A Weekend in the Alabama Pines: ShoalsFest 2025 Recap

Two days of music, memories, and homecoming by the river.

In true Undefined fashion, I just spent another weekend at an Isbell show, and I am now here with y’all to give you a debrief of a wonderful time at my first ShoalsFest.

On October 11 and 12, the fourth annual ShoalsFest took place at MacFarland Park in Florence, Alabama. The festival is organized by Jason Isbell and his amazing team. Jason grew up in Greenhill, Alabama, and the Shoals are a huge part of his story. He spent his early years watching local musicians play in small venues, and when he was in his twenties, he met Muscle Shoals legend David Hood, who introduced him to his son Patterson. That introduction led to him joining the Drive By Truckers, and the rest is history.

This year’s lineup felt like a love letter to Alabama and to the music that shaped and was inspired by it. Saturday featured Garrison Starr and her all-female band, Shoals icons Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, a special “in the round” set with Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell, and Nashville songwriter Chris Tompkins, and a stunning closing set by Jackson Browne. Sunday’s lineup included MJ Lenderman, Birmingham’s own Waxahatchee, and a closing set from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

Before heading to the park, I was lucky enough to attend a special Will Johnson solo acoustic show at Rocker Gallery in Sheffield. The gallery is owned by Jason’s manager, Traci Thomas, and her husband, Alan Daigre. It’s one of those places that blends art and music so perfectly you feel like you’re stepping into someone’s living room and a museum at the same time. For ShoalsFest weekend, they had special exhibits featuring Will’s baseball-themed paintings, photography by Josh Weichman, who is the main photographer for the 400 Unit, and New Orleans photographer Erika Goldring, whose live music photos have been featured in Rolling Stone. Rocker also hosted legendary Asbury Park photographer Danny Clinch, whose rock and roll portraits are instantly recognizable.

I can’t talk about Rocker without mentioning Alan Daigre’s handcrafted wooden chairs. If you saw Jason’s solo shows this spring, you saw those chairs onstage. They’re not only gorgeous but also the most comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat in. If I were Jason, I’d be thrilled to play two hours in one every night.

The iconic chairs in all their glory lol.

The night began with time to mingle, take in the art, and talk to other fans. Everywhere I turned, I saw familiar faces, and it felt like a family reunion. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Jason came out to lead a Q&A with Will. Their conversation about painting, baseball, and creativity felt like two best friends swapping notes on how to express their passions and use their creativity for good. Will is one of my heroes, and hearing him talk about channeling energy into art moved me deeply. Jason was the perfect interviewer, funny, thoughtful, and genuinely curious. Afterward, Will played songs from his solo work and from Centro-matic. When he sang “Just to Know What You’ve Been Dreaming,” I stopped breathing for a moment. That song always brings tears to my eyes. It’s one of the most beautiful love songs ever written, and hearing it live was everything I hoped it would be.

Now on to the festival. Before I get into the music, I want to note how perfect McFarland Park was as a setting. The water, the pines, the open space, and the sound of music mixing with the wind made everything feel peaceful from the moment we arrived. I had a VIP pass, which gave me access to a shaded deck beside the stage, food from Odette, and air-conditioned restrooms. With my mobility and sensory needs, that setup made the weekend possible. I could watch from the rail, step away to rest, and come back ready for more. I’ll definitely be doing VIP again next year.

Saturday started off with Garrison Starr, who immediately set the tone with her sharp humor and powerhouse voice. Her band was electric, and the crowd was hooked within minutes. Then came Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, two legends who’ve been writing songs together since the 1950s. They played classics like “Cry Like a Baby,” “I’m Your Puppet,” “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” “The Dark End of the Street,” and “Memphis Women and Chicken,” telling the stories behind each one. Watching David Hood smile proudly from the side stage nearly brought me to tears. It was one of those moments that make you feel lucky to be there.

The part of the festival I was most curious about was the “in the round” session with Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell, and Chris Tompkins. It ended up being the most unique and intimate part of the weekend. The set opened with Patterson singing “Uncle Disney,” and then each of them took turns playing a song of their own, sharing stories between each one.

