Many chefs have a deep relationship with food and music: Bill Smith with his band tees and history at Chapel Hill’s Cat’s Cradle; Cheetie Kumar—rockstar chef of Garland and Birds of Avalon; Sean Brock with his guitar collection and foray into music. These are a few chefs that have graced The Factory Café for our… Read on

What do we mean when we talk about “self-care”? There are many ways to nurture oneself, but self-care focuses on a few different areas – our physical self, our work self, our emotional self, our spiritual self, our mental self, and more. In essence, our whole selves. Though we may think of the concept as… Read on

For our final dinner of our 2019 Friends of the Café series, we are excited to announce that Tandy Wilson will be our surprise chef. Chef Tandy Wilson is a true Southern boy with a passion for good food and the humbling ability that it has to bring folks together. Whether Wilson is cooking at… Read on

In 2017, The Factory Café introduced The Factory Café Supper Club, a new type of dinner series prepared in full by Chef Ray, our café team, and members of our local culinary community. The dinners feature multiple courses with wine and beer pairings, specialty cocktails, and a low-key, unique atmosphere. This year the café team… Read on

My daughter Maggie is obsessed with holiday music. For her, it’s never too early to display a wreath (hung throughout the year in her bedroom) or to enjoy a loudly sung Christmas carol. When she was only three and in nursery school, holiday songs were go-to sing alongs—just after we finished, “Here Comes Peter Cottontail,”… Read on

The music that flows through our community is nothing short of amazing. I’ve written many times about the rich musical history of The Shoals area—and I’m proud of all the up and coming artists, producers, and managers that strive to create great music in our hometown (including members of the Alabama Chanin staff). Our graphic designer, Maggie,… Read on

Nashville-based duo Great Peacock, formed by Alabama native Blount Floyd and Mississippi-born Andrew Nelson, combine rock and roll guitars with country influences and a heavy dose of harmony. The result is what Nelson calls “pop, with folk tendencies.” In the past year, they have tackled a heavy touring schedule, making appearances on Paste’s South by… Read on

I’ve written many times about my friend and multi-talented musician Tift Merritt. She is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and creative spirit. Her podcast The Spark with Tift Merritt is a conversation about integrity and process, and features some of the most creative minds of our age, including Rosanne Cash, Andrew Bird, and Kiki Smith (among… Read on

Doc Dailey is a longtime friend of Alabama Chanin and a talented musician making music right here in our community. He and his band mates weave together music that has a universal appeal, with the distinct flavor of Muscle Shoals. Below, he shares some of his favorite summertime pastimes and songs. AC: When did you… Read on

Allison Moorer is a friend, fellow stitcher, and a songbird. While recently visiting with her in New York during Makeshift, she mentioned that “playing DJ” is one of her favorite things to do. So, when I asked if she would create a summer playlist for us, she happily agreed. “Summertime makes me think of vacation… Read on

For April’s playlist, we’ve gathered some of our favorite songs to share with you. These artists are on constant rotation at the studio (and in the store and café), and serve as daily inspiration for us as we work. We believe these musicians are producing beautiful work and we know you will love them as… Read on

In case you aren’t familiar, St. Paul and The Broken Bones is a band packed full of make-you-feel-good soul. Their recent single, “Call Me”, is on constant rotation here at the studio. Although based in Birmingham, Alabama, the group has ties to the Shoals – lead guitarist Browan Lollar is a Shoals native, and the… Read on

The Civil Rights Movement gained national attention in the early 1960s. The many protests, marches, and stands for equality were sustained by freedom songs and music from musicians-turned-activists. The setbacks, hardships, failures, and successes of the movement for racial equality can be told through song.

Musician, author, and dear friend Rosanne Cash was born in Tennessee to a family soon to become Southern music royalty, but has lived for over 20 years in New York City. Still, her Southern heritage played and continues to play a role in shaping who she is as an artist, a traveler, and a citizen… Read on

As seasons change and the holiday rush begins in full force, Christmas carols seem to appear earlier and earlier each year. Once upon a time, Thanksgiving was considered the unofficial date when radio stations began to play holiday music. This year, I heard my first Christmas carol when picking up Halloween candy at the grocery… Read on

Musician and Alabama Chanin friend Jake Fussell grew up in Columbus, Georgia, and was exposed to traditional roots music while accompanying his father, folklorist and writer Fred Fussell, on numerous documentary fieldwork trips throughout the South. Through these journeys, Jake became a guitar student of the late Georgia blueswoman, Precious Bryant, and honed his skills… Read on

Belle Adair. Photo: Ashton Lance Name: Matthew Green Band: Belle Adair Instrument(s) you play: Guitar and bass Place of Birth/Hometown: Muscle Shoals, Alabama Presently residing: Tuscumbia, Alabama

Friend and native son Ben Tanner grew up in the Shoals. He graduated from Muscle Shoals High School, and after a few years living in Memphis, Tennessee, and Paris, France, returned to the area to work at FAME Studios with the hope of gaining some valuable experience. That stint was supposed to be a “brief… Read on

