Still on 43, Jason Isbell has already lived out many musicians’ daydreams.
He’s won four Grammys, owns a 1959 Gibson Les Paul worth several hundred thousand dollars, been cast in a Scorsese movie and married a talented and beautiful artist with whom he has an adorable young daughter.
And since 2019, Isbell’s had his own music festival too. The 43-year-old Americana superstar’s ShoalsFest returns for its third incarnation, Oct. 1 and 2 at Florence’s McFarland Park, address 200 James M. Spain Drive. (Like many live music events, in 2020 ShoalsFest was not held due to the pandemic.) The verdant location is situated alongside the Tennessee River. It’s a charming place for a small-but-potent festival.
Back when he was a teen, Shoals/Green Hill native Jason Isbell developed his guitar playing and songwriting chops working at FAME Studios and playing with local musicians, including members of storied studio-band The Swampers.
In the ‘60s and ‘70s, Muscle Shoals, and surrounding municipalities Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Florence, collectively referred to as The Shoals, had a big impact on popular music with what was dubbed the “Muscle Shoals Sound.” Artists ranging from soul-music pioneers The Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin to rock-stars like The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Bob Dylan came to FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound, where they tracked some of pop’s most enduring songs.
Classic Muscle Shoals music often exuded a country-funk feel. It resonated with millions of listeners, helping turn songs like The Stones’ “Brown Sugar” and Pickett’s “Mustang Sally” (among many others) into smashes.
The Shoals isn’t particularly known for live music though. So, ShoalsFest is helping build a new legacy thereof. Past ShoalsFest performers have included the likes of Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams and Isbell’s former band, Drive-By Truckers. Artists with classic Muscle Shoals connections, like soul singers Mavis Staples and Candi Staton, have performed too.
Each year, ShoalsFest is anchored by at least one set by Isbell and his solo band, The Unit, which includes fellow Shoals products Chad Gamble on drums and Jimbo Hart on bass, in addition to South Carolina native Sadler Vaden on guitar and Derry DeBorja of Washington on keyboards. Isbell is known for his vivid songwriting, strong vocals and nimble fretwork, on such solo tunes as “24 Frames” and Drive-By Truckers era songs like “Never Gonna Change.”
Tickets options for ShoalsFest 2022 include single-day general admission $59.50, two-day general admission $99.50 and two-day VIP $499.50, all via shoalsfest.showticks.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Event is rain-or-shine and gates open at 2 p.m. each day. Below is a ShoalsFest 2022 schedule and an at-a-glance look at the performers.
Saturday, Oct. 1
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats 9:30 p.m.
Soulful rootsy Denver band have backed pop-folk legend Paul Simon onstage and been a musical guest on “Saturday Night Live.”
Song to know: Jubilant stomper “S.O.B.” from 2015
Most recent release: 2021 album “The Future” which includes the single “Face Down In The Moment”
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram 8 p.m.
Grammy nominated blues phenom hails from the cradle of the blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Song to know: Heartfelt acoustic shuffle “Been Here Before” from 2019
Most recent release: 2021 album “662″ features simmering track “Your Time Is Gonna Come”
More: The 20-year-old Southern guitarist giving hope to the blues
Brittney Spencer 6:30 p.m.
Baltimore native is part of an exciting new wave of Black country artists and her music been lauded by The New York Times and Rolling Stone.
Songs to know: Well titled empathetic strummer “Compassion” from 2020
Most recent release: 2021 vices-and-relationship chronicling single “Sober & Skinny”
“In the Round”: Jason Isbell, John Paul White, Gary Nichols, Chris Tompkins 4:45 p.m.
A promising gathering of songsmiths, as Isbell, White (with roots-pop duo The Civil Wars) and Nichols (with bluegrass crew SteelDrivers) have an armful of Grammys between them, and Tompkins has written 16 number-one country hits for the likes of Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton. Isbell posted this about Tompkins on ShoalsFest’s social media, “My best friend Chris Tompkins – he’s a songwriter in Nashville now – got me into my first band. They were trying to hire a keyboard player and Chris told them that he wouldn’t be in the band unless they hired me, too. He made it so they had to drag me along.”
More: John Paul White talks new LP, writing with Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars
Wanda Band 3:30 p.m.
Talented Huntsville/Shoals indie rock trio with mononymous singer/guitarist Wanda at the helm, Nick Recio on drums and Andrew Sharpe on bass.
Song to know: Shimmering starlit track “Talking To Yourself” from 2020
Most recent release: Forlorn and piano-driven “I Think You’re Alright, Darlin” from 2022
More: From writing jingles to fronting an indie-rock band
Sunday, Oct. 2
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit 9 p.m.
Socially-conscious folk, country and rock, delivered with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers style guitar-pow.
Song to know: If-the-cabin’s-a-rockin’-don’t-come-knockin’ ballad “Cover Me Up” from 2013
Most recent release: 2021 disc “Georgia Blue,” comprised of covers of Georgia-rooted artists, including a rollicking cover on “Honeysuckle Blue” by Drivin’ N’ Cryin’
More: The story behind Jason Isbell’s custom Fender guitar
Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ 7:15 p.m.
Now-classic Atlanta band weaving electric rock and twangy acoustics, as heard on essential albums like 1989′s “Mystery Road” and 1991′s “Fly Me Courageous.”
Song to know: Latch-key-kid singalong “Straight to Hell”
Most recent release: Laidback 2021 digitally released concert album “Live At The Print Shop”
More: This underdog Southern band is getting a well-deserved victory lap
John Moreland 5:45 p.m.
Tulsa tunesmith is a punk rocker turned folkie who paints immersive sonic paintings with just his voice and guitar.
Song to know: Dark-blue 2015 track “You Don’t Care for Me Enough to Cry”
Most recent release: 2022 album “Birds in the Ceiling,” which freshens up Moreland’s rustic sound with electronic beats, as on opening track “Ugly Faces”
Amanda Shires 4:15 p.m.
Arthouse roots singer/songwriter who pens poetic lyrics, is married to Isbell, cofounded Americana supergroup The Highwomen and is one-bad-mutha on the fiddle.
Song to know: 2018 alt-rock single “Eve’s Daughter”
Most recent release: Critically acclaimed 2022 album “Take It Like A Man” featuring cinematic single “Hawk For The Dove”
More: Amanda Shires talks Crimson Tide fandom, Jason Isbell’s guitar skills
Billy Allen + The Pollies 3 p.m.
R&B singer/former “X Factor” contestant Billy Allen and Shoals indie/power-pop band The Pollies are each talented on their own but they’re stellar together.
Song to know: Their jaw-dropping 2020 cover of Delta Spirit obscurity “People, Turn Around”
Most recent release: A potential-laden collabo album is tentatively scheduled to drop late this year
More: Could this band become an indie-rock version of The Swampers?
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