• About
  • Calendar
  • Artists
    • Submit Your Event
  • Venues
  • Blog
  • Media Coverage

Art

Big Spring Park

Concerts In The Park At Big Spring Park Starts June 7th

June 6, 2021 by Alex Hendrix
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, Musicians, News
alabama, arts huntsville, concerts in the park, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville culture, huntsville live music, live music, live music huntsville, live music huntsville al, music event, rocket city, tennessee valley

The sun is shining, the temperature is rising, and the humidity has come out to play. Typically this abrupt reintroduction to Summer would have us hiding in our homes with four fans pointed at us, but the season does hold one very particular advantage – the return of Arts Huntsville’s Concerts in the Park.

This free summer-long series has been a staple in Huntsville for years, providing a fun weekly entertainment option for families, couples and friend groups alike.

Beginning June 7th and continuing over ten weeks, local bands will be set up outside the Huntsville Museum of Art while music-lovers hang out in Big Spring Park on lawn chairs, blankets, or whatever seating arrangement your heart desires.

Some of our favorite food trucks and vendors will be parked along Williams Avenue and Church Street for you to turn your concert into a picnic, or you’re free to bring your own food and drink to enjoy.

Concerts In The Park

Some of the food trucks you can expect to see are Hippea Camper, which is plant-based comfort food; all-beef hotdogs and treats from Golden Years Ice Cream Parlor & Diner; Happi Pappi beignets and more; Yum Yum’s Gourmet Popcorn & Lemonade Stand; O Taste & See BBQ; Mac & Snacks gourmet mac & cheese; mega-burgers from The Piled High Grill; and Iceworks shaved ice.

And bring your four-legged friends, too – leashed dogs are welcome to come and groove with you.

Staring June 7th, mark your calendars for your new Monday night tradition and meet us at Concerts in the Park every Monday from 6:30-8:30pm through August 9th!

MUSIC LINEUP

JUNE 7 – The Unique Live Band / JUICE

JUNE 14 – Victoria Jones and Jordan Moore / JED Eye

JUNE 21 – Luke and Jay / Kat Elizabeth

JUNE 28  – Maneuver Center of Excellence Band (MCoE)

JUNLY 5  – A.M. Brown / Darien Omar

JULY 12 – Chelsea, Who? / Remy Neal

JULY 19 – Seeking Babylon / Groove

JULY 26 – Kristoffer Leshaun / Rocket City Latin Band

AUGUST 2 – Jimmy Henderson Trio / .45 Surprise

AUGUST 9 – Weather Make-Up Date (bands TBD)

Alex Hendrix
Alex Hendrix

Alex is a native Huntsvillian and a singer/songwriter, culture promoter, and content creator.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send us an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

info@alexhendrix.co
Patterson Hood Interview

Interviewing Patterson Hood About The Princess Theater, Songwriting, and His Ties To Huntsville

May 21, 2021 by Tom Patterson
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, Musicians, News
alabama, Drive-by Truckers, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville culture, huntsville live music, live music huntsville, music event, Patterson Hood, rocket city, tennessee valley, The Princess Theatre

Southern rock fans, listen up – Patterson Hood (of the Drive-By Truckers) is playing the Princess Theater in Decatur, Alabama on June 26th, and he may be more excited than we are about the show – and that’s saying something.

HuntsvilleMusic.com’s Tom sat down with Patterson for an exclusive interview to talk about all things music, performing, and what’s to come, and wound up lucking into an in-depth conversation spanning politics, family, Kendrick Lamar, and more.

Patterson was especially passionate when reminiscing about his ties to Huntsville, saying of the growing city:


 

“I grew up in Florence, Alabama and the Muscle Shoals area, so […] I’d see concerts at the Von Braun Civic Center. I saw Kansas more times than I can count. Eddie Money, Billy Squire, I went to all those shows. When Cooley [of the Drive-By Truckers] and I formed our first band 36 years ago, Adam’s House Cat, we used to play the Tip Top.“

 


Watch the full interview below to hear Patterson shed light on what it was like to write music during a pandemic, how his songs and their meanings have changed over time, and what upcoming projects he has in the works.

As for us, Tom, the man behind the interview, is an avid Truckers fan and has been following Patterson’s career for some time. He knows the old adage ‘don’t meet your heroes,’ but in this case, he says it couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“He’s one of those instances where you don’t have to worry about separating the artist and the art – he’s just an all around genuine, thoughtful person,” enthuses Tom.

And Tom plans on bringing his enthusiasm to the Princess Theater, where he’ll see Patterson Hood play solo live for the second time.

There are still a few tickets to the June 26th show at the Princess Theater in Decatur, Alabama, so grab them before they sell out. And if you see us, come say hey – we’d love to sing a few bars of our favorite Patterson Hood chorus with you.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER LIST

Tom Patterson

Tom is the Creative Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Huntsville, AL with his two boys Danny and Jackson.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com
A Taste of Panoply 2021

A Taste of Panoply’s Live Music

April 22, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Festivals, Huntsville, Live Music, News
a taste of panoply, alabama, arts huntsville, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville culture, huntsville live music, live music huntsville, music event, panoply, rocket city, tennessee valley

I think we can all agree that as 2021 progresses, things are seriously looking up – vaccines are rolling out, the weather is beautiful, and, best of all, Panoply is back on.

Panoply is Huntsville’s famous three-day arts festival that takes place every spring at Big Spring Park and is a round up of local artists, food and drink vendors, and awesome music that brings the community together. This weekend, Panoply’s back, and it’s going to look a little different – but one thing that remains the same is the presence of local musical talent.

We had the privilege of spending an evening with Lana White and her bandmate, Kira Hughes, of Lana and the Seekers, who’ll be performing in the coveted Saturday afternoon spot to open for Southern rock sound the Vegabonds. They gave us some insight on what to expect not just from their act but from the festival as a whole.

