FAIRHOPE, Ala. — This weekend, the person standing next to you at the grocery store might be a veteran Nashville songwriter. And for not much more than a few loaves of bread and gallon of milk, you can catch their original songs, and that of other local and regional talent, when the L.A. Songwriters’ Festival kicks off its fourth year at The American Legion Post 199 tomorrow night.

“The event began as a reaction to the popularity of the Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Fest,” said Wade Wellborn, this year’s talent coordinator and sound engineer. “The event (has) quickly evolved into a great destination for local and regional songwriters from Nashville to Austin and in between.”

Wellborn said the demand to play the event has grown yearly. 

“Songwriters love the venue and locale and often use the shows to try out new songs and to mingle with other accomplished songwriters,” he said. “The audiences are extremely well behaved as the song is king.  Talking and noise is intentionally kept to a minimum and smoking is only permitted on the outside deck.”

This year’s event is noteworthy for the inclusion of Chris Newbury, son of Mickey Newbury; the return of perennial Nashville favorites, Ashe Underwood, Doug Forshey and Davis Raines; and the potential for newcomers Ellen Robertson, Tim Simmons and Justin Fobes, Wellborn said.

The festival got it start from efforts of people at the Legion post and a couple of Nashville songwriters and musicians originally from Fairhope.

“When Charles and Evans Davis got involved, that’s when it really took off,” said John Henderson, adjutant at the post who founded the Friday night guitar jam at the American Legion about a year before the festival started in 2005. “They had their Nashville connections and do an incredible job. Their own music is really energizing, upbeat and happy. It’s a rollicking good time whenever they play here throughout the year.”

Charles Davis said he and his brother, Evans, moved back to Fairhope after working in Nashville from 1996 to 2002.

“We had moderate success with our band (the Leavin’ Brothers),” he said. “When we finally moved back home, we wanted to continue what we had been doing there.”

Davis said when the Nashville songwriters and others come to town, they are housed locally in friend’s homes, are treated to barbecues and do other things during the day to enjoy the area.

“We take them out on boats, go fishing, or play golf if they want,” he said. “It makes it real personal. We even get a song or two out of the weekend sometimes. Last year, I think about three songs were recorded when they went back (to Nashville).”

Davis said the unique aspect of the festival is having a chance to hear the songwriters up close.

“It’s rare to hear songs sometimes in raw form for the first time,” he said. “It’s just a great experience for everyone involved, especially for the musicians who don’t get the experience of a place like Mobile Bay often.”

Henderson said this year they expect to have live streaming video of the stage in a tent outside where those that want to can enjoy the sunset on the bay, talk, or smoke, while also listening and watching the music.

The festival is organized and managed by a volunteer board, Henderson said, of the following people: Skip Jones, chair; Randy Branch, vice chair; Charles Davis, co-host, creative director; Evans Davis, director of talent; Lori DuBose, director of marketing and co-host; John Henderson, treasurer, adjutant, American Legion Post 199; Stephen Davis, director of operations; Wade Wellborn, talent coordinator and sound engineer.

“With the help of John Henderson and key persons from the American Legion, we built a state-of-the-art concert stage in the Music Hall and an additional outdoor stage on Mobile Bay,” Davis said.

Henderson said he started the Friday night guitar jams to give local folks a chance to play their music in front of an audience, and that the LA Songwriters’ Festival has taken that idea to the next level.

“I wanted to make it a place where people could get their start,” Henderson said. “Because a lot of people have started in this area.”

“One of the best things about the LASF is when an amateur with some talent gets some help or encouragement from a songwriter that has had dozens of hits,” Wellborn said.

The L.A. Songwriters’ Festival will be held on the indoor Hall Stage at American Legion Post 199 at 700 S. Mobile St. this Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 18-20, starting at 7 p.m. each night. The festival will bring 36 songwriters from Nashville, Tenn., Lower Alabama and Austin, Texas. All performances will be held in an “in-the-round” acoustic setting. Tickets for the weekend festival will be $15 per night or $30 for three nights. Tickets are available at Dr. Music Records and American Legion.

For more information, contact Henderson at 928-6573, Davis at 604-6753, the Legion at 928-9132, or Wellborn at Dr. Music Records at 990-3412.

The American Legion Web site at www.americanlegion199.com has detailed background and bios on the songwriters.