Country artist Gage Cowart is getting ready to release a new song, and Panama City music fans will have the chance to celebrate it with him before the rest of the world hears it.

The Gage Cowart Band will turn its Thursday, October 1 performance at the Backstage Pass Concert Series into the official hometown release party for Cowart’s new single, “Leaving You Behind.”

The free concert begins at 7 p.m. on the Panama City Marina Lawn in Downtown Panama City. At midnight, following the show, “Leaving You Behind” officially releases on Friday, October 2, 2026.

Cowart’s October 1 appearance is part of Bay Arts Alliance’s six-week Backstage Pass series. Destination Panama City confirms the Gage Cowart Band as the featured performer that evening at the Marina Lawn, located at 7 Harrison Avenue, between Harrison’s Kitchen & Bar and Hotel Indigo Panama City Marina. Admission to the concert is free.

A Breakup Song That Isn’t Really About a Breakup

At first listen, “Leaving You Behind” may sound like a familiar breakup song.

That was intentional.

According to information provided to Panama City Spotlight by Cowart’s booking and management team, Gage wrote the song about walking away from an entire part of his former life that had become unhealthy, but chose to write about that lifestyle as though it were a toxic romantic relationship.

The result gives the song two meanings.

The lyrics can be heard as someone finally leaving a relationship after realizing the bad has begun to outweigh the good. But underneath that story is something broader: recognizing when a chapter of your life no longer belongs in your future.

Cowart explained the idea behind the song this way:

“I wanted it to sound like a break up style song. But really, I was writing about leaving an entire part of my life behind. I think that’s why the song resonates so well for me. Everybody has something or somebody they eventually realize they have to walk away from.”

At its core, “Leaving You Behind” is about reaching that moment when looking backward finally gives way to moving forward.

Introducing a Little “Shred Dirt”

The message may be reflective, but listeners shouldn’t expect a quiet ballad.

“Leaving You Behind” represents a noticeably heavier musical direction for Cowart.

His music has traditionally blended country and Red Dirt songwriting with Southern rock, but the new single pushes further into the rock, punk and grunge influences that helped shape his musical tastes.

Cowart and his team have jokingly come up with a name for the combination: “shred dirt.”

Think Red Dirt storytelling, but with louder guitars and considerably more edge.

“I love country music and Red Dirt, but I also grew up loving rock and punk music,” Cowart said. “I don’t want to lose the country side of what I do, but I’m also not interested in pretending those other influences aren’t there. ‘Leaving You Behind’ is probably the clearest picture yet of where those two sides meet.”

The single was written by Gage Cowart, produced by Dylan Rush and recorded at Saxman Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to Cowart’s management, advance promotion of the unreleased track has already generated more than 100,000 combined social media views, with listeners asking when the full song will be available and creating their own videos with the track.

Building a Career from the Gulf Coast

Originally from Southeast Alabama and now based in the Panama City Beach area, Cowart has steadily built an audience through songwriting and a heavy touring schedule.

His debut album, “Life Passes You By,” arrived in June 2024 as a 14-song country album. That same year, Cowart was named the 2024 Jim Beam Welcome Sessions winner and performed during Gulf Coast Jam alongside a Sunday lineup that included Deana Carter, John Morgan, Shane Smith & The Saints, Nate Smith and headliner Morgan Wallen.

His official press materials list more than 150 performances annually, along with appearances alongside artists including Morgan Wallen, Silverada, Treaty Oak Revival, The SteelDrivers, Shane Smith & The Saints, Priscilla Block, Adam Hood and The Castellows.

Cowart has continued expanding beyond Northwest Florida in 2026. On September 11, he performed at St. Augustine’s Sing Out Loud Festival, taking the 9 p.m. slot at Colonial Oak Music Park.

But for the release of “Leaving You Behind,” he is bringing the celebration back home.

A Hometown Release Party on the Marina Lawn

“Panama City has become home for me, so getting to turn the Marina Lawn show into the release party just felt right,” Cowart said. “We’re going to get everybody together, play the new song (and maybe some other new ones) and celebrate it here before it goes out everywhere the next morning.”

For Panama City music fans, that creates something a little different than a normal Thursday night concert.

They’ll get to hear a hometown artist celebrate a new chapter in his career on the shores of St. Andrews Bay, and then, just a few hours later, “Leaving You Behind” becomes available to listeners everywhere.

Gage Cowart Band — “Leaving You Behind” Release Party

Thursday, October 1, 2026
7:00–9:00 p.m.
Backstage Pass Concert Series

Panama City Marina Lawn
7 Harrison Avenue, Downtown Panama City

Admission: FREE — All Ages

Arrive Early and bring lawn chairs or a blanket.

🎵 “Leaving You Behind” releases everywhere Friday, October 2, 2026.

Can’t wait? Here is the PreSave Link to “LEAVING YOU BEHIND” which goes live September 25, 2026.

Learn more about Gage Cowart and his music at GageCowart.com, and follow Gage Cowart Music on Facebook for updates surrounding the new single and release party.