Alabama Shakes reunion tour includes a show in the band’s home state

It’s happening. Alabama Shakes — the indie rock band known for songs like “Hold On” and “Always Alright” — have announced their first tour in eight years.

The Shakes tour kicks off July 16 in Chicago. On July 25, the Athens-founded band is scheduled to play a home state show at Birmingham’s currently under construction Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

Tickets for Birmingham go on sale 10 a.m. Feb. 14 via alabamashakes.com. Prices are $39.50 – $89.50 plus fees. The opening acts are singer/songwriter Caleb Elliott and R&B singer Alanna Royale.

RELATED: Music stars we’d love to see at Coca-Cola Amphitheater in Alabama

The band released just two albums, 2012 debut “Boys & Girls” and 2015′s “Sound & Color,” during their original run.

Still, Alabama Shakes built a passionate fanbase, ascended to amphitheater-headliner status and scored four Grammy Awards together.

After singer/guitarist Brittany Howard went solo in 2019, putting the band in hiatus, she won another Grammy on her own. This year, Howard was again nominated for a Grammy and performed at the show.

Alabama Shakes’ reunion features three of four original members: Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zack Cockrell.

In December, Howard, Fogg and Cockrell reunited onstage for a surprise partial reunion during Howard’s scheduled set at a Tuscaloosa fundraising concert. Cockrell had been working with Howard during her solo career, too.

Steve Johnson, who played drums on and is credited as a cowriter for both Shakes albums, is not part of the reunion. Recently, Johnson said he was ousted from the band due to legal issues he had during the band’s hiatus.

He said when management and the band’s other members asked for his resignation in 2021, he was told, “I was bad for the ‘brand’ at this point.”

At December’s surprise performance in Tuscaloosa, Nashville drummer Lewis Wright backed Howard, Fogg and Cockrell. That performance also included longtime Shakes touring keyboardist Ben Tanner.

As of publishing, Alabama Shakes haven’t announced who’ll play drums on the 2025 tour. Or if Tanner or any other auxiliary musicians will accompany them onstage.

In January, Alabama Shakes social media posted new photos of singer/guitarist Howard, Fogg and Cockrell in a recording studio together.

Now, Howard says in a press release, “We didn’t want this to entirely be a look back. We wanted it to be as much about the future as the past. So we have a bunch of new music that will be released soon.”