First, though, let’s dive into what this year’s Panoply will look like and why Arts Huntsville is referring to it as ‘A Taste of Panoply.’

‘“A Taste of Panoply,’ a scaled-back version of the annual three-day arts festival, will be held from April 23-25, 2021, in Big Spring Park in downtown Huntsville. This year’s event will look different from previous years while providing the community with an opportunity to safely interact to celebrate and support the arts community.” – Arts Huntsville

This means a few major changes, most of which focus on social distancing, increased cleanliness and sanitizing protocols, and a donation-based pay structure. Find out more details here at the Arts Huntsville Panoply page.

What this year’s Panoply isn’t scaling back, however, is music. Their weekend lineup is an astounding collection of local and national talent, outlined in detail by Arts Huntsville:
&nbsp &nbsp

FRIDAY APRIL 23


“The ticketed “A Taste of Panoply” Friday Festival Preview event kicks off with the Lamont Landers Band. Closing out the evening is Nashville-based headlining act The War And Treaty. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo were named emerging artists of the year by the Americana Music Association and were featured on the Today Show and at the 2021 Rose Bowl Parade Spectacular. The War And Treaty has previously performed with Mumford & Sons, toured with Jason Isbell and will be opening for John Legend on multiple tour dates this summer.
&nbsp &nbsp

SATURDAY APRIL 24


Saturday on the Showcase Stage features local and regional talent throughout the day including the following acts: Tyler A.K., Them Damn Dogs, WANDA, Joe Cagle, DMRSoul and Lana White. Saturday night, the Unique Live Band will open for the headlining act The Vegabonds, who will close out the evening with a night of Southern rock music. The Alabama-born, Tennessee-bred group of five musicians released their fifth studio album “V” in 2019 and have previously opened for acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the late Gregg Allman.

The Lamont Landers Band

The War & Treaty

Them Damn Dogs

WANDA

LANA WHITE

SUNDAY APRIL 25


On Sunday, “A Taste of Panoply” celebrates a day of Alabama Music, featuring a full-day lineup of artists from North Alabama with the following acts: Cotton and Clover, Alan Little and the Giants, Ally Cat and the Stray Dogs, Midlife Chrysler and The Beasley Brothers to the Showcase Stage.”

HuntsvilleMusic.com sat down with Lana White and Kira Hughes of Lana and the Seekers to talk Panoply, the Huntsville music scene, and women in music.

Lana and the Seekers is a Huntsville all-girl band comprised of Lana White, Kira Hughes, Canita Rogers, Alli Johnson, and Kim Coffey, all talented Huntsville musicians who play in other acts or solo but who are coming together with the shared vision of creating Huntsville’s own all-female rock group. And, for most of the band, it’s their first time playing Panoply – a fitting starting point for the 256 fixtures.

LANA AND THE SEEKERS INTERVIEW

They promise rock with intricate melodies, harmonizing, and ear-pleasing guitar riffs to kick off the Saturday evening lineup. I ask Lana about the band and their sound and she is, as always, easy to talk to, warm and open as if she’s an old friend and not someone I’ve only met once before. She and Kira have easy rapport and volley compliments back and forth with a genuineness that you can’t help but lean into, charmed by their earnestness.

“She’s the best drummer I know,” Lana enthuses at one point, as Kira, shyer by nature, affectionately shakes her head. Fewer than five minutes later, however, Kira’s giving it right back, describing how easy it is to put together a set list from Lana’s original music – “It’s all so good, there’s so much great stuff to choose from.”

And Lana and the Seekers will be playing their original music at Panoply, along with a few ‘girl rock’ power anthems to get the crowd singing along.

“We wanted to pay tribute to other all-female rock groups that have paved the way, so we’ve got the Bengals, the Go Gos, Heart,” Lana says, Kira nodding along as she speaks. This cohesion comes from years of knowing one another, though Lana and the Seekers haven’t gotten the chance to play together yet.

And we can think of a better stage to debut than Panoply’s.

Panoply arts festival will be happening at Big Spring Park this weekend, April 23rd – 25th, and will feature all manner of eclectic art from local and regional talent as well as good food, cold drinks, and fantastic music. Visit Arts Huntsville to learn more about ticketing, safety, and more – and we’ll see y’all there.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER LIST

Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Tennessee Valley Music Showcase

First Annual Tennessee Valley Music Showcase, Free At Mars Music Hall

April 9, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, News
alabama, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville culture, huntsville opera, live music huntsville, mars music hall, rocket city, tennessee valley, tennessee valley music showcase

Get ready to rock, Tennessee Valley – Huntsville’s hosting the first Annual Tennessee Valley Music Showcase, a free event happening at Mars Music Hall on April 17th, 2021 all day long. This free event is the first of its kind at Mars Music Hall and will be showcasing local talent from all over the southeastern region.

Derek Welsh

Derek Welsh

Southern rocker Derek Welsh of McQueen Street fame and award-winning country star Paige King Johnson will be headlining the show and setting the tone for genres, which will be a mix of southern rock, country, and classic rock ‘n roll. Supporting regional acts include Inclination of Direction, Bad Ethyl, Cameron Dubois, Zoe Burdett, Michael Clark, Tyler AK, and more.

Paige King Johnson

The event will also include vendors Serengeti Guitars of Hartselle, Redstone Harley Davidson, Copper Top Bar & Grill, and more. Doors will open at 12 to browse the vendors and showcase, with music beginning at 2 and going until 10. There will be merch giveaways throughout the day.

The showcase is organized by long-time Alabama native and music enthusiast Steve X, whose mission in hosting such a large-scale event is simple.

