Bon Jovi to play free Alabama Gulf Coast gig

This is the press release from BonJovi.com:

RECLAIMING OUR BEACHES: BON JOVI AND BRAD PAISLEY ANNOUNCE TWO FREE CONCERTS PRESENTED BY GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH TOURISM
September 1, 2010

GULF SHORES, AL – September 1, 2010 – Two of the biggest names in music will use their star power to help bring attention and tourists back to the Alabama Gulf Coast. The two free concerts on the beach are slated for the weekend of October 15th-17th in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Bon Jovi performing on Friday, October 15th and Brad Paisley performing on Sunday, October 17th. These two shows signify the next installments of Alabama’s “Concerts For The Coast” event series.

The shows, which are FREE to the public, will be ticketed events. Tickets will be available through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach lodging partners starting Wednesday, September 8th. For a list of accommodations offering reservation packages with free tickets, visit Gulfshores.com/Packages-Deals.

A limited number of tickets will be available for local distribution to area residents on Saturday, September 11th. A valid government issued photo ID is required and there is a 2-ticket limit per person available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Details are available on the website Concertsforthecoast.com.

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of these two concerts that will enhance an exciting weekend that already features the return of our powerboat races,” said Herb Malone, president/CEO of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. “We are extremely pleased that fans will have a weekend filled with exciting race action and capped off with two nights of phenomenal beachside music."

“Bring your beach blanket and enjoy two incredible concerts on the pristine white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama,” says Mayor Robert Craft.

Known for their beautiful beaches and beach-town vibes, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama have quickly become a destination to see blockbuster concert events. This past May, Gulf Shores hosted the Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival - attracting over 50 bands and thousands of fans. The Concerts from the Coast series kicked-off with Jimmy Buffett & Friends: Live from The Gulf Coast on July 11th. The event hosted 35,000 fans on Gulf Shores' public beach. The series continues with a performance by Hank Williams Jr. and Gretchen Wilson on September 25th at The Wharf in Orange Beach. This concert series was created to offer much-needed economic support to the troubled gulf area, drawing visitors from around the country and stimulating the local economy damaged by the oil spill.

Musically, Bon Jovi has set the bar for more than two decades as one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Globally, they have sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. The band's 2005 album, Have a Nice Day, featured the Grammy Award-winning song, “Who Says You Can't Go Home,” and fueled one of the top-selling tours of 2005, according to Billboard Magazine. Bon Jovi's most recent album, The Circle, debuted at No. 1 in the US and around the world. BON JOVI GREATEST HITS will be released on Nov. 9 and will include the band's biggest chart-toppers, "It's My Life," "Livin' On A Prayer," "Always," "Wanted Dead or Alive," and many more classics, as well as the lead single "What Do You Got." Philanthropically, Jon Bon Jovi's work honors the spirit of America and salutes the principals that define our nation. Mr Bon Jovi is Chairman of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing about positive change and helping the lives of those in need "one Soul at a time." The Soul Foundation is a pioneer in combating issues that force families and individuals into economic despair and has provided affordable housing for hundreds of low-income individuals and families.

Country music superstar Brad Paisley is a consummate singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer, which has earned him three GRAMMY’s, 13 Academy of Country Music Awards and 13 Country Music Association Awards. Paisley has released eight critically acclaimed studio albums and has accumulated sales of over 11 million units. His most recent album, American Saturday Night, was ranked as TIME magazine’s 2009 #1 album of the year in any genre of music. Paisley’s most recent #1 single, “Water,” was his 17th #1 – the last 13 consecutive. Paisley’s innovative and entertaining tours have consistently placed in the Top 5 in Pollstar for attendance and his current H2O World Tour has played to over 600,000 fans in just 3 months. His next album, Hits Alive, will include original studio tracks as well as live tracks from his concerts and will be released Nov. 2.

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism present performances by Bon Jovi and Brad Paisley in cooperation with the Cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and the Alabama Tourism Department.

For more information, please visit concertsforthecoast.com.