Lawn chairs in the grass, coolers packed with snacks, kids and dogs weaving through the crowd and a band on stage as the sun drops behind the pines. That scene has made the Live at Five concert series at the Halstead Amphitheater one of Fairhope’s signature gatherings. Behind the lineup of national touring acts that have played the series is Ben Jernigan, a former paramedic turned music producer whose path to Fairhope ran through the Fillmore in San Francisco, a baseball star’s side project and a backstage meeting with the frontman of Blues Traveler.
The Live at Five concert series is produced by the Friends of the Halstead, a nonprofit organization, and profits support a grant program for aspiring musicians in the area. Heading into its eighth season in 2024, the series announced one of its most ambitious spring lineups, and Jernigan was the one who put it together.
An Outdoor Stage Among the Pines
The Halstead Amphitheater sits on the Fairhope campus of Coastal Alabama Community College, an open-air lawn venue shaded by tall pines and live oaks. Concertgoers bring picnic baskets and ice chests, spread out blankets and chairs, and spend a Friday evening listening to live music in a setting that feels more like a neighborhood party than an arena show.
People of all ages turn out, from families with young children to retirees, and dogs are a familiar sight on the lawn. The series has built a reputation as a wholesome, social way to start the weekend, and many attendees treat it as a chance to catch up with friends as much as to hear the music.
Fairhope itself is known for its arts culture, from its downtown galleries and its long-running Arts & Crafts Festival to its film festival and music venues. Live at Five has become part of that tradition, offering an outdoor stage that draws visitors from across Baldwin County and the Mobile area.
The 2024 Spring Lineup
The spring 2024 season, announced in January of that year, featured a mix of national acts and local talent, with regional artists opening each show:
- March 29, 2024: The Red Clay Strays, the Mobile band that had played Live at Five several times before and was touring nationally on a rising wave of popularity, with openers River Dan and Brooke Brown.
- April 19, 2024: The Band of Heathens, the Austin, Texas, group with multiple albums and recognition from the Americana music community, with openers Lamont Landers and Fairhope’s own Summerlyn Powers.
- May 10, 2024: The Marshall Tucker Band, the Southern rock pioneers from Spartanburg, South Carolina, known for classics such as “Can’t You See” and “Heard It in a Love Song,” with openers Taylor Hunnicutt and Shelby Kemp.
- May 31, 2024: The Tip Tops Band, a popular regional dance band, closing out the season.
Jernigan was especially enthusiastic about the season opener. “The Red Clay Strays Concert is going to be the biggest thing Fairhope has ever seen,” he said ahead of the show. The Red Clay Strays formed in Mobile and built a devoted following on the Gulf Coast before breaking through to national audiences with their blend of Southern rock, country and soul.
From Paramedic to Producer
Jernigan joined the board of the Friends of the Halstead in 2022 and became executive director of Live at Five in the summer of 2023. A musician himself, he describes his role as that of an event planner and producer who loves music so much that he likes to “put himself in the middle of it all.”
Early in his career, Jernigan made his living as a paramedic and played music on the side. Friends asked him to put bands together, and nonprofits sought him out to organize events. His life, he said, “was revolving” around music long before it became his profession.
A turning point came through Jake Peavy, the Mobile native and former Major League Baseball pitcher who won the National League Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres and also pitched for the Chicago White Sox, among other clubs. Jernigan and Peavy became friends and business partners and explored ways to help develop Downtown Mobile.
“I wanted to bring creative types and entrepreneurs together and create a cool downtown environment,” Jernigan said.
On the Road With The Outsiders
Peavy, as it turned out, plays guitar and sings, and his fans wanted to hear more. Jernigan put together a band, The Outsiders, and the group played around the country.
“We sold out the rock club, the Fillmore in San Francisco when we did a tribute to Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead,” Jernigan said. The band also played venues such as Red Rocks in Colorado and Central Park in New York City before coming home to play Bienville Square and the Mobile Civic Center.
