Coast Arts Alliance is extending its hours on concert nights so visitors can enjoy a side of local art with live music.

The 2024 Waterway Village Series upcoming lineup is:

March 14 – Frank Brown Songwriters Festival – Johnny Hayes and Jenna Mcclelland

Johnny Hayes
Johnny Hayes is a multi-genre artist and singer-songwriter who, before advancing as a Top 24 Finalist on "The Voice" and becoming a husband and father, lived in Nashville, Tennessee for five years. While in Nashville he wrote with countless songwriters, crafting his own style of writing and singing. In the last year, he has opened shows for Sugarcane Jane, JJ Grey and MoFro, Lukas Nelson and Band of Heathens.

Jenna McClelland
Jenna McClelland is from Mobile and is following in the footsteps of her father, Billy Earl McClelland, who was a singer and songwriter. McClelland has opened for several renowned artists such as Cody Canada, Joshua Ray Walker, Kristy Lee, Whiskey Myers, Bonnie Bishop and Ernie Halter. In 2022, she toured as a backup vocalist for country singer Elvie Shane. Recently, Jenna formed the Jenna McClelland Band, comprising of Travis Patch, Jared Messinger, Ryan Dreibelbis and Reed Gilmore. The band is working hard on a collection of songs that they have fine-tuned together and believe will bring authentic goodness to the world of songwriting and entertainment.

March 21 – Jamell Richardson and Joslyn & The Sweet Compression

Jamell Richardson
Jamell Richardson is a musician born in Meridian, Mississippi and raised in Butler, Alabama. He began playing the guitar at a young age and was inspired by church musicians. Over the years, he has shared the stage with many blues legends and won several awards. He is known for his soulful voice, Jimi Hendrix-style guitar tricks and incredible stage presence.

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression
After cultivating her dynamic voice and performance skills in backup roles and stage plays, Joslyn Hampton teamed with her stepfather, Marty Charters, to compose a captivating set of tunes and assemble an ace band. Joslyn & The Sweet Compression is made up of Kasym Moldogaziev on guitar, Isaac Stephens on trumpet, Tyler Papierniak on bass, Rashawn Fleming on drums, Trevin Little on saxophone and Sam Richardson on keyboard. Together, combine to deliver a hook-filled mix of funk and soul. A headlining favorite at regional clubs and music festivals, they are poised to engage fans across the country.

March 28 – Everette and Crawford & Power

Everette
Rooted in country, rock & roll, southern storytelling and heartland hooks, Everette is glued together by two Kentucky natives who write their own songs, play their own instruments, and proudly blur the boundaries between themselves and their audience. For the boys, music is all about community. It's about connection. That's why the duo's motto — "We are Everette" — isn't just a statement about the musical bond shared by bandmates Brent Rupard and Anthony Olympia. It's a reference to the communal bonds they share with their fans, too.

Crawford & Power
Crawford & Power, a dynamic duo from Southwest Virginia, is redefining the country music scene with their distinctive sound. Rooted in southern authenticity, Jake Crawford's commanding vocals seamlessly blend with Ethan Power's modern Dobro approach, crafting their own brand of Appalachian Red Dirt Country.

April 4 – Roie Ledet and Chubby Carrier

Rosie Ledet
Hailing from rural Louisiana, Mary Rosezla Bellard Ledet, known professionally as Rosie Ledet, has been a mainstay on the Zydeco scene for years, well known for her status as the top female in the genre, as well as for being one of the few remaining Zydeco artists to write and sing her own material in both Creole French and English. While Zydeco is often referred to as "blues with an accent," Rosie adds healthy doses of sass and sensuality to the mix.

Chubby Carrier
Raised in Church Point, Louisiana, Chubby was introduced to zydeco music as a young child. His father and grandfather were established zydeco musicians that Chubby would watch in awe during band practices. At 17, Chubby received a life-changing phone call from fellow zydeco musician Terrence Simien. Simien invited Chubby to Europe to play drums with his band as they opened 14 shows for legendary rhythm and blues musician Fats Domino. Chubby joined Simien and the Mallet Playboys full-time and was introduced to a world of zydeco appreciation that he never knew existed.

April 11 – Grayson Capps

Grayson Capps is an American and Blues Rock singer-songwriter. Hailed by NPR for his "unbridled energy and authenticity," Capps first emerged as a solo artist in 2005. His debut record, 'If You Knew My Mind,' earned rave reviews. American Songwriter declared, "Take the poetry of Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt, combine with Steve Earle's edgy attitude and stir with a little cup of the bayou-blues (think Howlin' Wolf) and you start to get a taste of Capps's scrumptious gothic gumbo." He has since gone on to release several similarly exalted albums that have earned him devoted followings in both the U.S. and Europe.

Food Truck Schedule:
• March 7 – Sugar Love Food Truck & Kona Ice
• March 14 – Arepa's Food Truck & Kona Ice
• March 21 – Beachin' Eats Food Truck & Kona Ice
• March 28 - Beachin' Eats Food Truck & Kona Ice
• April 4 - Arepa's Food Truck & Kona Ice
• April 11 - Sugar Love Food Truck & Kona Ice

All Waterway Village Series concerts are free to attend and family-friendly. Be sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets. For more information, visit www.gulfshoresal.gov/SpecialEvents or call (251) 968-1171.