North Alabama Plays a Big Part in “The Year of Alabama Music”

Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia Makes Alabama Department of Tourism’s
100 Places to Hear Live Music in Alabama

Decatur, AL – The Alabama Department of Tourism has declared 2011 “The Year of Alabama Music,” and North Alabama hosts numerous music festivals that honor our rich musical heritage. On any given night local artists can be found playing at restaurants, local hangouts, malls, parks, or street festivals all because of the power music has in our lives. And many of these local artists have been inspired by the likes of Lionel Richie, Alabama, The Commodores, Nat King Cole, and W.C. Handy, who all have ties to North Alabama.

One of the many places you can hear live music on the weekends is The Rattlesnake Saloon at Seven Springs Lodge in Tuscumbia. The Rattlesnake Saloon makes Alabama Department of Tourism’s 100 Places to Hear Live Music in Alabama list. This unique restaurant is nestled in a cave and really gets rocking on the weekends.          

Some of the music festivals that are scheduled for 2011 are as follows: Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival (Moulton), Global Culture Night (Florence), Earth Day Concert (Florence), Whistle Stop Festival and Rocket City BBQ Cook-off (Huntsville), Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic (Decatur), Delmore Days Bluegrass Festival (Athens), Helen Keller Festival (Tuscumbia), Spirit of America Festival (Decatur), Rogersville Bluegrass Festival (Rogersville), W.C. Handy Music Festival (Florence), Decatur Jaycees Riverfest (Decatur), Hartselle Depot Days (Hartselle), and Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention (Athens).

North Alabama also has several music attractions: W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum and Library (Florence), ALABAMA Fan Club and Museum and Statues (Fort Payne), FAME Recording Studios (Muscle Shoals), and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame (Tuscumbia).

Regardless of your musical preferences, there is music all over this region to appeal to music lovers of all sorts. For dates and times of these music festivals, visit www.northalabama.org.