Gulf Shores audiences will get a free dose of laid-back island rhythms this weekend when trop rock singer-songwriter Brent Burns takes the stage at Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s, the sprawling waterfront restaurant and entertainment venue at 200 E. 25th Ave. Burns is scheduled to perform Sunday afternoon, drawing what organizers expect to be one of the venue’s larger crowds of the young beach season.
As warm weather settles over the Alabama Gulf Coast, LuLu’s has become a springtime destination for visitors and locals alike, and the venue’s connection to the Buffett family only adds to its appeal among fans of the tropical, easygoing sound often called trop rock. For Jimmy Buffett enthusiasts making their way to Gulf Shores, a stop at Lucy Buffett’s beachfront property has become something of a rite of passage, and a live performance from an established artist in the genre gives visitors an extra reason to linger.
Burns is no stranger to the Gulf Shores music scene. He relocated to the area from Oklahoma roughly four decades ago and has spent the years since building a career around a sound that blends breezy rock songwriting with country influences and a heavy dose of island flavor. Over that span, he has become a familiar name to fans of the trop rock circuit, a loosely connected community of musicians and listeners who gather around beach bars and coastal festivals up and down the Gulf.
The singer-songwriter has stayed active in the studio as well as on stage, regularly releasing new material for his fan base. His most recent album, 2017’s “Emergency Vacation,” continues the themes that have defined much of his catalog, with songs built around sun-soaked storytelling, laid-back humor and the kind of carefree outlook that has made trop rock a staple of Gulf Coast tourism and nightlife.
Sunday’s performance is free and open to the public, making it an easy addition for families and visitors already spending the day at LuLu’s, which offers dining, a beach and play area, and regular live entertainment throughout the season. Show times and additional details are available through the venue’s website.