The Sandbar at The River Pub in Bay Minette will once again come alive with original music this weekend as the River Rounds Songwriters Festival returns for its second year on Sunday, May 15, starting at 11 a.m. The all-day event brings dozens of local and regional songwriters together along the banks of the Tensaw River for a rotating series of performances, storytelling and community fellowship.
Tickets are $10 at the door for the festival, held at The River Pub, 7555 Cliffs Landing Road in Bay Minette. Organizers are expecting another strong turnout after last year’s inaugural festival drew a large crowd of music fans and songwriters to the venue’s scenic waterfront setting on the Tensaw River.
During that first festival, songwriters from a range of backgrounds took turns performing in rounds, sharing not just their songs but the personal stories behind them, while mingling with fans and fellow musicians well into the evening. Organizers say this year’s lineup will carry that same spirit forward with eight rounds of performances spanning nearly nine hours.
The day kicks off with Round 1 from 11 a.m. to noon, featuring Doc Leytham, Johnny Hayes, Wally Richerson and Gabriel Willis. Round 2, running from noon to 1 p.m., brings Mitch Swinney, Kalyn Muller, Christine Salter and Renee Amelia to the Sandbar stage. Johnny Barbato, Al P. McNab IV, Ric McNaughton and Aimee Tyree take over for Round 3 from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by Ed Adams, Chris Hergenroder, Ross Burroughs and Justin Hester for Round 4 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Cary Laine, Les Hall, Brad Lawley and Brittany L. Grimes perform during Round 5 from 4 to 5 p.m., with Harrison McInnis, Emily Stuckey, Scott Bottrell and Drew Nix taking the stage for Round 6 from 5 to 6 p.m. Round 7, from 6 to 7 p.m., features Rhonda Huete, Nori Hendrix, Steve Silcox and Michael Copenhaver, and the festival closes out with Round 8 from 7 to 8 p.m., featuring Madison Autumn Bolt, Mary Alice, Jesse Ledbetter and Brett LaGrave.
Beyond the music, the festival will double as a community fundraiser, with VFW Post 3568 on site raising money for its organization. Shotgun BBQ will be serving food throughout the day, Braided River Brewing Co. will have cold drinks on tap, and Perdido Vineyards will host a wine tasting session for attendees looking to sample local flavors between sets.
Organizers are encouraging music fans throughout Baldwin County and beyond to make the drive out to Cliffs Landing for a full day of homegrown songwriting, food, drinks and riverside scenery. With last year’s debut event drawing praise from both performers and attendees, the festival is quickly becoming an annual tradition for the Bay Minette music community.