Alabama Shakes

Biography

Alabama Shakes emerged from Athens, Alabama, with a sound that refused polite genre fences: soul passion, blues gravity, vintage rock-and-roll backbone, and a rhythm section allergic to hesitation.

Brittany Howard’s voice became the band’s gravitational center—capable of tenderness, fury, and a preacher’s conviction without ever feeling theatrical for its own sake. Around her, guitars and keyboards filled space thoughtfully, leaving room for the songs to breathe.

Their arrival in the early 2010s reminded audiences that “retro” can be alive when musicianship is urgent. The best moments aren’t imitation; they’re inheritance—an argument that certain grooves remain timeless because people still need them.

For listeners who want rock radio with emotional weight, Alabama Shakes deliver narrative push without sacrificing danceable swing—music built for late drives and honest volume.

Brittany Howard, bassist Zac Cockrell, guitarist Heath Fogg, and drummer Steve Johnson came up through the Athens, Alabama scene. Their debut Boys & Girls (2012) captured the band’s live energy, while Sound & Color (2015) widened into psychedelic soul with strings and vibraphone.

The band paused after the 2010s touring cycle, and Howard released a solo album, Jaime (2019), named after her late sister. She has continued as a solo artist since.

Much of the band’s identity comes from its rhythm section. The bass and drums lock into a deep Southern groove that leaves space for Howard’s vocal to rise from a murmur to a shout. After the success of Hold On, the band played to large festival audiences around the world and picked up Grammy Awards.