Alabama Shakes played at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum on July 29, 2026, one of many sold-out performances in its summer season. And it was a night for getting stars in your eyes. A starry-eyed night of witnessing stars on stage. Going through the photos taken that evening, it strikes me how quietly iconic and graceful it all was, and we had lead singer Brittany Howard to thank for leading that charge. The visuals reflect the way the music felt (and still feels), both old and new, familiar and fresh.
Photos by Izzy Lux
The band’s well liked, but perhaps even more so during this current tour. A new excitement is building. Whether it’s because they haven’t toured as often as their fans would have preferred or because they fill a void few others can assume in the music world, Alabama Shakes are in a good place right now, a deliciously sweet spot. The tour sets the proverbial stage for the band’s upcoming album releasing later this month, the much-anticipated I Must Be Dreaming, the trio’s third album, and first in 11 years.
It wasn’t a perfect night, not by any means. Weather delays kept the gates closed far longer than anybody expected they might. But the gates? They opened. And the bands played, making all feel right. Everyone was safe (and maybe a bit damp). Alabama Shakes played long into the night, too, ending later than perhaps any other show has this season. When royalty is concerned, different rules apply, right? We need longer to hear and cheer this time around. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
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