Jason Isbell Brings Shoals Fest to Alabama in October
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Sloss Festival 2018. Photo by Chris Griffy.
The loss of Birmingham's Sloss Festival after last year's disastrous weather was a major blow for Alabama's festival scene. But this year, one of Alabama's favorite sons, and one of Sloss' last headliners, is stepping up with a festival of his own. Multi-time Grammy winning artist Jason Isbell, a native of Green Hill, near the musical mecca of Muscle Shoals, is organizing a one-day festival in October called Shoals Fest.
Held Oct. 5 at McFarland Park in Florence, Shoals Fest intentionally doesn't try to replicate the scope of a Bonnaroo or Coachella. With a capacity of around 5,000 and a main-stage lineup of four, Shoals Fest is focusing on an intimate festival experience. Another exciting thing about such a small lineup is that, according to the festival's website, all artists will be performing full sets. While Isbell is a favorite on the festival circuit, he did take part of 2017 off due to not wanting to force fans to pay festival prices for abbreviated sets.
While the Shoals Fest lineup is small, it packs some serious roots music muscle. Here's who is currently scheduled to perform:
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
If you're a fan of roots music at all, you likely already know Jason Isbell. The recipient of four Grammy Awards and nine Americana Music Awards, Isbell's last three albums, Southeastern, Something More Than Free, and The Nashville Sound, have all been chart toppers and have spawned singles like “If We Were Vampires” and “24 Frames.” Along with Isbell is his long-time band The 400 Unit. While much of Isbell's musical output is acoustic, his last album showed more of his rock side and really brought The 400 Unit (Chad Gamble, Jimbo Hart, Amanda Shires, Sadler Vaden, and Derry DeBorja) into their own as this generation's answer to The Heartbreakers. Isbell is also known for his time in Drive-By Truckers, and songs he wrote for that band like “Never Gonna Change” and “Danko/Manuel” are frequent setlist favorites.
Amanda Shires
Amanda Shires will be pulling double duty at Shoals Fest. In addition to her work as fiddler and harmony vocalist for The 400 Unit, Shires will also be performing a set of her solo work as well. The Americana Music Awards 2017 Emerging Artist of the Year, Shires has become a fan favorite for her wide exploration within the genre, especially on her latest release, 2018's To the Sunset. As comfortable with a synth-laden rock tune as she is with a country ballad, Shires has also been widely recognized for her lyricism, not surprising for an artist with a Masters Degree in Poetry from the prestigious University of the South. Shires is also known as a frequent collaborator, with appearances on albums by John Prine, Tommy Emmanuel, Justin Townes Earle, and Todd Snider to name a few.
Mavis Staples
Jason Isbell may be Shoals Fest's headliner, but only one artist at the festival can boast being a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Mavis Staples. Staples came of age as a member of legendary gospel and soul group The Staple Singers, who melded their religious songs like “I'll Take You There” with some of the civil rights era's most famous protest songs like “Freedom Highway.” As a solo artist, Staples has found a home in the Americana community, winning a Grammy for Best Americana Album in 2010 for You Are Not Alone. She has also become associated with some of the genre's biggest names, performing or collaborating with artists like Jeff Tweedy, Joan Osborne, and M. Ward.
Sheryl Crow
Anyone who came of age in the mid-'90s likely knows the name Sheryl Crow. With hits like “Every Day is a Winding Road” and “All I Wanna Do”, Crow was one of the signature voices of that decade, to the tune of nine Grammy Awards. Since that time, Crow has remained an important voice on the roots music scene, continuing to release solo albums, as well as working with artists like St. Vincent, Emmylou Harris, and Miranda Lambert. In 2019, Crow released a single for her 1996 song “Redemption Day” that cut her own vocals with the version Johnny Cash recorded for his 2010 album Ain't No Grave, creating a stunning “duet” that has increased anticipation for her new work.
Artists to be Announced
While the second stage artists for Shoals Fest have yet to be announced, both the state's rich musical bench and Isbell's own history of finding tour openers portends good things, and a possible deviation from the main stage's Americana theme. While past openers for Isbell shows have included Americana acts like Molly Tuttle and St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Isbell's last Ryman residency also included punk rockers Bully and garage rockers Diarrhea Planet.
Tickets for Shoals Fest 2019 are long sold out, but the FAQ on the festival's website instructs fans to watch the festival's social media outlets for information so if last minute tickets become available, that's where to find them. Shoals Fest will take place Oct. 5 at McFarland Park in Florence, Alabama. Gates open at Noon and the music begins at 1 p.m.