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Music

The musicians, venues, and sounds of the foothills. A music tradition that gets overlooked.

8 pieces so far.

Jason Wright as Sweeney Todd and Amanda Hunter as Mrs. Lovett — Theatre of Gadsden (Photos: Jason Wright & Mario Gallardo)

Beauty, Decaying

Skylar Wheat & the cast of Sweeney Todd  ·  Gadsden, Alabama

Jean Ellison in a pink Mom-To-Go apron, fist raised, outdoors in Anniston

The View from the Boat

Jean Ellison  ·  Anniston, Alabama

Essays

Jacksonville Opera Theatre — The Pirates of Penzance, 2007. Poster designed by Jason Wright.

The Jacksonville Opera Theatre

July 29, 2026 · 4 min read

Matt Headley, editor of Southern Legends

Matt Headley

July 29, 2026 · 5 min read

Dolly Parton in concert. Photo: BlondJoshuaParton / CC BY-SA 3.0

Dolly Parton Is a Theologian

July 21, 2026 · 5 min read

Rhiannon Giddens, 2016. Photo: Bruce Baker / CC BY 2.0

Rhiannon Giddens Is Returning What Was Stolen

July 21, 2026 · 5 min read

Sinners — Ryan Coogler's film about a Mississippi juke joint, 1932

What Sinners and Jason Isbell Know About Alabama That Alabama Won't Admit

July 21, 2026 · 5 min read

Jean Ellison, founder of The Music Box and Mom-to-Go

The View from the Boat

July 18, 2026 · 6 min read

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