The Local Playlist is a new feature on the Alabama Chanin Journal. There’s a rich musical history – and presence – in our community, which you’ve likely read about before. So, we thought, instead of just telling you how great the music is, we’d give you a chance to listen.  We’ll share a new playlist every… Read on

Continuing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser: “When women are storytellers, the human story changes.” @elizlesser Learn more about Cassandra Speaks and purchase a… Read on

Left: The Family of Woman: A World-Wide Photographic Perception of Female Life and Being published by Jerry Mason and Ridge Press; Right: Light Drawing by Rinne Allen featured in the Permission to Wander collection “If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it?” —Ernst Haas Enjoy light reading and inspiration—from how trees communicate with one another to tile… Read on

From Beauty Everyday by Rinne Allen, Rebecca Wood, and Kristen Bach (page 117).  “As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”—Henry David Thoreau  Born on this day in 1817, poet, author, philosopher, and naturalist Henry David Thoreau was an advocate of living a simple life. Today, National Simplicity Day, honors his life and… Read on

From top left: “Rosanne Cash,” photograph by Clay Patrick McBride; Organic cotton needle roll made from fabric scraps; Left: “Mon Péché perfume bottle”, 1925 by Jeanne Lanvin; Right: “Evening gown”, 1929 by Jeanne Lanvin from Paris Haute Couture, 2012 by Olivier Saillard and Anne Zazzo (pages 52–53); May Swatch of the Month; The River and… Read on

Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture, edited by Thurston Moore of the band Sonic Youth “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” ― Aldous Huxley  Music is movement. It moves you into a new state of mind, moves you to dance, and gives you the space to move through… Read on

From top left: Luna Rae Top in White Gold Palm; The Willie Top in Blue Slate; Waffle Caftan in Natural; Lightweight Organic Cotton Face Mask in Black; Left and bottom right: Lee Dress, 2017; Top right: Chandler Jacket and Austin Skirt, 2018 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin from The Women who Revolutionized Fashion: 250… Read on

From top left: Hable Suns Apron, Camellia Etched Dinner Plate from Alabama Chanin x Heath Ceramics, Cornbread Sticks from Alabama Studio Style, Cocktail Napkins in Natural, Stenciled Pumpkin Pie, David Mellor Pride 5-Piece Stainless Set, Sparkling Manhattan  “Forever on Thanksgiving the heart will find the pathway home.” – Wilbur D. Nesbit  We encourage celebrating safely this holiday season… Read on

“Music is the universal language of mankind.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  Music and renowned recording studios have deep roots here in The Shoals. FAME Recording Studios and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio have, for decades, hosted some of the most famous musicians and singers from across all genres of music. Newer studios, like our friends… Read on

It’s hard to believe that we are more than halfway through 2020 and The School of Making’s Year of Color. Such a year, we could never have fathomed—and, in so many ways, still cannot. Contemplation, making, and gathering inspiration for the future have become a go-to coping mechanism for me—which has been expressed through adding… Read on

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” – Brené Brown  2020 looks a lot different than it began. Earlier in the year, we set the intention to focus on a practice of retreat and self-care; in the most unexpected way, we find ourselves digging deeper and deeper into… Read on

During this time of uncertainty, we are thinking of the wellbeing of those in our lives—especially elderly parents and grandparents, children, immunocompromised friends, neighbors, and coworkers, local businesses, and restaurants struggling to stay open and pay their employees. Though these thoughts are inevitable (and completely normal), we also know self-care and retreat are vital for… Read on

As we all work together to stop the spread of COVID-19, we’re looking to find things—cooking, making, connecting—that will sustain and nourish us in meaningful ways. As we strive to maintain our normal routines as best we can, we are also looking for beauty everywhere. Spring has arrived in north Alabama, and we’re fortunate to… Read on

As we write this post our national food and beverage industry is in free-fall. Restaurants and bars, shuttered in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, have laid off an unknown number of staff and servers across the country. We feel deeply what our friend Brooks Reitz wrote yesterday, “Uncharted waters. We have been gut punched,… Read on

Though we are surrounded by many uncertainties right now, we at Alabama Chanin will continue, as best we can, to share stories and have conversations that are uplifting and positive. Today’s post reminds us about enacting change through acts of courage. “I know you are asking today, ‘How long will it take?’ Somebody’s asking, ‘How… Read on

“Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighbors, and our joy of living. All at once.” ― Chris Rose Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday! Though Mardi Gras has been celebrated for the past few weeks, official Mardi Gras Day is February… Read on

“We are all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love. True love.” ― Robert Fulghum This week is all about Valentine’s Day. From a bit of history on… Read on

To immerse our makers into the community that surrounds Alabama Chanin, this year chef John Cartwright of Rivertown Coffee, located in downtown Florence, will be joining us at The Factory to bring his own brand of Southern cooking to each workshop. We recently sat down with John to discuss Rivertown Coffee, the food community in… Read on

