January 17, 2012 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival and the Flora-Bama Lounge invite Gulf Coast residents, business owners and musicians to join Flora-Bama owner, Joe Gilchrist, in a fun-filled trip to New York City to mark the 10th anniversary of the Gulf Coast Loves New York visit to NYC which took place in February 2002 to honor the heroes of 9/11.

The purpose of the trip is to show respect, emotionally and financially, to the people of NYC and to encourage support for tourism nationwide.

The trip is planned for February 1—5, 2012. Performances are scheduled in NYC clubs including the historic Bitter End where legends such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez and other notable musicians visited and performed. Additional performances are planned at the Red Lion Inn in Greenwich Village and VFW Post 398 in Harlem, NY. Negotiations are underway with additional venues. Flora-Bama musicians Chris Newbury (the son of the legendary Mickey Newbury) Buzz Kiefer, Mike Locklin and Bo Roberts will be among the local musicians performing and participating in this cultural exchange which is being promoted in New York City as “Manhattan Music Meets Southern Sound”.

The 2002 trip included approximately 100 visitors who toured Ground Zero, NYC Fire Stations, The Empire State Building, and Central Park. The group also attended Broadway Shows and enjoyed shopping in the Big Apple. The 2012 trip will include a VIP tour of the Apollo Theatre on the afternoon of Saturday, February 4th. Informal socials will be planned where trip participants will gather before or after the scheduled performances.

Contact your friends here and in New York about the opportunity to show respect to the City of New York and have fun. CALL 850-492-7664 FOR DETAILS www.fbisf.com.

In the meantime, MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT, PLAN ON JOINING US AND MAKE SOME MEMORIES!