“[This showcase] is all about bringing people together and having a good time. Showing them that Huntsville’s alive and vibrant in the music scene. This is gonna be an annual thing, so this is the first of many showcases to come in the city of Huntsville.”

His mission echoes ours at HuntsvilleMusic.com – to show the Tennessee Valley that you don’t have to make a drive to a neighboring city to hear great music.

“All these artists are gonna be playing some of their original music and it’s such good stuff. It’s gonna be a great time to come and discover your next favorite band. There will be some covers for everyone to enjoy, but we really want to showcase our local talent.”

The event was conceptualized by Steve and the Von Braun Center’s Mike Vojticek, who worked together to create this unique, tailor-made experience to promote music and culture within Huntsville, by Huntsville.

Mars Music Hall

Mars Music Hall

“We’re very grateful to Mars Music Hall for letting us do this, as well as Mike and his staff. We really just can’t thank them enough and all the bands, of course. We have no idea what to expect for the showcase – we’re ready for 300 people and we’re ready for 1700 people. We’re excited to see how Huntsville embraces this.”

For many of the bands, this showcase will be their first experience playing on such a large stage, and for others, it will be a return to humble roots. Most of the acts will be available to the public after their sets to sign autographs, take photos, and talk shop.

The event is a come-and-go, free event, so music lovers can pop into Mars to hear a set, then take a walk downtown to eat, drink, or soak up the sun in nearby Big Spring Park. The showcase is open to all ages, so bring your rock ‘n roll mini-me’s, and get ready to enjoy some live Huntsville Music.

“It’s the first showcase of many, our first annual Tennessee Valley Music Showcase. It’s a free show and I just hope it’s a great night for everyone.”

We’re with you, Steve.

For more information, visit the Mars Music Hall site.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER LIST

Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Gilbert & Sullivan

Gilbert And Sullivan In Rocket City: An Upcoming Outdoor Operatic Experience

March 31, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, News
alabama, burritt on the mountain, gilbert and sullivan, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville botanical gardens, huntsville culture, huntsville opera, live music huntsville, opera, Opera Huntsville, rocket city

Huntsville is about to get a whole lot more cultured thanks to Opera Huntsville’s upcoming series, an operatic performance bespoke to the Rocket City called Gilbert and Sullivan in Rocket City.

We sat down with Erin Huelskamp, stage director of the production, to get some insider insight on challenges, highlights, and what to expect, but first, some background on this eclectic experience.

Gilbert & Sullivan In Rocket City

According to Opera Huntsville, “Gilbert and Sullivan in Rocket City is a one-of-a-kind production set in Huntsville and highlighting each of the 14 operas created by the iconic duo W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan (G&S).

This show combines some of G&S’s best-known pieces such as Three Little Maids, The Matter Trio, and Poor Wandr’ing One with brand new, clever dialogue by G&S lover and expert, Jaie Deschene. Tailor-made for Opera Huntsville, the three little maids transform into three little engineering nerds from UAH. The nerds wander through Rocket City building robots, spaceships, and, of course, looking for love. Hilarity ensues.

This fully staged, hour-long production features ten stellar singers alongside the Calhoun Chorus and a nine-piece orchestra. Set outside, performed with masks, and socially distanced, it should be an experience that brings musical excellence and a sense of joy to Huntsville. The singers and the orchestra will be amplified in order to hear them clearly while outside and masked.”

HuntsvilleMusic.com got a chance to interview stage director Erin Huelskamp, who shed some light on why this production is a must-see for opera lovers and Huntsvillians alike.

“I think that one of the coolest things on earth about Huntsville [is that it’s the Rocket City], and to have an opera that engages with that is just really fun. There are lots of little things that reference Rocket City in the show. In some of our opening lyrics, we say, ‘if you marry me, a rocket I will build you.’ Of course, that’s not the original lyric, but you’ll notice lots of cute things like that.”

Lyrics aren’t the only thing that were changed to accommodate the current climate, however – the show will be performed outdoors, something that’s unusual for an operatic performance. But Erin and her troupe aren’t deterred – in fact, they’re excited.

“[Our outdoor venue choices] were definitely influenced by the pandemic since we knew we needed someplace safe. Burritt on the Mountain and the Huntsville Botanical Gardens are so iconic in Huntsville, and it was exciting to be able to partner with them and present a show in a way that we hope is going to be as safe as possible for everyone involved.”

If you marry me...

And when Erin says everyone involved, she means everyone – musicians, chorus members, and singers included. Which means masks for performers, which in turn calls for bigger performances.

“We’re going to have to engage a little bit more in what would be considered a grand opera staging where you use your body in its entirety to tell the story. If you can imagine how operas are usually performed, you would have people in nosebleed seats who could only kind of see the performers on stage through binoculars or what have you. People who are performing in those venues have to use big gestures because you’re playing to a house that’s huge. Even though we’re small, we’re masked, so we’re going to have to engage in a similar way.”

But Erin doesn’t sound deterred by the twist on a traditional smaller-scale operetta performance. In fact, she sounds excited by it, eager to share her and writer Jaie Deschene’s brainchild with the city that inspired it. Her enthusiasm is infectious, especially when she promises pirates – “you can’t do Gilbert and Sullivan without pirates!” – and spills over as she promises a good time for everyone, regardless of age or familiarity with opera as an art form.

“It’s intentionally kooky, it’s intentionally fun and random. I hope people enjoy it and have a good time. We want to make you laugh – there’s been too much heavy. We hope to make you laugh and enjoy our city.”

For more information and to grab your tickets, visit https://www.operahuntsville.org/gilbert-and-sullivian.

Gilbert and Sullivan
in Rocket City


Friday 4/9/21, 7:00 PM
, Huntsville Botanical Gardens
Saturday 4/10/21, 2:00 PM, Huntsville Botanical Gardens
Sunday 4/11/21, 7:00 PM, Burritt on the Mountain

And for more information regarding instrumentalists and additional artistic staff members, please contact ebohn@operahuntsville.org.

