‘Swampaversary’ celebrates 53 years of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

SHEFFIELD — The Rolling Stones. Aretha. Cher. Bob Dylan. Lynyrd Skynyrd. Bob Seger. Duane Allman. The Staples Singers. Rod Stewart. Leon Russell. Willie Nelson. The Black Keys. Simon. And Garfunkel. All have recorded hits at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield. 

On Aug. 13, the studio aims to take fans back to where it all started in 1969 – when four session musicians, known as the Swampers, struck out on their own, leaving Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals to open their own shop.

Now, 53 years later, with that studio restored to its original glory, they’re celebrating that funky Muscle Shoals sound with the “Swampaversary” concert. 

The legendary 3614 Jackson Highway will be rocking and rolling when studio co-founder and acclaimed bassist David Hood hits the stage with Clayton Ivey, Jimmy Nutt, Kelvin Holly, Andreas Werner, and Carla Russell, aka Kozmic Mama.

The Pine Hill Haints will also perform, bringing their “Alabama Ghost Country” to the hallowed studio grounds. The night’s opening act will be Russell Mefford and Mitch Mann, with their own take on Muscle Shoals music.

Now a 501C3 nonprofit organization, the studio continues to honor its legacy while working to sustain its future. The “Swampaversary” event is a fundraiser benefiting the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation, which owns and operates the iconic studio. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Concert tickets are $35, and can be purchased at this link. https://muscleshoalssoundstudio.org/products/the-next-50-years-event VIP tables and sponsorships are still available. For information, call the studio at 256-978-5151. 

The studio is open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours take place every hour on the half-hour, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The last tour of the day begins at 3:30 p.m. Tour tickets are $20 per person, $15 senior/military, and free for kids 10 and under. For more information, visit the websitehttps://muscleshoalssoundstudio.org/.