{"id":2450646,"date":"2026-06-08T22:07:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T22:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2450646"},"modified":"2026-06-08T22:07:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T22:07:57","slug":"florence-named-among-souths-best-music-towns-in-new-garden-gun-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/florence-named-among-souths-best-music-towns-in-new-garden-gun-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Florence named among South’s best music towns in new Garden & Gun list"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ShoalsFest returned to the banks of the river in Florence in 2025. (Caleb Turrentine \/ The Bama Buzz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Music scenes across Alabama are growing but there\u2019s little debate which city has led the way over the last several decades.<\/p>\n

Garden & Gun recently recognized Florence as one of 13 cities on its list of the South\u2019s Best Music Towns<\/a>. The publication recognized the city\u2019s history along with places to explore while enjoying the music scene.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAround northwest Alabama, recent history splits into before and after the release of\u00a0Muscle Shoals<\/em>, a 2013 documentary that revealed the region\u2019s musical legacy to a new generation of fans\u2026 before the film brought those stories to a broader audience, much of the area\u2019s history felt like local lore. Now the Shoals region, which includes Florence and Sheffield, readily welcomes those making the pilgrimage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jim Beaugez, Garden & Gun<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read more below, and make sure to\u00a0subscribe to our newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to get news like this delivered to your inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Shoals recognized for music + culture<\/h2>\n
\"shoals
Shoals Theatre (The Bama Buzz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Garden & Gun point to different era\u2019s of the region\u2019s musical influence from W.C. Handy to Lynyrd Skynyrd.<\/p>\n

The article specifically points to Percy Sledge\u2019s \u201cWhen a Man Loves a Woman\u201d single, which rose to No. 1 on the charts in 1966. Of course, FAME studios<\/a> and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio also got shoutouts.<\/p>\n

The Rocker Gallery<\/strong> was also showcased, mentioning photographs featuring stars like Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Wilco and more.<\/p>\n

Now, annual events like W.C. Handy Fest<\/strong> and ShoalsFest<\/a> highlight the music community\u2019s past, present and future.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just the music that helped Florence make the list. Garden & Gun also pointed to the growing tourism industry.<\/p>\n

Some of the local places mentioned include:<\/p>\n