Alabama Shakes made a triumphant return to the stage this week, launching their long-awaited reunion tour Tuesday night (July 15) at The Fairgrounds at The Salt Shed in Chicago.
The sold-out show, the first of two nights, marked the start of their first tour in eight years, and the band delivered a 90-minute set filled with emotional intensity, musical precision and renewed energy. The crowd packed the outdoor venue on a warm summer night, eager to witness the group’s revival. Brittany Howard, flanked by guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell, led the charge with a powerhouse vocal performance that reminded fans exactly why the band left such a lasting mark on the indie rock and soul scenes.
The setlist spanned their entire discography, with all twelve tracks from their Grammy-winning 2015 album Sound & Color making an appearance, including fan favorites like “Don’t Wanna Fight,” “Gimme All Your Love” and “Future People.” They also revisited six songs from their 2012 debut Boys & Girls, such as “Hold On,” “I Found You” and “Rise to the Sun,” giving longtime fans plenty to cheer about. Notably, the band also premiered two new songs (“American Dream” and “Another Life”), offering an exciting glimpse into what might be coming next for the group.
In addition to the new material, the band performed deluxe and rarely heard tracks like “Drive By Baby” and “Someday,” adding depth to the show and emphasizing their commitment to both honoring the past and pushing forward creatively. The encore featured a stirring performance of the title track “Sound & Color,” as well as the crowd-pleaser “Always Alright,” closing the night on a high note.
The chemistry between band members was palpable, and the joy of playing together again radiated from the stage. While the evening leaned heavily into nostalgia, it was also full of forward momentum, signaling that Alabama Shakes are not simply reuniting to relive former glories, but rather to start a bold new chapter. It was a reinvention, and one that left the Chicago crowd buzzing with anticipation for what comes next.
See photos from the Chicago show below, by Josh Darr.
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Alabama Shakes' upcoming tour dates:
07/20 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
07/22 Bentonville, AR The Momentary
07/25 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater
07/26 Birmingham, AL Coca-Cola Amphitheater
08/08 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater
08/09 Las Vegas NV BleauLive Theater inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas
08/10 San Diego, CA Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
08/14 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre
08/16 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena
08/17 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater
08/20 Bonner, MT KettleHouse Amphitheater
08/22 Salt Lake City, UT Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
08/24 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
09/04 Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theatre
09/05 Rochester Hills, MI Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
09/06 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
09/08 Cleveland, OH Jacob’s Pavillion
09/09 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE (Outdoors)
09/11 Louisville, KY Bourbon and Beyond Festival
09/14 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
09/17 Forest Hills, NY Forest Hills Stadium
09/18 Philadelphia, PA TD Pavilion at The Mann
09/19 Washington, DC The Anthem
09/23 New Orleans, LA Saenger Theatre
09/25 Austin, TX Moody Center
09/26 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall
09/27 Irving, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory