The Frank Brown International Foundation for Music and Songwriters’ Festival is preparing to showcase the next wave of young musical talent. Applications are now open for the festival’s annual Youth Showcase, which gives high school-aged performers a chance to share original songs on stage at Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s in Gulf Shores. The program highlights solo artists who can write, play, and present their own work while also offering a supportive introduction to the professional music world. For some students, it may be the first time their songs reach a public audience.

The Youth Showcase is set for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lulu’s Gulf Shores. Performers selected for the event will also be expected to participate in an evening performance later that day. The deadline to apply is October 10, giving interested students less than a month to prepare and submit their work.

Eligibility is limited to solo performers who are 18 years old or younger and still in high school. Each applicant must be able to perform at least three original songs or instrumentals and must supply their own instruments. The application requires a link to a recording of their music—such as a video or streaming site—so judges can evaluate both songwriting ability and performance skills.

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A panel of festival judges will select participants based primarily on songwriting, with stage delivery also considered. Cash prizes will be awarded, with $500 for first place, $250 for second, and $150 for third. The first-place winner will also earn a paid spot in the 2026 Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival, giving them a professional platform for their music.

The showcase serves as more than just a competition. Organizers emphasize that it is also an educational opportunity, as production and sound will be managed by student interns from area schools. This behind-the-scenes involvement allows local students to gain experience in event production alongside the performers on stage.

Students interested in applying can find complete details and application forms at frankbrownsongwriters.com. Festival representatives said that chosen applicants will be contacted directly with performance schedules and further instructions.