*denotes Huntsville-based performer

Performers:

Shane Kennedy, tenor*

Charles M. Anderson, tenor

Amanda Nelson, soprano

Rachel Eve Homes, soprano

Celese Sanders, soprano*

Sierra Hammond, soprano*

Rachel Gibson, mezzo soprano

Chauncey McGlathery, tenor*

Justin Colon, baritone

Xavier Joseph, baritone

Erin Huelskamp Bohn, stage director*

John South, music director*

Calhoun Chorus, directed by Granville Oldham*

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER LIST

Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Alex Hendrix

Exclusive Interview With Alex Hendrix On Her New Single, Necromantic

March 25, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Artists, Culture, Huntsville, Musicians, News
alabama, alex hendrix, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, live music, necromantic

What do you get when you combine a dynamic songwriter-producer relationship, smoked honey vocals, and a pandemic’s worth of pent-up existential dread?

A fucking fantastic song.

Alex Hendrix’s latest single, Necromantic, is all of this and more. It drops this Friday, March 26th, and we have the inside scoop on it – plus a teaser to bless your ears.

Alex Hendrix – Necromantic

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Loading tracks...
/

Hendrix, a contributor at HuntsvilleMusic.com (and just about every other Huntsville-based institution), sat down with me today to discuss her new single. We covered everything from the recording process to Evanescence to quarantine coping.

But, of course, we had to start with the title.

NECROMANTIC

adjective

nec·​ro·​man·​tic | \ˈne-krə-ˌman(t)ic

1.

: – an amalgamation of the Greek prefix ‘necro’ meaning death and the English word ‘romantic’ meaning characterized by or suggestive of an idealized view of reality. Or, according to Alex, “A play on necromancy, which is communicating with the dead.”

Grace: Hello, Alex, welcome to the interview. Are you excited?

Alex: NO. Next question.

Grace: I’m keeping that in.

Alex: Please do.

Grace: We’re here today to talk all about your shiny new single, the name of which is probably my favorite song title in the history of music: Necromantic.

Can you tell me where ‘Necromantic’ as a title came from?

Alex: I am so glad you enjoy it! Necromantic was actually not the original title, so I’m extra glad you appreciate the change. It was originally something very self-referential that tied back in with the line about Death Knells, but once Necromantic popped into my head I knew it was the one. It’s a little bit of a nod to what the song tries to do, which is tie in these gothic romantic themes with ghosts and hauntings, but more than that I just thought it sounded clever, so here we are.

Grace: I like it so much because it’s such a marriage of the eerie/creepy with the beautiful and romantic – like the song.

Alex: Thank you, I thought it sort of wrapped up everything I was going for into one memorable word.

Grace: I think so, too.

The song itself is a pretty big change from your usual sound. You describe it as ‘part gilded ghost story, part synthy melancholia.’ Why the departure from your usual folksy vibe?

Alex: During Quarantine, I got very into writing these gothic songs and eventually gothic short stories, it was such a weirdly specific catharsis for some reason. There’s a cinematic quality to this song that I knew as soon as I started writing the lyrics had to be involved if I was ever going to record it. But, I also think that there’s usually a large difference in the way I write songs in my head and the way I play them. This was my first time working with Johnny Okwu, who produced this track and was absolutely amazing, and my style probably would have expanded a long time ago if I’d met him sooner. This was the first time I was really able to articulate what I heard to someone who could make it happen.

Grace: Your voice and intonation sounds different, too – you told me that [Johnny Okwu] told you to ‘whisper’ some of the words.

Alex: Yes, I ran through the vocals once for a draft version as we were building the track and he said, “That was great-” which I knew meant it was not, in fact, “- but try whispering it this time.” And we ended up rolling with those placeholder vocals and never re-recording finals.

Grace: It worked so well. Your voice sounds fuller and richer – can I make the comparison?

Can I say it? About Amy [Lee, the lead singer of Evanescence]? Cuz… damn, girl.

Alex: Please do, I will bask in that comparison for all my days. There are so many little quirks in my voice that came through on this recording that always get buried or muffled, it’s really a night and day difference.

Grace: It is. And no one ever changes the radio station from Amy Lee – it’s physically impossible not to sing along. Necromantic has that quality, too.

Alex: Thank you, that is incredibly generous. I grew up crying in my bedroom to Evanescence, there is absolutely a bit of my soul that was forged by Amy Lee.

Grace: So not much has changed?

Alex: I have always been operating at this level of emotional flamboyance, yes.

Grace: ‘Emotional flamboyance’ should be the title of the album.

Alex: That’s what I’ll call the tour.

Grace: I cannot wait.

Let’s talk lyrical content for Necromantic. It’s such a rich, visceral song, and I think a lot that has to do with the flickering images you feed the listener. What led that choice?

Alex: It was a little bit of a writing exercise, honestly. I wanted to add elements you’d find in gothic literature, so the verses are very much about scene building and aesthetic. That was a different way to write songs for me, because usually it’s very feelings-forward. I love that genre of writing because it is such a haunting juxtaposition between these vivid beautiful images and the horrifying things that are happening. I feel like that speaks to me on a personal level, also.

Grace: I’m glad you used the word ‘juxtaposition’ since you do a lot of interesting play with juxtaposing two unlike things in this song and making them like.

For example, the drama and dated-ness of the imagery paired with the casual way you use ‘babe’ – something about that feels wrong but also so right.

It’s rare that you get ‘babe’ and ‘parapet’ in the same song.

Alex: I mean, what an oversight for songwriting as a whole! I focus a lot on singular word choices, almost to the point of weird obsession sometimes, so anytime someone recognizes one of those agonized choices I am thrilled.

