Jimmy Buffett Hometown Second Line in 2023
Parrot Heads are known as a lively, funky, fun bunch of margarita-drinking, flip flop-sporting, Jimmy Buffett music fanatics. They can trace their roots down to the Gulf of Mexico and the port city of Mobile, Alabama, the place where Jimmy was raised.
Inspired by the salt air, the laissez-faire attitude and “Lassiez les bons temps rouler” (Let the good times roll) Mardi Gras slogan, he’s one of Mobile’s favorite sons … of a son of a sailor.
On Saturday, September 21, Mobile will roll out the Hawaiian-print carpet to Parrot Heads and Jimmy fans from all over for the inaugural Son of a Sailor Fest in Cathedral Square, located in Mobile’s downtown entertainment district. A1A, the official Jimmy Buffett tribute show, will join other special musical guests and there will be a buzz of various family-friendly activities all day.
And this festival, with all its fun, is FREE to attend.
How did we get here? The story behind Son of a Sailor Fest is as unique and spirited as Jimmy Buffett himself.
Visit Mobile sat down with Joseph Brennan, the festival’s principal organizer whose initial memorial tribute to the late singer set forth a one-of-a-kind tribute that we like to think would make Jimmy proud.
Visit Mobile. Why was it important to you to memorialize Jimmy Buffett after his death on September 1, 2023?
Joseph Brennan: Jimmy grew up here! He was an altar boy at St. Ignatius and McGill-Toolen High School, played his first shows downtown at the Admiral Hotel and made his first recordings at Product Sound Studios just past the iconic cannon in Midtown. The Chiquimula, the storied seafaring ship of Jimmy’s grandfather (the inspiration behind his song Son of A Son of A Sailor), loomed over the causeway for years. Mobile Bay was his playground and I would venture to guess that the great vista of the Gulf of Mexico sparked some of his wild spirit for adventure. His roots run deep here and we had to celebrate that.
VM: Explain the original plan for the Jimmy Buffett Hometown Second Line in 2023.
JB: It started with a text message among friends that essentially said “We gotta do something for Jimmy … Y’all wanna throw a parade?” That was that! We had no idea how huge it would become. On Saturday, we were reeling from the news of his death, and by Sunday evening, we had a brass band, a venue to host a tribute concert and amazing musicians lined up. By Monday morning, we had a parade permit. We were off to the races with less than a week to make it happen. Little did we know that nearly four thousand people would show.
VM: Why did you choose a second line?
JB: We party in the street in Mobile and we love throwing a parade. That Mardi Gras spirit is in our blood, so it was only natural that we strike up a band, throw that margarita in a go-cup and dance in the street for Jimmy.
VM: When did you realize the event was growing larger than anticipated?
JB: There were a handful of moments where I realized, “This might become huge.” The first was when a woman in Orlando commented on our Facebook page that she and her sister were coming in for it. “All the way from Orlando,” I thought. Then someone in Key West, then Houston, then Chicago. This was no longer a locals-only event. It was a pilgrimage for this community Jimmy created. That’s when I knew we had something very special.
VM: Who and/or what organizations, entities, etc., stepped in to assist and how?
JB: People came out of the woodwork to pitch in and make this happen. It was absolutely a volunteer and community-created event driven purely out of everyone’s passion to celebrate the life of Jimmy, here is his hometown. The Downtown Mobile Alliance helped facilitate and coordinate. The Renaissance Riverview Hotel handed over their courtyard and set up a margarita bar for the droves to meet for the parade. Moe’s BBQ let the parade quite literally storm directly from the street through their doors and onto their stage for a rollicking tribute concert. The Mobile Police Department made the parade permit process incredibly easy and kept our 3,000-strong parrot head flock safe in the street. There are so many more people that made it happen and it really was a beautiful testament to what Jimmy meant to so many, especially here in Mobile.
VM: What was the ultimate result of the Jimmy Buffett Hometown Second Line celebration?
JB: The result of it all? A jubilant, radiant day of music, joy, color, laughter, fun – and yes, a few margaritas. It was lightning in a bottle. People from all over came to Jimmy’s hometown to celebrate a simple notion that he excelled at: Have fun. It was a truly unforgettable day.
VM: What is one of your most fond memories from that week and what completely surprised you?
JB: There are so many great memories from that day. Meeting a couple that drove down from Chicago. Turning around and looking out at the sea of people gathered to start the parade and thinking “Look at this!” Standing on stage behind the band during “Volcano” in a bar that truly felt near explosive in energy and just soaking it in.
"This was no longer a locals-only event. It was a pilgrimage for this community Jimmy created. That’s when I knew we had something very special."
VM: How did we get from the Jimmy Buffett Hometown Second Line in 2023 to the inaugural Son of a Sailor Fest in 2024?
JB: You asked for it! I didn't get through the day of the parade without a dozen people asking me, “This will be a yearly event, right?” More and more interest (demands, you might say) rolled in throughout the weeks that followed. Simply put, we immediately knew we had something special that needed to happen again. We got to work taking a completely improvised, rag-tag event and transitioning into something that could grow and last without losing that magic. I think what we've got in store will do just the trick.
VM: What is your goal for the experience for Parrot Heads, visitors and locals?
JB: Son of a Sailor Fest is a chance for fans to connect to Buffett's roots, experience the Gulf Coast's unique and colorful music and culture and celebrate the love for life and coastal attitude that his music exemplified. It's a festival that embodies the spirit of Jimmy Buffett- a celebration of music, love and the joy of living!
VM: With whom are you collaborating for the event?
JB: To bring you the best Parrot Head experience Son of a Sailor Fest is partnering with Visit Mobile, Downtown Mobile Alliance, Mobile County, City of Mobile and Jimmy’s sister, Lucy “LuLu” Buffett! Lucy’s fantastic, renowned beach restaurant destination, LuLu’s, is a generous sponsor and we couldn’t be more excited. Having Lucy as a part of Son of a Sailor Fest is very special and something we really cherish.
VM: What makes Son of a Sailor Fest unique from other music festivals?
JB: There’s only one festival where you can be a part of Jimmy Buffett’s story right in his hometown, see the bar where he started his career, parade down Dauphin Street in the Mardi Gras tradition central to his fun-loving lifestyle, hear stories from a Coral Reefer on stage in the shadow of the Cathedral Basilica from his altar boy days and dance to the best Buffett tribute show in the world … That’s Son of a Sailor Fest! And it’s all free!
VM: What are you most looking forward to at Son of a Sailor Fest?
JB: Hearing the opening riff of Fins blare off the stage from A1A to a dancing crowd in Cathedral Square as the sun sets over Mobile – that’s gonna be a pretty great feeling.
VM: Is there anything else you want readers to know?
JB: Pack your flip flops, don’t forget sunscreen and be a part of Jimmy’s roots right here in beautiful, funky and historic Mobile!
