Sweet Home Alabama Music Trail
The hit song “Sweet Home Alabama” is one of the best examples of Southern rock and a tribute to the state. Hank Williams, a country music pioneer, W.C.Handy, the “Father of the Blues” and Dinah Washington, the “Queen of the Blues” were all born in Alabama. Singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett grew up in Alabama. Music studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama offer tours where international superstars like Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones came to record. Native Alabamian Sam Phillips discovered Elvis and is credited by many with recording the first rock n roll song. Music festivals are held around the state and authentic local live music played nightly.
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Your journey begins in the northwest Alabama towns of Florence, Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscles Shoals, located just two hours southeast of Elvis’s Graceland home in Memphis. The “Father of the Blues,” W.C. Handy, was born in Florence where the annual Handy Music Festival is held each summer. Sam Phillips, Another native son, discovered Elvis. The Elvis contract between Sam Phillips and RCA is located in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in nearby Sheffield. FAME Studios is just one of the recording studios located in these small Alabama cities where international superstars like Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones came to record in the 60s. Muscle Shoals Area Music Festivals include Sam Phillips Music Festival held in January and the W.C. Handy Music Festival, held the last week of July. Music Venues in Muscle Shoals Area. Jonathan’s Steakhouse, Muscle Shoals Thursday & Friday nights – 6-8 p.m. Jam Band – 1960’s to Modern Swamper’s – Inside Marriott Shoals, Florence Every night Acoustic Jam La Fonda Mexicana, Florence Friday & Saturday nights – 9 p.m. Jam Band SmokeHouse Billiards, Florence Friday & Saturday nights – 9:30 p.m. Rock or Southern Rock Bayou Blue, Florence Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, & Sat nights – 9 p.m. Acoustic Jam/Country/Southern Rock Louie Louie’s Martini Bar, Sheffield Most Saturday nights; most Tuesday nights – 9 p.m. Saturdays – Rock Band; Tuesdays – Acoustic Jam PJ’s, Muscle Shoals Friday & Saturday nights – 9 p.m. Country, followed by DJ Dance Party Old Town Tavern, Sheffield Friday & Saturday nights – 10 p.m. (sometimes Thurs.) Rock/Hard Rock/Sothern Rock Sideline’s, Florence When: Most Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays Music: Acoustic Jam Wilson Park, Downtown Florence When: Wednesdays in May – 11a.m.-1 p.m. Music: Various genres FIZZ, The Holiday Inn, Sheffield Friday and Saturday Live bands Every Thursday Muscle Shoals to Music Row songwriters showcase, Sept - June Music: Various genres Attractions
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Stop in Huntsville to experience its exciting night life full of live music! Huntsville is home to one of the state’s largest music events, Big Spring Jam, which is held in September. The city’s downtown area hosts Washington Square, a mini entertainment district with live music. Just 8 minutes away you can take a gondola ride at Bridge Street Town Centre where a new Westin is now open. Along with Big Spring Jam, smaller music events in Huntsville include Huntsville Sacred Harp Singing – Saturday before the First Sunday in May and North Alabama “Down Home” Blues Festival in May and the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention – first Friday and Saturday in October (Athens). Huntsville Area Music Venues Crossroads Café, Huntsville Thursday-Saturday nightly Varies; Blues, Folk, Jazz, Rock Humphrey’s, Huntsville Monday-Saturday nightly Varies; Blues, Rock, Bluegrass, Jazz Jazz Factory, Huntsville Wed-Saturday – Martini Lounge - Varies Friday & Saturday – Dining Area - Jazz Kaffeeklatsch Bar, Huntsville Nightly Varies but specializes in Acoustic and Blues “Jam Nights” The Brick Deli & Tavern, Decatur Wednesday – Saturday |