I wanted a little disorientation there in places, because as much as it’s a song about grief, it’s also a song about romanticizing your grief.

Which, for me, always go hand in hand no matter what.

Grace: That is very type 4 of you.

Alex: It is maximum type 4 energy.

Grace: What do you hope listeners will take from Necromantic?

Alex: I would say that maybe more than any other song I’ve ever written, Necromantic is a “for me” song. It’s all these dramatic elements I love paying homage to a genre I am obsessed with paired with subject matter that is not as relatable as, say, a breakup anthem. Everything about it was really very selfishly for myself. I hope people find a little bit of an escape in it, and more than anything I hope they put it on their Spooky Season playlists

Grace: That’s funny since I feel like when you finally have that little break through and make a piece of art that you think, ‘screw it, this is just for me, I’m not gonna try to adhere to what will ‘sell’ or get views,’ that’s when you make your best work.

And I really feel that this is your best work yet.

Alex: From your mouth to god’s ears!

Grace: I was raised Catholic, so. I’ve got that direct line.

Alex: Don’t tell him we want it too badly, though, I’m trying to preserve my cool image.

Grace: We’ll keep a lid on that part for now.

Alex Hendrix, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to the humble outfit that is HuntsvilleMusic.com.

Alex: It has been a true pleasure, thank you so much for listening to the song and still wanting to interview me.

Grace: I literally cannot stop listening to the song. It’s not just on my Spooky Season playlist – it’s on every single one of my dramatic melancholy sad-girl playlists, which is… a lot of them.

I can’t wait for all your fellow 4’s to put it on their moody playlists, too.

Alex: I hope 4s specifically enjoy this song, and if you don’t, then don’t tell me!

Check out Alex Hendrix’s site for more updates on releases, music videos, and more. And follow her on Instagram for a very aesthetically satisfying take on Huntsville, songwriting, and cute pets.

Join Our Mailing List

Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Letter - Judy Allison

An Open Letter From SheWrites’ Judy Allison

March 12, 2021 by Judy Allison
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, Musicians
huntsville musicians, huntsville singer songwriters, huntsville songwriters, judy allison, live music huntsville, purple 19, purple19, shewrites
Judy Allison

Imagine being in a darkened quiet room full of people, sitting comfortably at a table with friends and family. You’re facing a colorfully lit stage and listening to a hushed voice tell the story of a broken heart. Or maybe the voice is strong and the story is of hope, that you’re not alone, or about how she wrote about moving on from an old relationship and she felt empowered. But then you laugh when that story became a funny song about being the designated driver, having to make multiple stops on the way home. 

SheWrites and we listen. That’s how it went Saturday night as I hosted our 4th SheWrites Songwriter Showcase to kick off Women’s History Month. I am so very grateful for such a wonderful night because the spirit of the event felt like home. We laughed, we cried, we held our breath. At one point during the night I remember saying from the stage that it felt like one big “song hug”.  Then after a few heartbreak stories, we warned the audience: “Don’t date a songwriter. You WILL become song material!” We really had a great time! Our audience was attentive and interactive, the best support you could ever ask for – a true listening experience similar to what I’ve experienced at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. 

So, the lineup for SheWrites has evolved a bit from it’s inception in 2019. I think I’ve found an accidental balance this year when I had to replace our touring songwriter who had to cancel, with a local opener and then I split that time by adding a young performer to open the show! I think having a young performer who is new to the scene is a great way to show inclusiveness and opportunity to our aspiring songwriters. So I plan on keeping that format in the future! 

Purple 19
SheWrites
SheWrites Photo

I also plan to continue our pre-show vocal warm-ups! Special thanks to Karmessa who spent time with us in the green room, helping us learn relaxation techniques and the right way to warm up your voice for a show. Karmessa is a professional touring background singer for Ruben Studdard and also teaches voice at Maitland Conservatory. 

I sure hope you’ll find us, give Purple19 a follow on IG and facebook and go show some love to your favorite woman songwriter today in honor of International Women’s Day.  

Thanks for truly listening,

Judy Allison

Join Our Mailing List

Judy Allison
Judy Allison

Judy Allison is the creator of Purple 19. Purple19 is for connections, projects and education for music creators and songwriters. Purple19 is all about musical connections.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Ben Lovett, Amphitheater

Ben Lovett, Venue Group On Huntsville Amphitheater Progress

February 23, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, News
alabama, amphitheater, ben lovett, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville amphitheater, huntsville venue, live music, midcity, midcity distract, mike luba, ryan murphy, venue group

In late 2020, HuntsvilleMusic.com covered some of the biggest news of the year for our city – the official announcement of Huntsville’s newest park, the Amphitheater at MidCity.

And today, Huntsville Venue Group, the driving force behind the amphitheater, dropped an update on its amphitheater plans, complete with a video to stoke your excitement for the venue-recreation-entertainment juggernaut.

Plus, we got a chance to talk to Ben Lovett, founder of Venue Group and member of Grammy-award winning band Mumford & Sons, about all things amphitheater and Huntsville.

The shiniest, most exciting piece of Venue Group’s update was their video – a video showcasing Huntsville in all its vibrant, colorful glory, produced with the help of Knoxville-based videographers Loch & Key.

“This is unique,” says Devyn Keith, City Council Member, about the Amphitheater. “And if done correctly, the world will see it.” He’s sitting in his newly opened coffee shop, Dark Side Coffee, an endeavor that further cemented his reputation for not just saying but doing. And Keith, like so many others representing our city, is ready to do.

 A quality that Ben Lovett recognizes about our leadership, and much of what brought the amphitheater here in the first place.

In the video, Ben enthuses about Huntsville, his passion and excitement for this project sparking on screen. When I interview him about this, I ask him why – specifically, why Huntsville?

