The rock band Bon Jovi plays Friday on the beach at Gulf Shores, and country singer Brad Paisley has a show Sunday.

Rental agencies say business is up from this time last year, and that's good since tourism was slow all summer because of the fallout from the BP oil spill.

The shows are patterned after the free beach concert staged by Jimmy Buffett in July. Buffett drew some 35,000 people, and tourism promoters say the shows are more effective than advertising in luring visitors to the coast.

Real estate agencies are giving away tickets for customers who book condominiums and beach houses on show days.