For those unfamiliar with Chris Tompkins, he grew up with Jason and is one of his closest friends. They told stories about writing songs and playing in bands together as kids. Chris is now a Nashville songwriter who has penned some of the most well-known modern country songs of the last two decades, including “Dirt” by Florida Georgia Line, “Drunk on a Plane” by Dierks Bentley, “Bama Breeze” by Jimmy Buffett, and most notably, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. I’m not too familiar with the Nashville pop-country scene, so it was my first time hearing most of the songs Chris has written. He also has a beautiful voice, and if he ever released an album of him performing his own songs, I would listen in a heartbeat.

Watching him perform made me think about how important songwriters like Chris really are. They create these massive hits that stars play nightly and that end up woven into so many people’s memories. Hearing those songs from the person who actually wrote them added a whole new layer of appreciation.

I’ve seen Jason perform solo before, but I had never seen him share the stage with Patterson. Hearing the two of them harmonize on “Outfit” and “Heathens” healed something in me. Patterson radiates joy every time he performs, whether it’s with the Truckers or on his own. You can tell this is his life’s passion. He loves his friends deeply, and honestly, he might even be a bigger Jason fan than I am.

One of the most touching moments came when Patterson played “Heathens.” Jason smiled and said it was a perfect song. Then Jason played “Outfit,” and Patterson grinned and said, “Now that’s a perfect song.” They fist-bumped, and the crowd melted. It was such a sweet, genuine moment between friends. Jason also debuted a gorgeous new song that I believe is called “Fairweather.” I can’t wait to hear it again soon.

That entire set felt like a celebration of friendship, creativity, and the musical roots of the Shoals. It was tender, funny, and was perfect a reminder of why this place and these people matter so much.

Jackson Browne was the perfect closer for the night. During the round, Jason and Chris had talked about how much his songwriting meant to them, and you could feel that reverence when he finally took the stage. Having Browne perform at ShoalsFest was clearly a bucket-list moment for them — and honestly, for everyone in the crowd.

Although Jackson Browne isn’t from the South, his influence runs deep here. He’s inspired countless musicians in Alabama and the Shoals, so seeing him play his first show in Florence felt like a full-circle moment for the entire community. I talked to several people who said they’d traveled from out of state just to see him, and for many, it was a lifelong dream come true.

My experience was a little different because I wasn’t as familiar with his full catalog. I knew the hits, but I didn’t grow up listening to him, so I had the joy of hearing many of these songs for the first time. His voice has this calm steadiness that puts you at ease, and his band and backup singers were phenomenal. I left excited to dive deeper into his music and lyrics and to better understand how he’s shaped so many of my heroes.

Some of the most special moments of his set included the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to him (his birthday was the night before), the energy that filled the park during “Somebody’s Baby,” and the joy of the massive singalong for “Doctor My Eyes.” But nothing compared to the final song when Jason joined him for “Take It Easy.”

That song was a huge part of my childhood. I have vivid memories of belting it out from my car seat on a Jack Johnson live CD, not even realizing Jackson Browne was the one singing with him, or that he had written it in the first place. Hearing it live felt surreal. I never imagined I’d get to experience that song in person, and it was so heartwarming to see Jason live out one of his own childhood dreams onstage beside him.

Day two kicked off with MJ Lenderman and the Wind. I saw them earlier this year (you can read that here), but this time they delivered a fun, high-energy festival set that fit the mood perfectly. They opened with “Rudolph,” which immediately got the crowd hyped. From there, they played favorites from Manning Fireworks including the title track, “Joker Lips,” “Wristwatch,” “Bark at the Moon,” “She’s Leaving You” with special guest Waxahatchee, and “Riptorn,” which is one of my personal favorites because it features bassist Landon George on fiddle. Landon is such a joy to watch.

They also debuted a new unreleased song called “Pick Up the Pieces” and closed with their usual crowd-pleaser, “Knockin.” What stood out most about Lenderman’s set was the crowd. It was full of people in their 20s, which is not always the case at these shows. I am usually among the youngest in the crowd, so it was exciting to see others my age discovering his music, singing along, and hopefully finding new artists to love that night.

The standout performance of the entire weekend for me was Waxahatchee. I had seen Katie Crutchfield and her band earlier this year with Wilco and loved it, but this set was something special. Although I adored her Wilco performance, that crowd’s energy was off, and I was the only one up singing and dancing. That was definitely not the case here. The ShoalsFest crowd knew every word to every song, and the energy was pure joy from start to finish.

