Alabama 3 have hit the road to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of their debut albums ‘Exile on Coldharbour Lane’ and ‘La Peste,’ playing at Queen Margaret Hall in Edinburgh, we got the chance to join in on the celebration of their success.
Bold in every way you could imagine, Alabama 3 was formed in Brixton in the late 1980s and has been a pioneer of genre bending creating their own unique sound. Their combination of techno acid house, soul, and bluesy country rock sound has set them apart and led to their huge success which has allowed us to celebrate their stellar career and portfolio.
Staying true to their roots as a proud independent band, Alabama 3 have handpicked a lineup of independent artists and Edinburgh was lucky to experience the incredible blooming talent of Millions.
Kicking off the gig we had Millions who captivated the audience before they even set foot on stage as they curated their own pre-show sound. The duo’s experimental sound had you instantly hooked and unable to divert your attention to anything else. While listening to their set and watching their performance I found the sound reminiscent of the early Gorillaz sound.
It’s easy to see why they were picked as an opener for Alabama 3 as they exuded a similar but unique energy to the band. The crowd clearly had similar thoughts as the fans warmly welcomed them. The band seemed quite comfortable and calm on stage. However, as a newer band, I can only imagine that their confidence in audience interaction and stage presence will grow over time. From the lighting to their preloaded tracks, everything was clearly well thought out and intentional. I imagine that they will soon become big players in the music scene as they grow into themselves and their sound more.
Finishing up their set, Millions had perfectly energised and set up the crowd as they eagerly awaited Alabama 3 to take the stage.
Images by Simon Wooten
Alabama 3 are no strangers to the stage. They let this be known as they took to the well known and beloved stage in the Queens hall, starting boldly with a unique and hypnotising cover of ‘Hotel California’ by The Eagles. I have to admit, it’s the first gig I have been to where the headliner opened their gig with a cover. Playing such a well known and loved song that is not your own is quite a brave choice to make. However, it is no surprise that Alabama 3 completely transformed this song into their own and gave it a fresh and energizing burst of life making it a staple song of the night.
I don’t think it’s a reach to say that they don’t make bands like Alabama 3 anymore. Alabama 3 know how to work a crowd as they created a party-like atmosphere where everyone was energetically celebrating. They managed to blend together their expansive discography showcasing a wide and unique sound range that has made them so well loved and adored by their fans..
I have to admit, I was surprised that the band started the gig with their most popular and well-known songs. After the famous cover the band followed up with what is arguably their most known and well-loved song ‘‘Woke Up This Morning’. The band were ready to have fun as they teased us with an incredible harmonica solo that got the crowd boot stomping and hollering. The band managed to keep that energy going for the rest of the evening making it easy to see why we were able to celebrate the last 25 years of their incredible career. Sincerely, I hope we get to celebrate the next 25 years with them as well.
The night felt like a big family reunion as the crowd and band created a space that felt like they have known each other for years. Whether you’ve been a fan of the band since the start or you’ve newly discovered them, everyone was at home. The band even managed to find ways to incorporate the beloved Reverend D. Wayne by using AI to make him a part of the show. Overall, The entire evening was a beautiful celebration of creativity, human spirit and connectivity through music and I can’t wait see what Alabama 3 get up to next.