OCEAN SPRINGS – Singer and keyboardist Patrick Bowen has made himself right at home in the coast’s live entertainment scene in recent years, performing just shy of 300 shows in 2025 alone.
A Louisiana native and Arkansas resident, Patrick was drawn to the coast after a chance visit to Ocean Springs gave him a glimpse into the music and arts culture he would eventually embrace full time. Patrick was running his own business at the time and visiting family in Biloxi when he decided to get out and explore the coast one day, driving west to Bay St. Louis to see the sights and then back east into Jackson County, where found himself relaxing for a bit at The Government Street Grocery.
“Actually I remember the day very well,” he said. “I had a reuben and I had an Andygator. I was just sitting there talking with the people around the bar, and I walked around town and it was just such a cool little place.” When he got back home he felt so strongly about the experience and the beauty of the coast in general that he decided he ought to move on down, and put the house up for sale. “I’ve never found a place that I clicked with so much.”
Patrick, who had been into music since he traded some baseball cards for a keyboard at age 12, jumped into Downtown OS and began working at The Lady May. When word got out around there that he played, he started picking up a few gigs. When people liked what they were hearing he picked up more gigs, and then some more, and eventually went full time.
You’ll find him set up behind the mic and stand, delivering smooth, melodic singing as his hands work the keys. His song selections feature custom prepared tracks for some added beat and accompaniment with the live lead playing, giving his shows a dynamic and original sound mix. His renditions lean into well known classic rock cuts, along with some soul and a bit of blues ranging from newer stuff all the way back to the 50’s. Otis Redding, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, The Red Clay Strays, Tyler Childers… Patrick has a few hundred songs worked up in his catalog and is set to play for hours at a time and for multiple shows a week. He feels the vibe, enjoys playing a tune that brings back a good memory for somebody, or gets them moving with something they can dance to… maybe a little Jimmy Buffett on a nice day outside. The original artist’s work is translated into his keyboard style and imbued with his “bluesy gospel” energy that began with Patrick’s early church performances and grew into his natural playing style; the genuine personal touch that ties his sound together. “That’s what was in the dirt that I grew up on,” he says. “Every song that I play is a song that kind of has some meaning to me in some way.”
While solo shows are his main gig, you can find Patrick turning up with the band Salty Groove on occasion, delivering extended jam style shows alongside a variable lineup of seasoned coast talent. Every other Wednesday he hosts open mic night at The Lady May, serving up some live music at his old stomping grounds. The open mic, also hosted by 3HG guitarist/singer Matt Schnake on other nights, welcomes artists of all experience levels to come and try out some material in their cozy patio setting.
“You get a nice mix of professional musicians and people that are just starting out… we got some young folks that come out, and every now and then we’ll get some spoken word… it’s just really cool. You never know from one week to the next what it’s going to morph into.”
Patrick’s calendar is staying full into 2026, and you’ll find him popping up in local spots like Mosaic, Eight75 and more across the Mississippi, Alabama and Florida coasts in the coming months, and possibly a bit further west soon. Whether a high energy casino crowd, special event or intimate lounge, Patrick’s there to do what he enjoys the most- to connect with people there through music.
“There’s something about sitting at a place and just listening to somebody play some music, you know, while you’re having a beer with the doors open. There’s just a very cool vibe to that, and to be the guy at the microphone doing that for other people- just I feel very privileged to do that,” he said. “I don’t know many places on the planet you can go and make a living doing what we do here, but the coast is a very special place and music and art is such an integral part of it, and I just feel very very grateful… blessed to be a part of it.”
~Enjoy Local Music~
@scottiredd
Follow on Facebook for updates and music samples- @patrick.bowen.585
Photos courtesy of Patrick Bowen- credits to Holly Parker, Angelo Ferrara (closeup)