It was also refreshing to see how present the audience was throughout the weekend. That is rare these days, especially at festivals. People did film and take photos, but they did so respectfully and spent most of each set, especially Waxahatchee’s, simply listening and being there. The energy built higher with every song, and the joy in the air was contagious. I could not wipe the huge smile off my face.

Her songs translate perfectly to a live setting. The set was even more special because MJ Lenderman joined her on guitar for several songs. He played on her Tiger’s Blood album, so it felt fitting to see them reunited. Of course, they performed their song together, “Right Back to It,” which drew massive cheers. Someone in the crowd shouted, “I LOVE THAT SONG!!!,” and honestly, same. It was a core memory moment.

Another point of note was that her drummer, and previous Undefined guest, Spencer Tweedy, was not there because he is currently touring with his family band. Griffin Goldsmith from Dawes filled in and fit right in. Watching him play was such a treat. They closed their set with “Fire,” and it was perfect.

To end the weekend, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit took the stage for a set that felt like a love letter to the Shoals and to the people who make it what it is. The performance felt deeply personal and perfectly themed. They opened with “Crimson and Clay,” a song all about Alabama, then moved through hometown-centered tracks like “Speed Trap Town” and “Alabama Pines.” The band tore through rock and roll jams that got everyone moving, including “This Ain’t It” and “Super 8,” but the most emotional moment came when Patterson Hood joined them for “Decoration Day.”

A personal story here. I discovered Jason’s music in 2021 (you can read about that here), right around the time ShoalsFest happened that year. I remember scrolling through Facebook and finding a video of Jason playing “Decoration Day” with Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. I was completely blown away, jaw on the floor and tears in my eyes, wishing I could have been there instead of stuck in DeLand, Florida, at Stetson University. So when Patterson came out this year, I got chills. When I realized they were about to play “Decoration Day,” I nearly lost my mind.

That song was the first Drive-By Truckers or Isbell song I ever connected with. I used to walk around campus listening to the live version on repeat, memorizing every lyric and every guitar solo. Seeing Jason, Patterson, and the 400 Unit perform it right in front of me felt like watching a dream I had carried for years finally come true.

After that, the band took a bow, paused for a moment, and returned for the encore. They began with “Children of Children,” which hit hard, especially with Jason’s family watching in the crowd. This year marks the ten-year anniversary of Something More Than Free, and five songs from that record made it into the set. “Children of Children” is one of Jason’s most personal songs, and hearing it in his hometown made it even more powerful.

They saved the best for last, closing with my favorite song of all time, “King of Oklahoma.” For a minute, I thought they might skip it, and I felt a small pang of disappointment, but then I heard the opening riff and completely lost it. I have seen Jason more than ten times, but this was my first time on the rail, holding onto the barricade, screaming every word, dancing like a crazy person, and feeling pure joy. It was one of those moments where I felt so grateful to be alive. I was in a beautiful place, surrounded by people I love, singing my favorite song with my favorite band.

Every time I see Jason, I am reminded of how thankful I am to have found his music and how lucky I am to keep experiencing it live. His shows are more than concerts to me. They are therapy, community, and home. Usually, I go to these shows alone or with someone tagging along for emotional support, but this time I was surrounded by friends who love him as much as I do. We sang, danced, laughed, and lived fully in the moment.

Sometimes at school or among peers, I feel like the last of my kind, the only one who loves this kind of music the way I do. But this weekend, I did not. I felt part of something bigger, a family of people who get it. I met so many of you who read Undefined and told me you enjoy my work, and I cannot put into words how much that means to me.

I started Undefined because I did not have many friends who shared my taste in music and I needed a space to express that passion. To know that my words have resonated with people and made someone happy is the greatest gift. If I met you this weekend, just know how much I appreciated getting to talk with you.

I am so grateful to have this platform and to be able to experience weekends like this even in the middle of my busy PhD schedule. ShoalsFest 2025 was truly one of the best weekends of my life. I am endlessly thankful to Jason’s team for putting together such an incredible event, to the wonderful VIP volunteers who made everything run smoothly, and to Traci and Alan for everything they do for the festival and for hosting everyone at Rocker Gallery.

The whole weekend, Isbell’s song “River” kept running through my head. That image of the water carrying everything you can’t hold anymore felt so true out there by the TVA. Between the music, the people, and the quiet moments in between, I felt like I was finally learning what it means to let the river carry you. It was a weekend I’ll treasure forever.