Since the fall of 2018, I’ve been doing a (mostly) weekly yoga session with my friend Goode Dethero and Sarah Baxter, our teacher. This is one of the few moments in the week that I make time for myself and self-care. Sarah is a different, irreverent, non-spiritual/spiritual, knowledgeable, strong and gentle teacher and friend—as you’ll… Read on

“And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent…” ― Taylor Caldwell With Christmas just two days away, today we wish you and yours a very happy holiday and share a few of our favorite holiday memories… Read on

In August, The Factory Café hosted celebrated chef and literal rock star Cheetie Kumar for a special evening of savory and sweet offerings highlighting her Indian and American culinary background. We were also joined by renowned wine importer Eric Solomon, who curated delightful wine pairings for each dish. Benefitting the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA), the… Read on

“Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.” ― Sarah Dessen This past Saturday was the first-ever Shoals Fest here in Alabama, organized by singer and guitarist Jason Isbell. Shoals Fest celebrated the rich musical history of the Shoals area with… Read on

“Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.” ― Mary Ann Evans (under the pen name George Eliot), The Mill on the Floss For us, a relaxed summer evening spent at home, listening to music, in comfy clothes, with a favorite cocktail, sounds just about perfect. For some stay-home inspiration… Read on

Born in New Bern, North Carolina, chef Bill Smith grew up appreciating the simple yet elegant food cooked by his great grandmother. Family tradition has played a central role in his more than 20-year career at Chapel Hill’s revered Crook’s Corner. A member of the Southern Foodways Alliance, Bill expanded the scope of Southern food… Read on

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” ― Bob Hope The signs of a Christmas season in full swing are all around us: homes and Christmas trees are decorated with colorful lights, dinner menus are underway, presents are wrapped, suitcases are packed, and guest rooms are ready for family… Read on

Cedric Burnside’s love for music was born in a juke joint, alongside his grandfather, legendary singer, songwriter, and guitarist R.L. Burnside. Though Cedric seeks to pay tribute to the man he calls “Big Daddy” and his own father, blues drummer Calvin Jackson, he blends elements of their styles with his own contemporary vibe. He played… Read on

We are excited to announce that our upcoming Friends of the Café Dinner with Kelly English and Cameron Razavi will be hosted by two members of the Single Lock Records team: Reed Watson and Cedric Burnside. Reed and Cedric are taking over duties for Natalie, who will be unable to attend due to family commitments…. Read on

For our July Supper Club, The Factory Café invited chef Josh Quick of Florence’s Odette to helm the kitchen with chef Ramon Jacobsen and their team. John Cartwright of Rivertown Coffee Company—who partnered with us for our May Supper Club—joined them in the kitchen. The evening was filled with summer harvest bounty. Odette is located… Read on

“A community is made up of intimate relationships among diversified types of individuals—a kinship group, a local group, a neighborhood, a village, a large family.” – Carroll Quigley As we prepare to host friends, family, Shoals locals, guests from afar, and our making community for The Gathering this week, we were inspired to explore our… Read on

We start each week on the Journal with The Factory | This Week, which begins with an inspirational quote from an artist, visionary, or change maker. This week’s quote is, fittingly, from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism… Read on

You may remember that back in 2013 we spoke with the trio behind Single Lock Records, when they were newly established. Single Lock is an independent record label founded by Shoals residents Ben Tanner, Will Trapp, and John Paul White. At that time, they had just released Overseas then Under, by The Bear (still one… Read on

I’m going to ask for forgiveness in advance as this post is going to ramble. There is a lot to say and, at face value, parts of the story don’t seem to have any relevance to one another. Bear with me—I need to let the story unfold. I’ve numbered the facts to help you follow… Read on

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and we are honoring his legacy and observing the holiday through service to our community. In the past few weeks, the Civil Rights Movement along with the work of Dr. King has received much media attention, due in part to the film Selma. The film, directed by Ava… Read on

Last year, when delving into the history of holiday carols, I found myself asking a question that I’ve wondered about since my youth: What exactly is figgy pudding? The traditional English dessert is mentioned several times in the popular carol “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (Now bring us some figgy pudding and bring it… Read on

At Alabama Chanin, we are proud of our home’s musical legacy. As we have written before, we are also proud to be surrounded by an impressive group of local, up-and-coming musicians. The Bear and Belle Adair are just two of a growing list of our favorite local bands. Both bands have released records under local,… Read on

Those of us of a certain age remember the ubiquitous mix tape. We made them for our best girlfriends on their birthdays, for boys and girls we crushed on, and for our younger siblings, bringing them into the fold of “cool.” We received them much in the same way, personally curated with a clear directive:… Read on

Husband and wife team Lance and April Ledbetter are protecting the sounds of our past with their highly acclaimed label, Dust-to-Digital. Founded by Lance a little over a decade ago, Dust-to-Digital is home to a growing catalogue of important cultural works from the United States and around the globe. I’ve been vie­wing their line-up for… Read on