ShoalsFest 2026 wrapped up another successful weekend with performances by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Jeff Tweedy, and Willow Avalon.
Day two opened under overcast skies, with a slightly friendlier temperature and an announcement to consider Willow Avalon armed and dangerous. As the announcement ended and the band launched into “Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell,” Avalon came bounding onto the stage looking ready to raise some hell in McFarland Park!
The fantastically named “Hickest Woman” was next up and really got people bouncing around. Avalon’s band were fantastic, with the booming kick drum and bass driving the set along and providing the counterpoint to the slinky steel lines and Avalon’s vocals.
After “Work To Do,” Jason Isbell stepped out onto the stage to perform the duet “Cardinal Sin,” a song about infidelity and falling in love with someone else. The title track from Avalon’s album Pink Pocket Pistol was next as the set continued to roll on at a great clip. Avalon’s songs, which are delivered with a classic country feel, take you by surprise sometimes, with honest lyrics dealing with real-life, common issues, particularly in respect of relationships, that all of her listeners have likely experienced. A great high-energy way to kick off day two!
After Avalon’s set, it was time for some true songwriting royalty to take to the stage. Jeff Tweedy unassumingly walked on the ShoalsFest stage and opened with “Feel Free.” A hush fell over the crowd as Jeff moved on to “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart,” and remained throughout the rest of his set as the audience took the opportunity to see a master craftsman ply his trade right in front of them.
Jeff made a point to tell the audience how much he appreciated their applause/positive feedback, saying that, if it was up to him, he’d go around everyone, and ask them all personally for their view on his work!
As the sun slowly moved towards the horizon, still straining to peek through the low hanging clouds, Jeff worked through a set that included “Fountain,” “Family Ghost,” and “Don’t Forget,” (which wasn’t originally on the setlist but he added in when he saw some kids with a sign asking for it – noting that it was a pretty dark song for kids but he wasn’t responsible for them!). For the quieter songs, the feeling around McFarland Park felt similar to when another master songwriter, John Moreland, graced the stage in 2022.
Towards the end of his set, however, Jeff, who looked like he was really enjoying himself, started encouraging the audience to get involved, notably for “California Stars” and “Lou Reed Was My Babysitter.” Everybody was, of course, more than willing to oblige, and it added a nice sense of togetherness to what had already been a great show.
As the stage was turned around, people made their way to the bars and then jostled for position to make sure they got a good view for the second course of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.
The band opened with “Hope The High Road,” which feels as relevant today as the day Isbell wrote it (if not more so). None of the first eight songs featured on the night one setlist, and included “Strawberry Woman,” “Different Days,” and a Drive-By Truckers favorite – “Goddamn Lonely Love,” which received a raucous reception as the first chords rang out.
The band tore through a really well-paced set, including a truly rocking version of “King of Oklahoma,” and weaving in “Elephant” and “If we were Vampires” just to make sure nobody forgot that Jason can write a sad song with the very best of them!
Everybody on the stage and in the audience was having a great time, and that went to another level when, towards the end of the set, the band launched into another Drive-By Truckers classic, “Never Gonna Change.” After set staple “Cover Me Up,” the band left the stage before coming back out to play “Cast Iron Skillet” and “This Ain’t It” as the encore. In the words of Carrie Bradshaw, “And just like that….” it was the end of another ShoalsFest.
We’ve covered ShoalsFest from the inaugural festival back 2019, and through to this fifth iteration, it has consistently delivered. The quality of the talent on stage, the quality of the people in the audience, and the quality of the surroundings mean that if you’re a true music lover, this is a festival that is hard to top. We can’t wait to see what they have lined up for next year.
PHOTOS BY: Kirstine Walton
