Alabama’s 50th Anniversary Tour stops at Wharf May 9

Alabama’s 50th Anniversary Tour stops at Wharf May 9

By Fran Thompson
Alabama, arguably the most influential country music act since Hank Williams, will mark its 50th anniversary with a tour stop in their home state when the Country Music Hall of Famers return to the Wharf Amphitheater on May 9. The Charlie Daniels Band will open the 7:30 p.m. show.
Ticket prices range from $25-$89.50 plus service charges and are available at the Wharf Amphitheater Box Office or through Ticketmaster. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. ‘til 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. ‘til 10 p.m. on concert days.
Alabama – Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook – dominated country music for two decades, crossing over into the pop charts and paving the way for Garth Brooks to make country cool with their rock-fueled stage shows
“We never thought playing for tips at the Bowery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, that 50 years later we would still playing arenas, stadiums and festivals,” said Owen when announcing the anniversary tour. “Teddy, Jeff and I are humbled at the amount of fans that are coming out to see us. We are finding out that we are playing to three generations of fans who have followed us and our music from day one. The fans are the ones responsible for our continued success on the road and we love them.”
With a catalog that includes 43 No. 1 singles and a mind boggling 21 straight No. 1 songs, Alabama will be hard pressed to play all of the tunes that garnered them more than 178 CMA, Grammy and ACM awards, 21 gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums and 75 million records sold.
But you can expect to hear “Can’t Keep a Good Man Down,” “If You’re Going to Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band),” “Tennessee River” and “Dixieland Delight.”
“Born Country” and “Down Home” will also bring the band’s loyal fans on their feet. Not to mention “Love in the First Degree,” “The Closer You Get” and “Old Flame.” Any five of those songs would make a fine career for any band, but the boys from Fort Payne are not just any band. They are among the best ever.

Wharf Concert Line-Up

5/09 – Alabama with The Charlie Daniels Band, 7:30pm.
5/10 – Bryan Adams, 8pm.
5/25 – Thomas Rhett with Dustin Lynch and Russell Dickerson, 7pm.
5/26 – Thomas Rhett with Dustin Lynch and Russell Dickerson, 7pm.
6/06 – Hootie & The Blowfish w. Barenaked Ladies, 7:30pm. SOLD OUT
6/15 – Dierks Bentley with Jon Pardi, 7pm.
7/03 – Tedeschi Trucks Band, Blackberry Smoke, Shovels & Rope, 7pm.
7/05 – Rascal Flatts, 7pm.
7/19 – Luke Bryan with Cole Swindell, 7pm.
7/20 – Luke Bryan with Cole Swindell, 7pm.
8/17 – Little Big Town, 8pm.
8/20 – Pentatonix with Rachel Platten, 7:30pm.
8/22 – Brad Paisley, 7pm.
8/31 – Chris Stapleton, Brent Cobb. Marcus King Band, 7pm. SOLD OUT
9/28 – Lynyrd Skynyrd, 7pm.