Florence, Alabama: A Small Town with a Big Sound

Florence, Alabama—where the population is roughly half that of a major Taylor Swift stadium show—has earned a spot on Garden & Gun’s new list of the South’s best music towns. The magazine also spotlights southern treasures such as St. Augustine, Florida; Macon, Georgia; Bristol (Tennessee/Virginia); Clarksdale, Mississippi; Layette, Louisiana; Kerrville, Texas; Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee; and Greensboro, North Carolina. While Athens, Georgia didn’t make the main list, its rich musical history is explored elsewhere in the issue through an oral‑history feature.

A Bigger Beat

The coverage includes iconic cities like Nashville, Atlanta, and New Orleans in a sidebar series called “A Bigger Beat.” Florence’s profile was penned by Jim Beaugez, a Mississippi‑based journalist who has contributed to Rolling Stone and Guitar World. He focuses on the city’s key music spots, such as:

• Sun Drop Studio – run by Grammy‑winning songwriter John Paul White and Alabama Shakes’ Ben Tanner
• Lava Room
• Swampers Bar & Grille
• FloBama

At FloBama, Beaugez notes that “on weeknights, over hickory‑smoked barbecue, burgers, and overstuffed spuds, you’re likely to catch one of the region’s active studio musicians performing.”

The Shoals Connection

Florence is part of the Shoals area, which also includes Muscle Shoals and Sheffield. Beaugez ties in the historic FAME Studios and the famed Muscle Shoals Sound, referencing the 2013 documentary Muscle Shoals, which tells the intertwined stories of those studios. He quotes Ben Tanner saying, “People started to realize they needed to tell the story.” The article also references legendary artists who recorded there, such as Etta James, Wilson Pickett, and Percy Sledge, and highlights the W. C. Handy Birthplace Museum & Library. A new Rolling Stones memorabilia exhibit at the Renaissance Shoals Resort is also mentioned.

Culture & Cuisine

The story features a photo of Shoals Fest, the music festival founded by folk‑rock star Jason Isbell and his manager Traci Thomas. Dining options highlighted include:

• Odette – a modern Southern spot
• Bunyan’s Bar‑B‑Q
• Trowbridge’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop

For lodging, the piece recommends the boutique GunRunner Hotel, where rooms are named after local figures such as native son Sam Phillips and Sun Records impresario.