If you were at the Birmingham or Tallahassee shows, or listened to them on Radio Margaritaville, then you’re familiar with the story of Matt Hoggatt.

A Gautier police detective by day, Hoggatt won an American Songwriter magazine lyric contest for his song “Dear Jimmy Buffett.” At the Birmingham and Tallahassee shows, Buffett invited him on stage to sing his song, which asks Jimmy for a record deal. Turns out Buffett is giving Hoggatt his chance, putting him on the Margaritaville circuit:

The idea of going on a Buffett-designed tour is “insanely insane,” Hoggatt said. “And on top of that, it’s crazy. It’s still sinking in.”

On Friday, Hoggatt will be performing at Margaritaville Panama City Beach from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Then, on Saturday, he will take the stage at Lulu’s at Homeport in Gulf Shores from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on March 11, he will be at Margaritaville New Orleans for a 5-7 p.m. show.

Accompanying Hoggatt will be guitarist Kyle Rife, who plays in the band for singer Ilo Ferreira, a Cape Verde native who Buffett also discovered.

“This is kind of the next step along the way in seeing if I get offered a deal or not,” Hoggatt said.

Additional tour dates are pending in Key West, Charleston and Orlando.

Read more here.

We’ve received many emails from people looking for employment at the Biloxi Margaritaville Casino, and the location is finally starting to hire:

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant Biloxi will hold job fairs the next two Mondays as it prepares to fill 1,000 jobs.

The job fairs are Monday and March 12 from noon to 6 p.m. at The Dock restaurant in Gulfport.

The resort is expected to open the week of May 20.

Cynthia Simms, a casino spokeswoman, says jobs are available in security, marketing, engineering, information technology, casino positions and food and beverage. She says applicants must be at least 21

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band bring the Welcome to Fin Land Tour to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky tonight. It’s the first time Buffett has played a show in Louisville since 1990!

You can listen to the show live on Radio Margaritaville at www.margaritaville.com or on Sirius XM 24. Ilo Ferreira will take the stage to open for Jimmy shortly after 8 pm ET.

After tonight’s show, Buffett will take a few days off before heading to the West Coast.

Check out the full tour schedule here and get your Jimmy Buffett tickets now!

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band performed Thursday night in Little Rock, Arkansas, a town they haven’t played in a couple decades.

The Arkansas Times has a review and photos from the show:

It’s good to be Jimmy Buffett. He’s got his own brand of beer, Landshark. His own bar/restaurant chain, Margaritaville. And when he decides to come to come to Verizon Arena he sells out in 90 minutes — the norm wherever he plays. All that wonderfulness with only one hit song to his credit (you know which one).

But from a critical point of view it’s even better for JB — his concerts are a coronation, not an examination of whether or not he’s on his game that night.

Buffett and his extraordinary 12-piece backing band — including Arkie-deluxe Mike Utley, his band leader and keyboard player for 30 years or so — were absolutely the toasts of the town, if not the state, Thursday night as they thrilled 16,161 Parrotheads.

Read the full review here.

The Welcome to Fin Land Tour keeps on rolling Saturday night with a show in Louisville, Kentucky.

THQ Inc. today announced the release of the new free mobile app Margaritaville Mobile for iPhone. Players of virtual paradise Margaritaville Online, available now on Facebook and iPad, can further expand the Parrothead lifestyle by using the companion app to claim exclusive rewards. Through multiple tropical themed mini-games and socially driven activities, the Margaritaville Mobile iPhone app allows players to earn multiple tiers of badges while obtaining unique rewards for Margaritaville Online on Facebook and iPad.

“From the beginning, THQ’s goal has been to make the laid-back Margaritaville mindset accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime,” said Michael Lustenberger Vice President, Global Brand Management — Online at THQ. “What began on Facebook and iPad with Margaritaville Online continues on through our next virtual vacation destination in Margaritaville Mobile. Now, fans can continue their Parrothead lifestyle on the go by simply checking in and enjoying new content via their iPhones.”

Margaritaville Mobile features include:

• Tiered Badges: Through respective tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond and Parrothead), earn up to 28 new badges, each with corresponding rewards such as coins and premium food items
• Badge Tier Rewards: Collect all badges in a tier and receive special tier rewards, including: the Margaritaville Crown (character hat), Master Lure (for fishing), MV Mobile Concoction Creator, Seaplane (decoration) and one of every food item in the game
• Photos: Take digital photos of yourself and friends, adding available Margaritaville-themed borders, characters and accessories, and post to Facebook to earn more badges
• Mini-Games: Participate in four of Margaritaville Online’s mini-games including Steel Drum Star, Hammock Time, Limbo and Tile Puzzles to hit milestones and earn badges, including the coveted “Guru Game Star” badge!
• Friend Updates: View the latest happenings from friends while on the go
• Check-In: Earn further badges in the real world by visiting your local location and sharing a “Margaritaville Moment”

Get Margaritaville Mobile free on your iPhone now in the App Store.