“There’s quite a lot of elements that make Huntsville a very special opportunity for growth and culture,” says Ben, with the fluency of someone speaking from the heart. “This region of North Alabama has such a rich history when it comes to music. You’ve got the story of Singing River, the Shoals – and you connect all of this with the administration in Huntsville that really values the results.”

The administration he’s referring to is represented in Venue Group’s video, matching Ben’s excitement about this massive project. And Ben doesn’t pull punches, calling them out by name, giving praise where he feels praise is due – to Huntsville itself.

“[The administration] is clear-minded in their goals to make Huntsville a better place. They’re just exactly what leaders should be – these people like John Hamilton and Mayor Battle and Devyn Keith. They’re pure of heart and you can tell there’s no bullshit, if you pardon my French. The people leading the progress are doing it for the right reasons. The administration plus the history and the people, it all creates this perfect storm of a moment to do something special.”

And the video showcases this. Making up the rest of the motley crew of Huntsville champions represented in the five-minute watch are musical artists Translee and DEQN SUE, Mayor Tommy Battle, Venue Group founder and president Ben Lovett and Ryan Murphy, Tangled String Studios owner Danny Davis, producer Mike Luba, and city administrator John Hamilton.

“The premise is we’re gonna build the best venue in the world,” says Ben on-camera, as if it’s simple. And to Ben, a concert-venue veteran, it is. “I’ve spent a lot of time over the last 5 years trying to figure out what it is about a venue that makes it special. A really critical part of that is the food and beverage experience.”

I ask him to expand on this – specifically, I ask him which dish he’s most excited to eat once the amphitheater is open.

“We’ve been throwing around some concepts. The thought that turns my head is this noodle bar, and just… having a noodle bar in the concourse. It’s so far from what you expect from a venue. You can go get a healthy meal that actually makes you feel good at a show instead of eating something heavy that makes you feel like you need to take a nap.”

This desire to make ‘better’ on the biggest scale possible is woven throughout the project, as evidenced by Ben’s excitement over creating this ‘food village.’

Amphitheater quote

“[Curating this food experience] is the next big challenge for the project over the next three to six months. I like that we can widen the palate of what’s available to the community; we can sort of bring in the best of London, of Austin, of New York City, and bring all of this to Huntsville and create this cross-pollination of culinary experience.”

Throughout the video, the rest of the amphitheater team echoes this sentiment. Ryan Murphy, president of Huntsville Venue Group and a good friend of HuntsvilleMusic.com, emphasizes the long-term effects this will have on shaping and creating the culture of our city.

“Right now, there’s a great opportunity for people to be taking that heritage and that history and not only amplifying the past but really writing the future for this whole area,” he says, sitting in his office, walls covered with blueprints of all the great things to come.

The video closes with Ben’s words as he earnestly tells  the audience, “One of the greatest joys of my career has been working on the Huntsville amphitheater. I mean, there’s so much to come; we are just at the starting line.”

I ask him why, exactly, working on this particular project counts among the greatest joys, and Ben is characteristically forthcoming.

“I’ve done a lot of things in the last 15 years. I’ve written songs, gone on tours, started a record label that’s done well, founded a publishing company. But I realized six years ago that I was still missing something. I wanted this thing – I had this idea that my grandchildren could one day step inside a place of mine and feel me, feel family. Venue Group has a lot of family, it’s who we are. Generations from now, we’ll have this space that can be a part of not only our lives but other people’s lives.”

He’s referring not only to the many families that make up Venue Group but also the families within it. He and his brother, Greg Lovett, are prominent leaders within the company.

But Ben’s desire to create something lasting goes beyond family. It’s all about experience, and creating spaces where life can unfold in all of its beauty.

Amphitheater Blue Print 3
Amphitheater Blue Print 2
These are the blueprints that decorate the office of Huntsville Venue Group.
Amphitheater Blue Print 1

“I had this experience once, when I was seeing a show in a London venue we built. And it was this brilliant singer, Frances, performing. And she invited a friend on stage… [and] he ended up proposing to his boyfriend there, on that stage. And I just thought, ‘this stage didn’t exist a year before.’ It was just rubble. But now it’s this place where these moments are happening.”

And it’s all about looking forward and building for the future.

“I love the idea that people will have local legacy stories about the Huntsville amphitheater. It could be as simple as, ‘Oh, I saw the Alabama Shakes play at the amphitheater in 2023.’ And by then it’s 2070 and that seems so long ago – it just seems so crazy. We’ve been building [the Huntsville amphitheater] with this longevity in mind. And this is going to be the most grand music venue that’s been built in the last five or so years in the world.

Along with the video, Venue Group also released a press release with amphitheater news. We distilled down the four major takeaways from the press release:

  • Construction is officially underway for the amphitheater, which is going to boast a completely unique design inspired by classical architecture but with a modern twist. ‘It looks almost Roman coliseum-like,’ says Mayor Tommy Battle.
  • Doors are set to open in April, 2022 – that’s only a year and some change away, guys. I am ready.
  • Ben Lovett, founder of Venue Group and member of Grammy-award winning band Mumford & Sons, hand-picked Huntsville as the ‘perfect location for their first foray into the U.S. market’ for building ‘a new era of world class music venues combined with significant community growth and amenities.’
  • Venue Group is hard at work curating an experience that swells beyond ‘just’ music – their focus is on creating a ‘food village’ surrounding the amphitheater that will be open year-round and provide dining and recreation options for Huntsville, regardless of what’s going on at the amphitheater.

You can find the full press release on the Amphitheater’s website.

Join Our Mailing List

Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Mardi Gras at MidCity

Mardi Gras Concert At The Camp Giveaway

February 11, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, News
alabama, events, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, live music, local, Mardi Gras, mardi gras at the camp, midcity, midcity distract, The Camp, The Camp at MidCity

Laissez les bons temps rouler, Huntsville – let the good times roll and celebrate Mardi Gras at the Camp with a socially-distant festival including good drinks, great food, and live music!