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In Birmingham, you can still hear jazz echoing from downtown nightclubs in places such as Ona’s Music Room. Other downtown music attractions include The Jazz Hall of Fame and coming soon, a new entertainment district. Alabama American Idols Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard each plan to open clubs in the new district, named The Forge after the city’s past iron and steel industry. Birmingham Area Music Festivals include City Stages – Father’s Day Weekend Fri-Sun in June. Smaller music events in and near Birmingham include the National Sacred Harp Convention Thursday- Saturday before the third Sunday in June, The Preserve Jazz Festival in June, Freedom Creek Blues Festival – Last weekend in May (Aliceville), Horsepens 40 – Spring and Fall Bluegrass Festivals (Gadsden), Tuscaloosa Crawfish & Blues Festival – May (Tuscaloosa) and Black Belt Folk Roots Festival O’l Timey Blues Show – August (Eutaw) . Birmingham Area Music Venues Blue Monkey, Birmingham Nightly Jazz Piano Zydeco, Birmingham Friday & Saturday and varies other nights Varies Ona’s Music Room Wednesday – Saturday Jazz Workplay, Birmingham Most nights Varies Metro Bistro & Market, Birmingham Most nights Jazz to Alternative The Nick, Birmingham Nightly Varies The Garage Café, Birmingham Varies Rock, Soul, Blues Gabriel’s Café, Hoover Thursday – Saturday Varies; Rock, Jazz, Country Little Willie’s, Tuscaloosa Varies Jazz The Forge Entertainment District Set to open by early 2010 Downtown Birmingham |
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Continue your trip southward to Alabama’s capital city of Montgomery, the central point in the Hank Williams legend. Hank was country music’s first superstar, selling 10 million records from 1947 to 1953. Hank’s final resting spot is located a mile from the Hank Williams Museum which houses Hank artifacts including his powder-blue Cadillac he was riding in when he died. Music Festivals include Jubilee CityFest – May. Smaller music events in and near Montgomery include Capitol Rotunda Singing – Saturday before the first Sunday in February, Hank Williams Birthday Celebration – September and Hank Williams Festival – First weekend in June (Georgiana). Montgomery Area Music Venues 1048 Jazz and Blues, Montgomery Nightly Varies; Jazz on Sunday Off The Wagon, Montgomery Thursday-Saturday plus over nights Varies Montgomery Brew Pub, Montgomery Most Thursday-Saturday Varies Sous La Terre, Montgomery Fridays-Saturdays, begins late night Jazz, Soul LaSalle Blue, Montgomery Thursday only Jazz The Olive Room, Montgomery Friday, Saturday night Jazz Piano Attractions
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The music highway continues south to Mobile, hometown of Jimmy Buffett and where the historic port city of Mobile features delicious seafood and an array of bars, restaurants and live music venues. Music Festivals include Mobile Bayfest in October. Another music events in and around Mobile includeMardi Gras – Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Mobile Music Venues Veet’s, Mobile Wednesday-Sunday Varies; County, Rock, Blues Soul Kitchen, Mobile Attractions
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A few miles from Mobile, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are resort towns with 32 miles of white sandy beaches off the Gulf of Mexico. Live bands perform at entertainment establishments including the Florabama, the famous roadhouse beach bar right on the Alabama/Florida State line. Alabama Gulf Coast Music Festivals include Frank Brown Songwriters Festival – 10 day even in November (Gulf Shores, Orange Beach), Crawfish Festival – April (Faunsdale). Festivals on the beach that include music are The Annual National Shrimp Festival – each year during the second full weekend in October (Gulf Shores) and the Mullet Toss – the last full weekend in April at the Flora-Bama. (Orange Beach). Weekend Concerts regularly held at “The Wharf.” Alabama Gulf Coast Area Music Venues LuLu’s at Homeport Marina, Gulf Shores Nightly Jimmy Buffett’s Sister’s Place, Local Bands Florabama, Orange Beach Nightly #1 Roadside Beach Bar, Bands varies Pink Pony Pub, Gulf Shores Most nights Located on the beach, Bands varies The Wharf Amphitheater, Orange Beach Wednesday-Sunday Varies; County, Rock, Blues The Hangout, Gulf Shores Nightly Located on the beach, local |
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Highlights
Weeklong Christmas festival in Demopolis. Finale is the first Saturday in December.
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