“It was quite an adventure and a very steep learning curve,” Jernigan said. “I made many contacts and friends in the music business and decided I didn’t want to be an EMT anymore.”
In 2018, back in Mobile, Jernigan became director of 1065, a downtown music festival that followed in the footsteps of the city’s longtime BayFest. He and Peavy also started Dauphin Street Sound, a professional recording studio, and the Cedar Street Social Club, with other ventures in the works. Jernigan books entertainment for venues across the Southeast and works on concert promotions for major universities.
“I followed the path that was put in front of me,” he said.
A Backstage Introduction
That path eventually led to Fairhope. When Blues Traveler played Live at Five in 2021, Jernigan came to see his old friend John Popper, the band’s lead singer and harmonica player. Backstage, he met Clifton Mostellar, chairman of the organization’s board, and soon came on as the series’ booking agent before joining the board and ultimately leading the organization.
The connections Jernigan built during his years on the road help explain how a community concert series on a college campus has been able to book acts with national followings.
Sponsors Keep Tickets Affordable
In the early days of Live at Five, the series was underwritten by Coastal Alabama Community College, which kept ticket prices very low. Today, the Friends of the Halstead relies on ticket sales and sponsorships to operate.
“These national acts cost tens of thousands of dollars, and we can keep tickets affordable because of sponsorships,” Jernigan said. “All of the profits fund The Jacob Hall Memorial Grant, which gives money and instruments to aspiring musicians in our area.”
Sponsorship tiers announced for the 2024 season started at $1,000 and went up to $10,000 for a presenting sponsor. Sponsors received benefits such as free tickets, parking spaces, stage and fence banners, and Live at Five merchandise. Because the Friends of the Halstead is a nonprofit, sponsorships may be tax deductible; businesses should confirm details with the organization and their tax adviser.
“Alive at Five”
Supporters of the series say its appeal lies in what music does for a community: it gets people outdoors, brings neighbors together and gives young musicians a reason to keep playing. One audience member once jokingly called the show “Alive at Five,” a nickname that captures the spirit organizers hope every concert brings.
For those planning to attend a future show, the basics are simple: bring a chair or blanket, pack a picnic and arrive early to claim a good spot on the lawn. Lineups, dates and ticket information change from season to season, so music fans should check with the Friends of the Halstead and Live at Five for the current schedule.
How the Series Began and a Look Back at Past Seasons
Live at Five got its start in 2017, when the concert series was underwritten by Coastal Alabama Community College and produced by John Cochran. It has remained a family-friendly event built around Friday evenings, and it is now managed by the Friends of the Halstead, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships going to the Jacob Hall Memorial Music Foundation.
The venue offers about 65,000 square feet of grassy, open-air space tucked among the pines and live oaks. Concertgoers may bring their own picnics and beverages or buy dinner and snacks from food trucks on site. The music spans rock, jazz, country, soul and funk.
The foundation’s grant is aimed at musicians and aspiring musicians with a specific musical need. Examples of needs that could qualify include:
- Instruments and equipment
- Music lessons
- Attending music camps or recitals
- Tuition for music majors
- Music books
Local businesses have long supported the series as sponsors, including Truland Homes, Portside Advertising, Anne Dorman, Mobile Bay Realty and Fairhope Furniture Consignment.
The series has also held fall seasons. In fall 2022, gates opened at 4 p.m., with the opening band at 5 p.m. and the headliner at 6:30 p.m. That season’s lineup was:
- Aug. 26, 2022: John Cochran and Friends performing The Last Waltz, with The John Hall Trio. Grant recipients were announced at this first concert of the season.
- Sept. 10, 2022: Blackhawk
- Sept. 30, 2022: Roman Street, with Rollin’ in the Hay
- Oct. 21, 2022: Blues Traveler
- Nov. 5, 2022: The Honey Island Swamp Band, with Grits and Greens
Gate times and schedules vary by season, so check with Live at Five for current details.