Wear Your Mask

Best of all?

We want to send two of you to Mardi Gras at the Camp for free, and the rest of you to Mardi Gras at the Camp with a special discount code.

Read on to find out more about this COVID-cautious celebration and how to score two free tickets or $10 off to celebrate Fat Tuesday Louisiana-style!

This Saturday, February 13th, the Camp at Midcity presents Mardi Gras at MidCity 2021, their second annual Mardi Gras celebration. The event will feature authentic Cajun food including world-renowned Randazzo’s king cakes and Cajun staples like gumbo and crawfish Monica, authentic Nola décor and elements, and a cacophony of New Orleans cocktail favorites like Purple Drank, Nola Bloody Marys, and the Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane. All themed cocktails are served in fancy specialty glasses that are yours to keep! Plus, there’ll be a Mardi Gras market comprised of over a dozen local vendors for you browse and buy.

Of course, the biggest draw for us at HuntsvilleMusic.com is the lineup of Grammy-recognized live music.

“Guests can expect […] 6 incredible, award-winning local and regional bands. Entertainment includes Grammy-nominated CHA WA, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band, funk-rock band Flow Tribe, and the Young Fellaz Brass Band coming from New Orleans. Local artists include Huntsville-bred hip-hop recording artist Translee and the St. Bartley Gospel Choir for a powerful start to the festivities.

The day kicks off at 11:00 am with St. Bartley’s Choir and the Mardi Gras Artisan Market. Guests will enter through the East entrance where the street between the concert viewing area and The Camp will be closed to vehicle traffic.

Music-lovers can walk south to the concert lot where nearly 100 circles have been drawn in the terrain to maintain a safe and distanced viewing experience. MidCity staff have marked these socially distanced “Krewe Circles” for guests to dance the day away. The 5′ Krewe Circles marked in green are suggested for groups of 2-4, and the 10′ Krewe Circles marked in purple are perfect for groups of 6-8. Krewe Circles are first-come, first serve.”

Cha Wa at SXSW

Flow Tribe

Translee 16 Bars

Rebirth Brass Band

Mardi Gras at Midcity

Mardi Gras at MidCity 2021 Schedule

10:30 AM: Doors open
11:00 AM : Mardi Gras Market begins
11:00-11:30 AM : St. Bartley’s Gospel Choir Begins
12:00-1:00 PM : Cha Wa
2:00-3:00 PM : Translee
4:00-5:00 PM : Flow Tribe
6:00-7:00 PM : Rebirth Brass Band

Pro-tip: arrive early to snag the best dancin’ spot!

Young Fellaz Brass Band and the famous Mardi Gras Indians will be entertaining guests throughout the day.

If this sounds like your kind of party, HuntsvilleMusic.com agrees. We want to sweeten the deal by giving out two free tickets to one of our followers – and, just for having amazing taste as evidenced by you reading this blog, give you a $10 off code to use if you’re buying tickets!

To enter our giveaway, visit us on Instagram @huntsvillemusic or Facebook @HuntsvilleMusic, find our giveaway post, and follow the rules to enter.

To purchase tickets and get $10 off, visit the Mardi Gras at MidCity purchasing link and enter HSVMUSIC at checkout for $10 off of your ticket.We can’t wait to see you there!

Tickets, details, COVID-19 precautions, lineup, and menus may be purchased and viewed at MardiGrasatMidCity.com.

Plus, check out the Mardi Gras at MidCity Facebook event page to get all the details and see behind-the-scenes photos and videos of what to expect.

Pro-tip: arrive early to snag the best dancin’ spot!

Young Fellaz Brass Band and the famous Mardi Gras Indians will be entertaining guests throughout the day.

If this sounds like your kind of party, HuntsvilleMusic.com agrees. We want to sweeten the deal by giving out two free tickets to one of our followers – and, just for having amazing taste as evidenced by you reading this blog, give you a $10 off code to use if you’re buying tickets!

To enter our giveaway, visit us on Instagram @huntsvillemusic or Facebook @HuntsvilleMusic, find our giveaway post, and follow the rules to enter.

To purchase tickets and get $10 off, visit the Mardi Gras at MidCity purchasing link and enter HSVMUSIC at checkout for $10 off of your ticket.We can’t wait to see you there!

Tickets, details, COVID-19 precautions, lineup, and menus may be purchased and viewed at MardiGrasatMidCity.com.

Plus, check out the Mardi Gras at MidCity Facebook event page to get all the details and see behind-the-scenes photos and videos of what to expect.

Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Dueling Pianos

Huntsville’s Dueling Pianos On Going Virtual

February 10, 2021 by Grace Treutel
Art, Artists, Culture, Huntsville, Live Music, Musicians, News
alabama, claire johnson, dueling pianos, dueling pianos huntsville al, huntsville, huntsville al, huntsville alabama, huntsville barber, huntsville dueling pianos, huntsville stories, local, newt johnson, stephen johnson

The #iHeartHSV campaign is back, and this year, HuntsvilleMusic.com is getting in on the digital lovefest by shining a spotlight on one of Huntsville’s most unique, badass acts – Dueling Pianos.

#iHeartHSV

WHAT IS #IHEARTHSV?

“Celebrating its eighth year, Huntsville’s biggest “digital lovefest” once again offers visitors and locals alike the opportunity to share what they love most about Huntsville/Madison County. This year, the CVB (Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau) is specifically shining a light on the area’s “heroes of hospitality,” local representatives across a variety of hospitality sectors that went above and beyond to rise to the challenges of the past year. Everyone is invited to join the CVB in celebrating all things travel and hospitality in the Rocket City by using the hashtag #iHeartHsv on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Starting Monday, February 1, and lasting through Sunday, February 14, social media users who respond to daily prompts posted via the CVB’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels using the hashtag #iHeartHsv could win big during the two-week campaign. The Huntsville/Madison County CVB will pick a daily winner each night at 8:00 p.m. CST, awarding them with $150 towards the local restaurant, attraction, or hotel stay of their choice.”

