Calendar of Upcoming Local Music Events

THE SHOALS COMES ALIVE

By Kyle McKinney

Word Count: 507

THE SHOALS COMES ALIVE

Local music brings life to the Shoals this fall

The Muscle Shoals area contains a rich musical history that lives on every year in its musical culture. This fall season holds much potential for this to live on. Local musicians will play in their own area for their friends and neighbors.

Among the larger scale events occurring, the Muscle Shoals Music CityFest will be held on October 2-3 at the Muscle Shoals City Hall. Events begin on Saturday at 11 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. Sunday events begin at 3 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. “Nationally known entertainers perform outdoors on Saturday,” says the Muscle Shoals Chamber of Commerce 2010 Calendar of Events.

On November 16, the W. C. Handy Birthday Celebration will take place at the W. C. Handy Museum in Florence. It will begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. with free admission. “Celebrate the birthday of W. C. Handy, enjoy a musical performance and refreshments, including a birthday cake,” says the Calendar of Events.

In contrast to the large open events, other acts play around the Shoals in various locations such as the Smokehouse Bar & Grill, the Trojan House, the Black Owl Trading Company, Pegasus Records and the First Friday events in downtown Florence.

Local rock band Dagger City hopes to have a productive season of performances. With a confirmed performance at the Smokehouse on October 9 at 7:00 p.m. with a $5 entry fee, along with Night in Transylvania and Dirty Swagger, they seem to be off to a good start. “We hope to be able to get together a Halloween show as well,” said Payton Pruitt, Dagger City’s lead guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist.

Pruitt also plays in an acoustic duo with Dagger City band mate Cody Elliot called Backwater Charlatans. The band has a free show scheduled at the Trojan House on October 2. Pruitt says the Trojan House “is a good place to see music.”

One of the more rare acts from the Shoals and Florence area is the Pine Hill Haints and the many bands associated with it, many of which play at the Black Owl Trading Company. Black Owl owner Jamie Barrier heads up the Haints, as well as his bands Rise Up Howling Werewolf and The Wednesdays, and hosts many shows at his business.

With the Haints currently touring the United Kingdom, no shows have set dates yet. “Joey said that he thinks that they get back on October 4^th or 5^th,” said Anna Barrier, wife of Haints banjo player Joey Barrier.

On a sad note, however, the closing of the Old Town Tavern in Sheffield signifies the loss of an important source of local music. Rumors of the owner’s bad health serve as the only information on why it has closed at this point.

Even without the Old Town Tavern, this season promises great music for anyone in the area that wants to hear it. Kyle McKinney is a student at UNA majoring in English.