The first Gulf Coast Jam was held in September 2013.
Toby Keith
,
Brantley Gilbert
and
Eli Young Band
headlined the inaugural festival, which was held on six stages on the Panama City Beach coastline, with sponsorship from Pepsi. In 2014, the Gulf Coast Jam moved to Labor Day weekend and consolidated onto two stages. Daytime performances were held on the M.B. Miller County Pier stage and evening headliners played the Frank Brown Beach stage, including Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton, supported by Randy Houser, Jon Pardi, Cassadee Pope and Kirstie Lovelady, among others. By 2017, attendance at Gulf Coast Jam was nearing 65,000 despite pouring rain and inclement weather; CMT's
Hot Twenty Countdown
aired a special from the 2017 show.
Kip Moore
,
Jerrod Niemann
, The Cadillac Three, Brett Eldridge, Colt Ford and
Tyler Farr
were some of the 45 acts that played in the festival's first year. The festival also makes space for new artists. Each year, Pepsi runs a contest to find an unsigned country or Southern rock artist to be the Pepsi Southern Original. Six finalists play the Entrance stage at Frank Brown Beach during Gulf Coast Jam, and the winner gets to open for the headlining act on Sunday night. Past winners include Gal Friday, Andrew Salgado and
Rachel Lipsky
. The Gulf Coast Jam also pays special attention to the military. All active and retired military and their family can get discounted tickets, and Jim Beam runs a Military Tent every year with cooling fans, massage chairs and a lounge area. Every year, Pepsi donates a portion of ticket sales to a charity. Past recipients have been St. Jude's Children's Hospital and hurricane relief efforts in Florida.
Get General Admission, Gold Circle, Side Stage, Skybox Table, Early Entry passes, parking passes or VIP Gulf Coast Jam tickets at StubHub, the world's largest marketplace for tickets. The site's FanProtect guarantee ensures that your purchase will be secure, and StubHub is easily accessed online or through its mobile app.
In 2018, Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church and Thomas Rhett headlined the festival with support from Justin Moore, Chase Rice, Chris Janson, Cam, Dustin Lynch, Brett Young, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Morgan Evans and Tyler Rich. Every year, the festival highlights some of the most successful country, rock or Americana bands across the country.
Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean and Kid Rock are the headliners on the 2019 Gulf Coast Jam schedule. Midland, LANco, Lauren Alainna, LoCash, Big & Rich, The Cadillac Three, Thompson Square, Runaway June, Kyle Mitchell, Nora Collins, Matt Bennett, Ashley McBryde, Runaway June, The Outlaws, Gabby Barrett and Dixie Jade are also scheduled to play.
There are a number of upgraded ticket experiences, including Side Stage or Skybox, that provide amenities as well as special views of the performers. The festival also offers early-entry tickets that allow people to set up their chairs in their favorite viewing locations near the stage. Sponsors like Anheuser-Busch and Pepsi offer discount and tasting experiences to festival-goers, and music fans can find merchandise, food and more alongside the live performances they come to appreciate.
The Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam concerts are always held Labor Day weekend. After the 2019 festival, the lineup will be prepared for the 2020 Gulf Coast Jam.
Headliners and supporting acts play on the Pepsi Stage from 2:30 p.m. until midnight. Pepsi Southern Original contestants play on the Florida Lottery stage. Both stages are found in Frank Brown Beach Park.