The city of Mobile, founded in 1702, sits at the head of Mobile Bay on the Gulf Coast and serves as the regional hub for much of southwest Alabama.
Mobile’s Mardi Gras season is famous for its mystic societies, whose masked members roll through downtown streets each year tossing moon pies and trinkets from towering parade floats. Alongside the parades, those same societies host elaborate formal balls, invitation-only affairs long associated with exclusivity.
Mobile has a population of roughly 188,000 residents and is the seat of Mobile County, one of the largest counties in the state by population.
A trio of local music and arts professionals is offering an alternative this year with the sixth annual M.O.O.R.E. Masquerade Ball at Azalea Manor, a two-day event built around original local music, visual art and an open-door philosophy.
The Port of Mobile, operated by the Alabama State Port Authority, is one of the largest seaports in the country by tonnage, handling containers, coal, steel and forest products.
The event is the brainchild of Ryan Maness, Wes Isherwood and Aaron Rudzinsky, three fixtures of Mobile’s music and entertainment scene who say they created M.O.O.R.E. after noticing how selective some traditional Mardi Gras balls could be about who was welcome inside.
Downtown Mobile has been the focus of significant redevelopment in recent years, with new apartments, restaurants and event venues reshaping the Central Business District.
“The first ball that I went to, some friends of mine, who would typically not be allowed at the event, came with us,” Maness said. “I just saw the reaction on everybody’s face, and it felt like some kind of game, where they were keeping up appearances.
The University of South Alabama, Spring Hill College and the University of Mobile anchor the city’s higher education landscape.
Background and Context
Really, they only wanted certain people there. So, I felt like the M.O.O.R.E.
Mobile’s Mardi Gras season, the oldest in the United States, draws visitors from across the country and provides a significant boost to the local economy each year.
could be something for everybody and anybody.” The founders also wanted to fill what they saw as a gap in the traditional ball format: original music performed by the artists who wrote it, rather than cover bands playing crowd-pleasing standards. “One of the things these Mardi Gras balls also don’t have is original music,” Rudzinsky said.
The city’s healthcare sector is anchored by USA Health, Infirmary Health and Springhill Medical Center, which together employ thousands of residents.
“You don’t see that. You see cover bands.
Mobile’s manufacturing base includes shipbuilding at Austal USA and Huntington Ingalls Industries, as well as aviation manufacturing at the Airbus final assembly line in Brookley.
People like to go see a band where they can sing along to every song. That’s all well and good, but Mobile has a rich music and art scene that must be celebrated as well.
Local schools include Mobile County Public Schools, the city’s largest public system, along with a network of private and parochial schools.
Local Reaction
This fills that gap.” All three organizers have deep roots in Mobile’s creative community. Maness is the bar manager at Soul Kitchen and also runs the monthly Elements hip-hop showcase there.
Mobile’s history as a port city means that issues affecting the waterfront often take on outsized importance.
Isherwood has worked production for touring acts including Kung Fu Mama and Dumpstaphunk, along with numerous venues and festivals. Rudzinsky is a videographer who produced the television show “Just Live Music.” The three previously teamed up to launch the Deep South Music Festival, and organizing M.O.O.R.E.
The Mobile area is home to several historic neighborhoods, including Oakleigh Garden District, DeTonti Square and the Village of Spring Hill.
together, they said, grew naturally out of years of collaborating on projects meant to spotlight the local scene. “We’ve been working together for a long time,” Isherwood said.
Sports are a major part of life in Mobile, with the Senior Bowl each January and a thriving high school and college football scene.
“We’ve all done various work both here and nationally, but we’ve always had this focus on our local scene and local community and trying to make something happen where we get the same people that we’ve worked with for 20 years now together in one place to all share the same feeling.” Music remains the centerpiece of the ball, which has built a reputation for booking strong regional and local talent, including at least one act from outside the Southeast most years. This year’s lineup leans heavily on Mobile-based performers.
Local media outlets covering Mobile include several television stations, daily and weekly newspapers, and a robust digital news ecosystem.
