The state of Alabama has a rich history of producing musical talent. Hank Williams is a good place to start since he set the standard for every country star since and his son made quite an impression as well. “Bocephus” had quite a run from the late 70s through 80s with a string of hit albums mixing his version of outlaw country with Southern rock and a bit of the blues. The group “Alabama” was the first to make the concept of a self-contained band in country music popular with the mainstream and rose to unprecedented heights in the 80s.

More recently, the state’s talent was more likely to be found on the Americana scene than on corporate country radio. While Jamey Johnson has written some hits for others that have found airplay, his own concerts have been more devoted to covering the classics than promoting any new material. The Drive-By Truckers may have “officially” formed in Athens, Georgia, but they are most certainly an Alabama band and remain hugely popular after more than 20 years on the road. Jason Isbell first gained recognition as part of the DBT lineup. Since he left the group in 2007, his solo career has skyrocketed and he is one of the unquestioned superstars of the genre. Also, the lead singers for two of today’s hottest Southern rock bands hail from Alabama; Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke and Wes Bayliss of the Steel Woods. Adam Hood had to leave Alabama and go to Texas to gain the widespread recognition he deserves but he has moved back to the state. He continues to write great songs with a new record set to come out later this year and is a steady fixture at performance venues around the country. Now, an impressive new wave of Alabama talent is ready to step up and be heard. 

Like so many other artists, the pandemic of 2020 robbed the Red Clay Strays of their building momentum. Tour dates in a much wider range than the Gulf-state gigs they had been playing for several years and festivals that would have had them in front of bigger audiences than ever before all went away in a matter of weeks. They were able to salvage a few of those dates but that meant more one-off trips to far away states rather than a series of shows on the way out and back home to Mobile, Alabama. The Strays made it through 2021 and as the year came to a close the prospect of a weekend in Key West with a spot on the bill at the 2022 Mile 0 Fest was something to get excited about. As it turns out, the Red Clay Strays were one of the most talked-about acts at the hugely popular festival and within minutes of their performance RCS were blowing up social media. (There is a fantastic video of the band literally pushing their piano over a mile through the streets of Key West to get to the stage for their show.)  Now they are picking up even more of those lost tour dates and have their first album release scheduled for April 29 which showcases their wide range of styles from Southern soul with a hint of gospel to country with a twist of rock. 

Brothers James and Frank Ford formed Them Dirty Roses with their hometown Gadsden, Alabama, buddies Andrew Davis and Ben Crain then headed to Nashville. Their solid Southern rock/Outlaw country sound was featured on their debut EP released in 2017 and they have been steady road warriors playing shows wherever they could get a gig and have started to play some of the more renowned music venues in the Midwest. They released five new singles in the second half of 2021 and have just announced a 15-show tour beginning in April opening for Cody Canada & the Departed as well as a spot at the Peacemaker Festival in Ft Smith, Arkansas, that will introduce them to very appreciative audiences. The band promises even more new music in 2022. 

Taylor Hunnicutt grew up in Marengo County, Alabama, south of Tuscaloosa and west of Montgomery. She got a guitar when she was 17 and went to college on a vocal performance scholarship, but it was her time as a waitress in a fried chicken restaurant where her singing career really took off. She was heard singing along with the bands while she was waiting tables and soon was invited to join them on stage. She moved to Birmingham, learned to play guitar, started a band, and has been gaining experience and exposure while continuing to grow as a writer and performer. She is also part of the Birmingham-based Black Jacket Symphony, a rotating ensemble of musicians that recreate classic albums note-for-note and sound-for-sound live on stage. Taylor has begun touring more across Texas and Oklahoma, appearing at many of the more popular venues while continuing to gather new fans along the way. In April, she’ll be recording a live show at the famous Mercury Lounge in Tulsa for a future release.

BB Palmer bills himself as “Lee County’s Finest” and calls Opelika, Alabama, home. At first listen, his nasal twang and the band’s traditional country sound might lead you to expect the typical honky-tonk fare. Instead, Palmer offers up songs with a much more cosmic worldview. It may take you a few times paying extra attention to the lyrics to fully appreciate the depth of the message. More recently he has immersed himself in the Indian culture after coming across a copy of the “Bhagavad Gita.” He says it had a profound impact and he immediately began diving into raga and incorporating those sounds, including a sitar, into his traditional country style. The result is Krishna Country and some singles have already been released from the project. BB Palmer and Taylor Hunnicutt share a band and she sings background vocals for his live shows so the two are often on the road together.

Early James moved to Birmingham a few years ago from his home in Troy, Alabama, and immediately made a huge impact on the local music scene. James and bassist Adrian Marmolejo had done some limited touring as a duo and released a hurriedly-produced EP to have something to sell on the road. Still not yet 30 years old, James has captured a sound that is decidedly retro but still very much rooted here in the 21st century. His unique vocals match perfectly with his deft fingerstyle guitar work. It was that singular sound that caught the ear of Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys who produced the Singing For My Supper album, which has brought much critical attention. James has recently been on a national tour with the Lone Bellow and is currently on the road again with that group’s Zachary Williams.  

One more up-and-comer to keep your eye on is Ella Langley. She is originally from Hope Hull, Alabama, but has already made the move to Nashville. Ella has the looks and the chops to make it big and has just signed on for a tour opening for Koe Wetzel in April and May. If she can get through that, she’ll be ready for just about anything! She will also have a featured appearance at the Peacemaker Festival in Ft Smith this summer.

As the music world begins its return to normal, Alabama artists are ready to play. Keep an eye out on touring schedules as they are on the road nationwide this year. As the Red Clay Strays would put it, “How ‘Bout Ya Come On!” #HBYCO