By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Several singers with ties to Brewton will perform next week at a fund-raiser designed to improve the quality of life in their hometown.
Hank Adam Locklin, Grayson Capps and Rusty Golden are among the singers scheduled to perform at the first Brewton Songwriters Festival, whose proceeds will help pay for improvements to Burnt Corn Creek Park.
The festival will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Burnt Corn Creek Park, and performances are scheduled all day until 9 p.m.
Also performing will be Jayron Weaver, Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle and Carl Jackson.
And local singers and songwriters who auditioned in December will kick off the day-long concert at 11 a.m. Performers include Victoria Creamer, Brandon Patterson, Carolyn Grice, Timeless, Carolyn Caraway, Michael Gardner, Emmy Granade, Alex Granade, Tamarah, Shane Harrell, Kerry McCall, Josh Pugh, Chris Johnson, Jack Long, Buddy Bell and Band, Den of Thieves and Brian Lisenby.
The Songwriters Festival is among fundraisers planned to help pay for improvements to Burnt Corn Creek Park, including an outdoor movie screen, splash fountain for children and a bandstand.
Tickets for the all-day event are $20 for adults; $10 for seniors 55 and older and for students age 5 to 18; and $50 for families (immediate only). Children ages 4 and under will be admitted free.
A group of about 100 Harley riders will be riding in at the start of the festival. After they make their initial ride through the area, their bikes will be on display throughout the day. Organizers said all Harley Riders are welcome to ride in the festival - and will receive VIP seating.
There will also be a children's carnival, including rides and ball games, beginning at 11 a.m.
Ronnie (Everett) Capps, also a native of Brewton, and father of Grayson Capps, will be exhibiting a collection of his personal paintings, and a selection of the paintings will be available for purchase.
Vendors will be selling soft drinks, snacks and food. Brewton Songwriters Festival T-shirts will be on sale for $15 the day of the event. The performers' CDs will also be on sale at the festival, and several of the performers plan to sign autographs.
A silent auction will take place from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to benefit Burnt Corn Creek Park and will include the following items, among others: Painting by William Lee Golden along with items from his wardrobe collection; personal items donated by Hank Locklin; autographed CDs from each of the songwriters performing; guitar signed by each of the songwriters performing; tickets to the Farmer's Opry; painting by Ronnie Capps; football autographed by Brodie Croyle; NDI arrangement.
The Brewton Quality of Life Committee, which has proposed the improvements to the park, is sponsoring the festival.