The Bigger Picture
Phunk Blue Moon, a live-instrument hip-hop group known for capturing the spirit of Mardi Gras well past Ash Wednesday, returns as the event’s first repeat act. Eric Erdman is also scheduled to perform, bringing along collaborators from his recent album release show at Soul Kitchen.
Mobile County’s population includes a significant African-American community whose history is tied to the founding of Africatown.
Also on the bill is Whiskey in the Weed, a project featuring Zach DePolo, Ashlea Penquite and Jordan Kimsey. Singer-songwriter Leland Clay will bring his own brand of homemade, offbeat music, and the Captains of Industry — guitarist Corky Hughes, keyboardist Chris Spies and drummer John Milham — will take the stage, with Spies staying on afterward to perform with the Chris Spies Trio.
Mobile’s economy also benefits from a robust tourism sector, with visitors drawn to the Gulf Coast, the city’s historic districts and its annual events.
Violinist Melody Duncan rounds out the musical lineup. Beyond the music, organizers are planning a heavy dose of visual spectacle.
The Mobile Bay region supports significant commercial and recreational fishing, with seafood harvested from local waters serving restaurants and markets across the South.
Isherwood and Rudzinsky will use video projection mapping to wash the exterior and interior of Azalea Manor in shifting, light-driven imagery, a technique more commonly associated with modern concert productions than Mardi Gras balls. A range of local visual artists will also display work throughout the venue; organizers say the invitation to participate was open to any interested artist, not limited to those already connected to the group.
Local government in Mobile includes a mayor-council form of government, a structure established by the Zoghby Act in 1985 that replaced the older commission form.
What Comes Next
“It was an open invitation,” Maness said. “It’s not just artists that we know personally, it’s people who knew about the function and wanted to be a part of it, which goes back to us wanting to have everyone involved and participating.” Ticket packages include a VIP option offering access to private restrooms, dedicated parking, bar deals and catering at Azalea Manor, with some VIP amenities tied in with Fat Tuesday.
Local officials have stressed the importance of community engagement as the situation continues to develop.
The organizers have ambitions beyond this year’s event. Rudzinsky said he hopes M.O.O.R.E.
Residents with questions or concerns have been encouraged to reach out to their elected representatives.
can grow into Mobile’s premier Mardi Gras ball, while Maness wants to eventually add nationally touring acts to the lineup. The group has also talked about getting attendees involved in the “People’s Parade” held on Joe Cain Day.
The story is one of several similar situations playing out across the region in recent months.
For now, though, the focus is on this year’s event. “There will be a lot of randomness brought to the mix by the patrons and artists themselves,” Isherwood said.
Anyone following local news will recognize many of the names and places involved.
“Expect the unexpected.” The sixth annual M.O.O.R.E. Masquerade Ball runs Feb.
Local civic organizations have begun organizing meetings to discuss the implications.
13-14 starting at 4 p.m. both days at Azalea Manor, 751 Dauphin St.
Business owners and residents alike say they will be watching closely.
Tickets are $10 per day, $20 for the weekend or $110 for VIP access, available at Azalea Manor or online at azaleamanormobile.com.
The situation underscores how decisions made at the local level can have far-reaching consequences.
Community leaders have called for patience and for a commitment to working through the issues in a transparent manner.
Several local churches and faith groups have offered to host discussions about the topic in the coming weeks.
Public comments at recent meetings have reflected a wide range of opinions.
Local reporters will continue to follow the story and to update readers.
Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to attend upcoming public meetings.
The outcome of the situation could shape similar discussions in other communities for years to come.
Local historians note that similar issues have surfaced in the past.
Area nonprofits and volunteer groups have stepped up to help residents navigate the changes.
Local businesses have begun adjusting their operations in anticipation of what may come next.
Looking Ahead
The story continues to develop, and residents across the region will be watching for additional updates in the coming weeks. Local reporters and community organizations will continue to track the situation as it unfolds, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available. Anyone with a direct stake in the outcome is encouraged to stay engaged with the public conversation through meetings, news coverage and direct outreach to local officials.