The LA Songwriters Festival is set to rock American Legion Post 199 Sept. 12-14 and will benefit The Haven no-kill animal shelter.

It happens

“This will be our ninth year now,” Charles Davis began. “(Myself) and Evans Davis of The Leavin Brothers founded this event in search of great writers in the Southern area of Baldwin County. (We) moved back from Nashville in 1998 after forming a successful band of writers that toured around the Southeast for many years. When (we) arrived in Fairhope, all (our) writer buddys where popping in from Nashville to fish, drink and pick songs. Word spread fast among the locals and as time prevailed, it became more organized and created the now, nine-year event at The American Legion Post 199 in Fairhope, The LA Songwriters Festival.”

Well I wonder, wonder who

“We've just added Travis Meadows to the lineup,” Davis beamed. “He has the title song to Dierks Bentley's new album and cuts by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Dunn, Blackberry Smoke, Lee Ann Womack, and is currently writing with Eric Church.”

“We have covered some ground with writers from Nashville, southwest Florida, Louisianna, Mississippi, the Gulf Coast and right here in South Baldwin County,” Davis said. “Among the talent that has passed through are writers who have had their songs recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys, Hank Williams Jr., Sammy Kershaw, Kenny Chesney, Deanna White, Jason Biggs and Randy Travis. So many people never get an opportunity to listen to the creator of the songs. This is the perfect venue to see that with over 35 songwriters gathered for 3 nights, on one stage all in one location.”

This year's lineup includes:

Sept. 12

7 p.m. - Alan Hartzell - Donnie Mills - Matt Hoggatt

8 p.m. - Randy Branch -Tyler Champion - Travis Meadows

9 p.m. - Jimmy Lumpkin - Shawna P and Adam Tyler Brown - Sugarcane Jane

Sept. 13

7 p.m. - Ryan Balthrop - Eric Erdmann - Cameron Zion

8 p.m. - Wes Lee - Gretsch Lyles - Joe Langley

9 p.m. - Charles Davis - Evans Davis - Ashe Underwood

10 p.m. - Johnny Barbato - Brittany Grimes - Jimmy Lee Hannaford

Sept. 14

7 p.m. - Kyle and Karl - Julie Anne Sellers - Grady Rosten

8 p.m. - Harrison McInnis - Allie Logan - Gregg Fells

9 p.m. - Christy and Roger Fritz - Rick Whaley - Suzi Ragsdale

What a wonderful world

Davis explained that the festival usually draws 150 to 200 guests each night and that Friday is generally sold out.

“In the last eight years, we are asked by venues around town to expand out so that they can be a part of the event as well and more writers can participate,” he noted. “We always come back to the original plan. We want you to be able to listen to every single writer on the list. The only way that can happen is to keep them all under one roof. And what a roof it is. When you arrive at The American legion on the Mobile Bay, the sun is setting over the bay, warm lights illuminate the main tent entrance and you are escorted into a sound parlor that is absolutely wonderful. The stage is lit carefully with three stools for rotating three songwriters every hour on the hour for the next two evenings. How much better can that get? For $15 per night you get around 12 or so writers each night singing their favorite songs.”

He said this experience is more intimate and telling than a traditional concert.

“When you sit down to hear songwriters, it is much different than your average concert,” he revealed. “We strip away the big drums, wild lights and sound affects. It is just the writer and his guitar. You finally hear the song itself mixed like a cocktail with stories of how it came to be.”

For more information, call 251-604-6753 or visit lasongwritersfestival.com.

if you go:

LA Songwriters Festival

Sept. 12-14, 7 p.m. nightly

American Legion Post 199, Fairhope

$15 single/$25 couple per day, $30 3-day pass

251-604-6753 or LAsongwritersfestival.com