PANAMA CITY, FL – September 9, 2024 – Pack your picnic blankets and folding chairs and get ready for an exciting new line-up of fall concerts as Backstage Pass returns to the Marina Lawn in Downtown Panama City! With several restaurants and cafes just a short stroll away, you’ll have plenty of fantastic food and drink offerings to enjoy during the show.

 

The series of six weekly concerts, a cherished annual tradition organized by the Bay Arts Alliance, will begin Friday, September 13 and continue every Friday evening through October 18. The program of regional bands covers a wide variety of styles and genres, offering an opportunity for family and friends of different ages and musical tastes the chance to come together to enjoy exceptional outdoor live performances right on the shores of St. Andrews Bay.

 

This year’s concerts will begin at 7:00 p.m. on the Marina Lawn at 7 Harrison Avenue between Harrison’s Kitchen & Bar and Hotel Indigo. The schedule is as follows:

 

September 13 – MECO

September 20 – Run Katie Run

September 27 – Still Standing: A Tribute to Elton John

October 4 – John ‘Papa’ Gros

October 11 – Deltaphonic

October 18 – Dave Jordan and the NIA

 

Thanks to the generous support of the St. Joe Community Foundation, ReliantSouth Construction Group, Inc., Destination Panama City, and the City of Panama City, the concerts will be free to the public again this year.

 

Backstage Pass grew out of the Concerts in the Park series begun in 1986, by Florida First Federal and late community leader, Roger Schadd. From 1986 to 2008, free outdoor concerts were held every summer featuring local and regional bands. In order to keep the series going during the recession, Backstage Pass began welcoming guests through the Backstage Door of the Marina Civic Center in 2009, and the first band was “On Call”, led by the late Hulon Crayton. After the Marina Civic Center was damaged in Hurricane Michael, the series relocated to the Marina Lawn.

 

More about MECO

For 10+ years, the four members of MECO have performed in various configurations as the Chris Alvarado Trio. Individually, their extensive musical careers have earned them spots amongst the best musicians in Northwest Florida. Long overdue, in late 2023 they made it official and formed MECO.

 

More about Run Katie Run

Kate Coleman may be front and center in Run Katie Run, but the band’s new album, Cowboy Boots with Fishnet Tights, due out April 28, deeply reflects the community surrounding her. Its 13 Americana/roots-rock tracks cover the good, the sad, the inspired, and the tired — and everything in between — about relationships of all kinds. As RKR recorded throughout 2022, the five friends who first met at an open mic night in Georgia arranged and produced the album together, and Kate says she could see their trust in each other — and their friendships — grow as the months went by.

 

More about Still Standing: A Tribute to Elton John

Experience the magic of Elton John’s music live on stage with “Still Standing: A Tribute to Elton John.” Based on the Panhandle Gulf Coast of Florida, this stellar tribute band has captivated audiences across the Southeast, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Mid-Western states with their electrifying performances. “Still Standing” not only replicates the timeless classics but also captures the infectious energy and spirit of Elton’s music.

 

More about John ‘Papa’ Gros

New Orleans has its fair share of musical ambassadors, but few are more rooted in the cracked sidewalks and popping speakers of the Crescent City than John “Papa” Gros. Born and raised in the city, Gros melds funk, rock, jazz, and blues to deliver a sound that is both innovative and unmistakably New Orleans.

 

More about Deltaphonic

At the crossroads of Southern rock, blues, funk and soul, Deltaphonic is the rare contemporary band that writes songs that are as good as the classics that inspire them. Following the solidification of their current lineup in 2021, the awe inspiring power and spirit of Deltaphonic’s shows have led to a growing number of performances at festivals in the U.S. and abroad.

 

More about Dave Jordan and the NIA

From the Northern Lights in Alaska to the southernmost point in Key West, for nearly 3 decades Dave has traveled the highways of America, sharing his music and the culture of New Orleans and south Louisiana. He freely incorporates elements of rock, blues, funk, jam, Americana, country and folk music, all with a rhythm foundation that belies his south Louisiana upbringing, weaving a colorful tapestry of American roots music, via New Orleans.

 

More about Harrison’s Kitchen & Bar

Harrison’s Kitchen & Bar, located at 5 Harrison Avenue, offers casual coastal cuisine inspired by traditional Southern flavors and fresh Gulf seafood as well as beautiful views of the Panama City Marina and St. Andrews Bay. The restaurant’s name references both an early name for the town that grew to become Panama City, and Harrison Avenue, the roadway that leads visitors through the heart of downtown and ultimately, to their doorstep.

 

More about Tarpons and Steam on 5

Hotel Indigo, located at 7 Harrison Avenue, offers two exceptional dining options that are open to the public. Tarpons, located on the lobby level, delivers a coastal inspired dining experience with a touch of Southern elegance. Enjoy all-day dining, curated cocktails, and a full bar, either indoors or on the covered veranda. Elevate your evening at Steam on 5, the rooftop bar on the fifth floor, where sophistication meets coastal charm. Sip on creative cocktails crafted with care, savor delectable light bites and local seafood dishes, and immerse yourself in breathtaking bay views.

 

For Backstage Pass updates, please visit https://www.bayarts.org/backstage.

For information on more area events, please visit https://www.destinationpanamacity.com/events.

 

Media contacts:

Jayson Kretzer | Executive Director, Bay Arts Alliance | (850) 640-3670 | [email protected]

Jennifer Vigil | President & CEO, Destination Panama City | (850) 832-5262 | [email protected]