Willie Sugarcapps

From Muscle Shoals to Magnolia Springs, AL: Willie Sugarcapps Gives Us A Sample of What’s To Come

Springtime along the Gulf Coast is one the best times of the year. The azaleas in full bloom and the warm breeze from the Gulf of Mexico stirs the excitement as the new growth of leaves appear as light green on the huge Southern Live Oaks. The people of this region are are a special kind of folk. They have survived stormy weather seasons, man made disasters, difficult financial times and the occasional heartbreak, but they have never given up or choose to leave this beautiful region full of flavor, culture, great food and, by all means, some of the best music in the World.

IMG_1202Magnolia Springs, AL (Photo by J. Cole/The Southland Music Line); Below right – Historic Magnolia Springs, AL (Photos by Stephen Anderson)

On Saturday, April 12th, 2014 one such occasion brought all the best out in the small historic community of Magnolia Springs, Alabama – a day the community was getting together and inviting neighbors to celebrate the past and what lies ahead. The annual Magnolia Springs Seafood Celebration was occurring with the hope of helping to maintain the community’s amazing history and heritage. Magnolia Springs, located on the Magnolia River before it empties into Weeks Bay and further along into Mobile Bay, has a history that dates back to the early 1700’s when many first settled the area. This picturesque community for the last few years has held an annual Seafood Celebration, a festival that celebrates one of the region’s most treasured and abundant resources -its fresh seafood. The celebration provides it’s festival goers with a combination of art, fine wine, freshly prepared seafood dishes and some great music, and this year a portion of the proceeds were donated to a fund helping preserve Magnolia Springs’ 118 year old Community Hall.

Magnolia Springs

18Above two photos: Magnolia Springs, AL (Photos by Stephen Anderson)

One of the area’s most entertaining and popular group of musicians came together as Willie Sugarcapps (Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes, Will Kimbrough, Sugarcane Jane’s Anthony & Savana Crawford) to release some new music recently recorded at the legendary FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Willie Sugarcapps’ first album has received much acclaim both locally and nationally. Their self-titled debut is presently nominated for an IMA ‘Independent Music Award’ for Best Americana Album. No strangers to the music scene, each have accomplished resumes of their own, having worked and/or performed with some of music’s most known artists, including Neil Young, Steve Winwood, Jimmy Buffet etc. and adding to that, have also written a huge number of recorded songs for other artists. With that said, what makes them shine more than most bands is their devotion to their home, families and friends. So, on this particular day, their home area of Magnolia Springs and Southern Alabama was, out of their appreciation, due an honor. Willie Sugarcapps, formed at nearby Silverhill, Alabama’s popular music destination known as The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm, chose to name this new EP aptly entitled: “Magnolia Springs”.  How fitting to have it’s official release in Magnolia Springs, Alabama. More songs from their Fame Studio recording sessions will be released later in the year on their next full length album.  It was an honor to see them perform their songs from the debut, the new EP and some of what is to come on the next album. The fans all consider themselves friends because that is how the band makes them feel at each and every show and most surely on this day everyone in attendance was provided with a real treat, and it didn’t hurt that it was one of the most beautiful Spring days in recent memory.

4Willie Sugarcapps Live in Magnolia Springs, AL (Photo by Stephen Anderson)

©Stephen Anderson | The Southland Music Line (2014)Corky Hughes and Grayson Capps of Willie Sugarcapps (Photo by Stephen Anderson)

14Anthony Crawford of Sugarcane Jane and Willie Sugarcapps (Photo by Stephen Anderson)

12Savana Crawford of Sugarcane Jane and Willie Sugarcapps (Photo by Stephen Anderson)

8Will Kimbrough of Willie Sugarcapps (Photo by Stephen Anderson)

©Stephen Anderson | The Southland Music Line (2014)Hannah Melby of HanaLena at Magnolia Springs Festival in Magnolia Springs, MS

Also performing at the event: The Pale Moon Rising Band; the music of Emily Stuckey, followed by the talented HanaLena from Mississippi by way of Nashville, and following Willie Sugarcapps’ performance, the highly entertaining and popular Delta Reign. There was no shortage of great music for all in attendance to enjoy.

DSC_0546bDelta Reign at Magnolia Springs Festival

©Stephen Anderson | The Southland Music Line (2014)Caroline Melby of HanaLena at Magnolia Springs Festival.

Days like this one are “those times that stay with us for years to come”. The setting was perfect, the people were kind and generous, the food was amazing and the music was everything you wanted it to be and more.

Stephen “Andy” Anderson and I had a great time in Magnolia Springs, Alabama and the people of this community could not have been any nicer.  We recommend visiting this and nearby communities along Mobile Bay and Southern Alabama. We also encourage you to purchase the music of Willie Sugarcapps and the other entertaining artists mentioned above. (For more information on purchasing and the artists, see the bottom of this article.)

Now some more photos taken of Willie Sugarcapps as they performed live at Magnolia Springs –
Click Here!
(Being Updated Now)

MAGNOLIA SPRINGS , ALABAMA

©Stephen Anderson | The Southland Music Line (2014)

©Stephen Anderson | The Southland Music Line (2014)

Willie Sugarcapps
Official Website (Information on Tours, Band Members etc.)
To Purchase Their Music –
Amazon
iTunes

Grayson Capps
Official Website
To Purchase His Music-
Amazon
iTunes

Will Kimbrough
Official Website
To Purchase His Music-
Amazon
iTunes

Sugarcane Jane (Anthony & Savana Crawford)
Official Website
To Purchase Their Music
Amazon
iTunes

Delta Reign  (More will soon be written about this highly entertaining and popular band.)
Official Website
To Purchase Their Music
Amazon
iTunes

HanaLena   (More will be written about HanaLena soon! Beautiful music from sisters Hannah and Caroline Melby “formerly of the band Nash Street”.)
Official Website
To Purchase Her Music – Click Here!

Emily Stuckey
To Keep Up with the Music of Emily Stuckey-  Click Here!

The Pale Moon Rising Band
To Keep Up with the Music of The Pale Moon Rising Band- Click Here!

Magnolia Springs, AL
Official Website

FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL
Official Website

Muscle Shoals: The Incredible True Story of a Small Town with a Big Sound
Official Website
(The story of FAME Studios and The Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and those who made it famous.)

 © The Southland Music Line. 2014. All rights reserved

Related Articles

2 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button