For more details on how to participate in the #iHeartHSV campaign and potentially win real money to spend at awesome local businesses, visit Huntsville.org/iHeartHSV.

See Know Huntsville’s interview with the Huntsville/Madison County CVB about the #iHeartHSV campaign below:

Throw out what you know about dueling piano acts – Huntsville’s own Dueling Pianos is an act unto itself, taking the traditional formula of two pianists battling it out with duets and crowd-pleasing classics and twisting it on its head.

Huntsville’s Dueling Pianos consists of Newt Johnson and Stephen Johnson on piano with Claire Johnson as the host and coordinator, a three-person act that is part dueling pianos, part game show, and all fun.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Claire on a chilly, windy Thursday at Stovehouse, where we talked about how she and her groupmates – one of whom, Newt, is her husband – formed Dueling Pianos and how it’s evolved over time.

“It started as standard dueling pianos where they were going back and forth, but it quickly became something else – this themed game show where the guys would play and we’d have trivia questions, we’d play games, we had prizes. It became this whole other thing. Now we always tell people, ‘this isn’t your typical dueling pianos show.’”

And she’s right.

Traditional dueling pianos shows involve two pianists playing duets, taking requests, and indulging in piano ‘battles,’ oftentimes at designated piano bars. Think the Big Bang bar in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the south’s most famous dueling piano bars. But Huntsville’s Dueling Piano group has taken this formula to the next level, incorporating games and prizes and finding ways to pull the audience into the show beyond just taking requests – and, despite all odds, they managed to keep this going during COVID.

I ask Claire how they pulled that off, and her tone is humble and grateful as she places credit for their success where she feels it belongs – with the people of Huntsville.

“During our very last show before [the initial COVID shutdown], we had a feeling that everything was going to shut down. And we had this audience that would always come out – we call them our family – and we thought you know, we want to be able to keep doing this, we want to still provide something.”

It was this desire to continue providing entertainment to a loyal fanbase during a time where, arguably, they needed it most that motivated Claire, Newt, and Stephen to figure out a way to keep the spirit of Dueling Pianos alive via a virtual platform.

“We set up our usual setup in our basement and we changed the format to be entirely virtual. Where people would usually fill out their paper trivia forms and hand those in, we built an online form they could use to submit their answers and suggestions. We took all of the audience participation games like Spin the Wheel and Name that Tune and created online versions [by building] this landing page with the games and the song request list that all came directly to us so we could perform the show on Facebook live.”

Divider

And their prediction was right – their usual fanbase did turn out to support their favorite local piano show from the comfort of their own homes, and they brought friends. I ask Claire if she felt Huntsville was supportive of this new format, and her answer is a resounding, unhesitant, “Yes.”

“The amazing thing is not only did we have our regular fans [supporting us] but doing it online opened [the show] up to so many people who couldn’t come before. Say they had kids at home, or it just got too late for them, or they had other activities that were going on; all these new people got to experience it for the first time. We saw our numbers grow.

Plus, we started to see people tune in from all over the country. We’d have our friend from South Huntsville say, ‘my sister-in-law is joining us from Destin and my brother’s in New Hampshire’ and we’d just have all these people – I mean, my mom watched from New York! People were tuning in and saying, ‘hello from Dallas, hello from wherever’ and we’d be just like, ‘oh my gosh, this is so cool’. To be sitting in our basement during a pandemic and getting to have a shared experience with people all over the country and playing along with us.”

Claire’s face brightens as she speaks of the support they’ve received from their fans, old showgoers and new alike. It’s clear that she feels passionate about this project – and not only this project, but the community that supports it. When I ask her about what she thinks of the music culture in Huntsville, she considers the question for a moment before answering thoughtfully.

“I have seen not only so much growth what with so many incredibly diverse different acts, but [also found] they’re all so supportive of each other. When you go to a local gig, whether it’s our show or concerts in the park or a brewery on the weekend, you can almost always find two or three local musicians in the audience supporting them. Or sharing [the gig] on social media and saying, ‘hey, I can’t make it out but y’all should go to this.’ And that’s one of the things I really love about [the Huntsville music scene] – it doesn’t feel overly competitive, it’s very supportive and very nurturing of its own.

With so much growth in the city through all the new restaurants, venues, bars, grills, outdoor spaces, everything – there’s more and more opportunity there [for musical artists]. I think if you just look for it, you’ll find that there are not only opportunities but a lot of support. And a desire for it.”

It’s this passion and dedication that we at HuntsvilleMusic.com believes makes Huntsville’s Dueling Pianos the prime example of #iHeartHSV’s Heroes for Hospitality recognition, since they found a way to take the difficulties of 2020 and create a silver lining to provide entertainment and a little bit of joy to our city when it needed it most. Congratulations to Stephen, Newt, and Claire – we can’t wait to tune in to your next show, and to come out in person to support this local talent!

Follow Dueling Pianos on Facebook to catch their next virtual show.

 

 

Grace Headshot
Grace Treutel

Grace is the Content Director of HuntsvilleMusic.com and lives in Madison, AL, which really isn’t that far, guys.


Got ideas on how we can help build Huntsville’s music scene? We’re all ears. Send me an EMAIL with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and  SiGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER for important updates. Don’t worry – we won’t overload you. Important stuff only, promise.

huntsvillemusic.com/
Older News »

Copyright © 2021 - Huntsville Music.com powered Know Huntsville