Here’s a suggestion that likely will cause migraines to sprout all over town: BayFest’s leaders should take steps to alleviate overcrowding within the festival site ... or they should put a cap on ticket sales. Furthermore, if the festival doesn’t offer a concrete, decisive plan by the time it puts tickets on sale next summer, the city council members... Full story »

BayFest board president Bobby Bostwick said Friday's walk-up ticket sales had been higher than in 2008, while Saturday's walk-up sales had been slightly lower; he attributed that to the fact that Kid Rock headlined in 2008. Organizers did not yet have overall figures for sales of weekend passes, he said. Full story »

The thousands of fans who crowded Sunday evening's T-Pain concert at Bay Fest suggest that reports of Auto-Tune's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Full story »

MOBILE, Ala. -- Gary Allen, The Commodores and T-Pain are among the acts that will make music in downtown Mobile today, for the final day of the the 15th-annual BayFest festival. Today's lineup: TICKETS BayFest 2009 continues through this evening in the streets of downtown Mobile. Hours are 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on this final day Single-day passes... Full story »

MOBILE, Ala. -- If BayFest 2009 looked like a hit on Friday night, it looked like a blockbuster on Saturday.    One simple comparison: On Friday, the AT&T/IP Casino Stage was headlined by Alan Jackson, a blue-chip country superstar. A crowd of thousands filled the parking lot that serves as the main viewing area for that stage, but didn’t... Full story »

MOBILE, Ala. -- Rapper Ludacris had to cut his set short tonight at the Miller Lite stage at BayFest due to a possible gas leak. Festival officials were still trying to determine what happened, but said a decision was made to clear the area by public safety officials. The incident occurred on the second night of the downtown Mobile music festival.  Full story »

MOBILE, Ala. -- Southern rock band Wet Willie played a triumphant homecoming show Saturday night at BayFest, getting a warm reception that led frontman Jimmy Hall to exclaim, "We need to do this more often!" The performance was Wet Willie’s first at BayFest since 2001. The group typically visits the area at least once a year, often at the... Full story »

The 2009 edition of BayFest, Mobile's annual three-day downtown music festival, pleased crowds descending on streets that were turned into stages. The thoroughfares were closed to vehicular traffic, and stages were set up for a diverse selection of musical acts. Sights and sounds of BayFest 2009 More sights and sounds of BayFest 2009 Full story »

MOBILE, Ala. -- "Who would have thought?" Hank Becker mused Saturday afternoon in the Radio Avalon Jazz Tent at BayFest. "People like jazz, they just didn’t know it." "Well, this is some down-home jazz," he added. Becker is best known in the Mobile area for blues and blues-based rock. But over the years, he said, he’s dabbled in writing... Full story »

As Greg Cyprian watched over the flow of performers and volunteers through a BayFest service entrance at 6 p.m. Friday, he started to say the festival had been lucky. Then, taking note of the fact that the gateway was just a few yards from BayFest's Gospel Stage, he changed his story. "We've been blessed," he said. Predictions that showers... Full story »

MOBILE, Ala. -- Ludacris, 3 Doors Down and the Steve Miller Band headline the middle day and night of the 15th-annual Mobile music festival. Today's lineup: TICKETS BayFest 2009 continues through Sunday in the streets of downtown Mobile. Hours are 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Single-day passes purchased at the gate  cost... Full story »

        If there was a prize for the first note played at BayFest 2009, it would go to the trio of Theodore Arthur, Shadrach Collins and L.C. Lymon, playing as Shad & the Gang in the Radio Avalon Jazz Tent.          The three cut loose with their set of R&B and jazz at 6:30 p.m., the moment the gates opened.... Full story »

MOBILE, Ala. -- Country star Alan Jackson, the jazzy and melodious Anita Baker and the Stone Temple Pilots headline tonight's kickoff of the 15th-annual Mobile music festival. Full story »

Wet Willie formed in Mobile in 1969; in 1970 the group moved to Georgia, signed with Capricorn Records and got to work on the first in a series of classic Southern rock albums. It's about time for the band that gave us "Weekend," "Keep on Smiling" and "Country Side of Life" to be celebrating its 40th anniversary, but fans... Full story »

If you're looking for BayFest's most experienced newcomer, head over to the Miller Lite Stage at 7 p.m. Friday, when Charles "Bo" Grant is scheduled to appear. You might just find someone who can transport you back to happier times. The set will be Grant's BayFest debut. Given his musical history, it might be a little overdue. Born in... Full story »