We all love to rave about spring in Alabama – the weather, the flowers in bloom and the preparation for school to end. But one thing we need to add to our list: The spring concert calendar is stacked with plenty of amazing concerts and festivals.

A bunch of us here at AL.com decided to look through concert listings all over the state from Huntsville to Mobile to find some of the most notable ones for the season. These are by no means all of the great live acts playing the state during that time; just a few we want to highlight. You can’t say there’s nothing to do this spring!

The War and Treaty

April 24, Princess Theatre, Decatur

The War and Treaty thrive in the borderlands between R&B and country. Husband and wife duo of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter have been nominated for Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards. Their sultry 2018 groover “Are You Ready To Love” Me? has been streamed more than 13 million times on Spotify. The War and Treaty have recorded with go-to music producers like Buddy Miller and Dave Cobb. The Michigan-formed duo has collaborated with stars like Jason Isbell, Emmylou Harris and Dierks Bentley. In 2023, The War and Treaty scored a top 15 hit with their Zach Bryan collabo cut “Hey, Driver.” In a 2021 AL.com interview, Michael said of he and Tanya’s musical chemistry, “I think the really cool thing about creating this music with the one you love is knowing when I’m weak, she’s strong, where she’s weak, I’m strong, and we’re strongest together.” Find tickets here. – Matt Wake

Wilco

Fairhope, Halstead Amphitheater, April 25

Wilco in Fairhope? It’s happening, and soon. The “Live at Five” concert series of shows at Halstead Amphitheater has had a fun community vibe for years, and in 2024, it gave a glimpse of bigger things by showcasing the Red Clay Strays just as the south Alabama group was skyrocketing to national fame. Organizers have continued to build on that. This season just presented Old Crow Medicine Show on April 11, and it’ll give fans “An Evening with Wilco” on April 25. Tickets are $65 and can be ordered here. The spring season concludes with concerts by two export-grade local favorites: The eclectic international acoustic jazz of Roman Street on May 16 ($25) and Mobile’s favorite R&B party band The Tip Tops on May 30 (also $25).— Lawrence Specker

Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival

April 26, Bessemer

One of my favorite things about the arrival of spring is the annual Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival, a lazy Saturday afternoon of smoky ‘cue and soothing tunes hosted by legendary Alabama pitmaster and blues aficionado Van Sykes of Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q. This year’s festival takes place April 26 at its familiar location in Bessemer’s DeBardeleben Park, and the lineup features Kid Sly with Elaine “The Hurricane” Hudson, Ra’Shad the Blues Kid, DieDra Hurdle-Ruff, Southern Avenue and headliner Shemekia Copeland. Aretta Woodruff will emcee and perform the National Anthem. The music starts at noon and ends at 6. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and an appetite. For tickets and more information, go here. – Bob Carlton

Alice Cooper

May 2, Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Music Hall, Huntsville

The snakes. The cadaver. The noose. The guillotine. The chickens. Alice Cooper pioneered the use of theatrics in rock concerts. But he wouldn’t have sold more than 50 million records, been a star for more than 50 years and been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame without great songs too. Cooper’s live show is populated by hard-rock classics. For starters, “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Under My Wheels,” “Billion Dollar Babies,” “Welcome to My Nightmare,” “Poison,” “School’s Out” and “Feed My Frankenstein.” As a singer and performer, Detroit native Cooper still delivers the goods onstage at age 77. His longtime touring band is stocked with virtuosos, including guitar goddess Nita Strauss. You can get tickets here. – Matt Wake

Rhiannon Giddens & the Old-Time Revue

May 4, Birmingham, Jemison Concert Hall, Alys Stephens Center

Think you don’t like old-time music? Rhiannon Giddens, a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, is certain to change your mind. The artist, 48, is famed for her creativity, commitment and deep roots in folk music. She’s also an expert at making old-time music sound fresh and new. Fans in Birmingham have seen Giddens perform here several times over the years — as a solo artist, as a standout member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and in a creative duo with Francesco Turrisi, an Italian percussionist and pianist. Giddens’ talents have led to two Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and a “Genius” grant from the MacArthur Foundation. For all of these reasons, her concert at the Alys Stephens Center is a must-see. Tickets are $39-$79 via the venue website, https://www.alysstephens.org/ – Mary Colurso

MudBottom Revival Music Festival

May 4, Bender Point on Dog River, Mobile

Spring is the season for some great musical fundraisers in the Mobile area, but the Dog River Clearwater Revival’s 10th annual MudBottom Revival Music Festival on May 4 stands out for a stellar lineup of local talent presented amid the ecological charms of Dog River itself. For the 10th anniversary, the lineup is stacked: Red & the Revelers. Will Kimbrough & Friends and Jimmy Hall & Friends. The outdoor site can be reached by Riviere du Chien Road or by water, and they’ll even have “boat taxis to transport ticket holders from their anchored parking spot to the dock.” Adult tickets are $35 through April 27, and children 12 and under are admitted free. – Lawrence Specker

Turnover in Birmingham

May 7, Iron City, Birmingham

The concert I’d most like to see (and actually will be seeing) this spring is a performance by Turnover on May 7 at Iron City in Birmingham. The indie rock band is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their album “Peripheral Vision” (which is one of my favorites) by playing it in full. The combination of getting to see my favorite live as well as watch the openers Balance & Composure play sounded like too good of a deal to resist. Plus, general admission tickets are only $39 plus fees, which feels like a good deal for watching a band I’ve been a fan of for over a decade but have never seen perform live. – Amber Sutton

Blue Öyster Cult

May 17, Oxford Performing Arts Center, Oxford

Enough with the “more cowbell” jokes. That “Saturday Night Live” skit was fun and all, but there’s much more to Blue Öyster Cult. Yes, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is a timeless rock song. But so are “Godzilla” and “Burnin’ For You.” Dig deeper for opals like banger “ME 262,” witchy “Then Came the Last Days of May” and punkish “Hot Rails to Hell.” The Stony Brook, N.Y., founded group still rotates on the axis of classic era members Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom. Blue Öyster Cult’s musical disciples include the likes of Metallica and Iron Maiden. Their umlaut copycats include Mötley Crüe and Motörhead. Buy tickets here. – Matt Wake

Steve Earle

May 25, Princess Theatre, Decatur

Steve Earle is a longtime hero in the Americana world, and rightly so. The singer-songwriter and guitarist is a riveting storyteller with more than 20 studio albums to his credit and signature songs that date back to the 1980s. Earle, 70, has lost none of his outlaw energy — or his twangy authenticity — over the years, and he’s equally mesmerizing with a band or during a solo concert. Some fans will have their fingers crossed for vintage favorites, such as “Copperhead Road” and “Guitar Town,” while others will expect to hear tunes that emphasize Earle’s tendency to be a social and political firebrand. No matter what he plays, though, this artist is sure to satisfy. Buy tickets here. — Mary Colurso