FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
WITH ART
New Music Trail of North Alabama Launches with 24 Stops Celebrating the Sounds That Shaped a Region
Decatur, Ala. (May 8, 2026) — The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA), the official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, has developed and released a new trail highlighting for visitors and residents recording studios, landmarks, music venues and more that shaped generations of musicians. From the legacy of Muscle Shoals to today’s dynamic live music scenes, the Music Trail of North Alabama offers a self-guided tour of 24 must-visit music-related stops across AMLA’s 16-county region.
The Music Trail of North Alabama joins AMLA’s 11 existing trails and is part of the organization’s overall initiative to attract visitors while spotlighting North Alabama’s deep and diverse musical roots. Locations on the trail include legendary studios such as FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, the recently renovated Renaissance Shoals Hotel & Spa where guest rooms pay tribute to the Shoal’s music heritage, the Red Bay Museum, home to a spotlight exhibit honoring country music icon Tammy Wynette, who spent part of her childhood in Red Bay; Huntsville’s Orion Amphitheater, one of the South’s premier outdoor music venues; and the Little Richard mural, celebrating the energetic artist’s ties to the region. Marketing materials produced for the trail include a brochure, exhibitor backdrop, giveaways, digital passport and dedicated webpage https://www.northalabama.org/places-to-visit/trails/music-trail-of-north-alabama/.
The new brochure is a handy guide to iconic recording studios, historic landmarks, intimate live music venues, vibrant festivals and the hometowns to visit in the 16 northernmost counties of North Alabama (Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties). Listings in the brochure contain a description, address, phone number and website so travelers can easily plan a visit.
A copy of the brochure is available for download here, may be picked up at the AMLA office located at 402 Sherman Street SE in Decatur (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or may be requested by calling 800.648.5381.
Along with the brochure, AMLA has created a digital passport to serve as an additional guide to unforgettable musical experiences found throughout the North Alabama region. To implement the program, AMLA has partnered with Bandwango, an industry leader in digital destination experiences. Bandwango’s web-based platform allows locals and visitors to access their pass instantly via smartphone, with no app to download and no physical card to carry. Upon registration, passports are delivered immediately via text message and email.
The digital passport enhances the visitor experience by providing hours of operation, phone numbers, maps, directions, and near-me functionality, making it easy to discover nearby stops and encouraging further exploration of the region. Those who check in at least 12 participating stops will earn a free prize from Visit North Alabama, adding an extra incentive to experience more of North Alabama’s musical heritage. To obtain the Music Trail of North Alabama passport, click here.
“The Music Trail of North Alabama brings our region’s incredible music story to life in a way that is both immersive and easy to explore,” said Karen Beasley, AMLA vice president of marketing and communications. “The new trail connects locals and visitors to the places, people and communities behind the music while encouraging them to experience more of what makes North Alabama such a meaningful and memorable destination.”
To learn more about the new Music Trail of North Alabama, click here.
For information on other destinations, attractions, events and things to see and experience in North Alabama, visit www.northalabama.org.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
The official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.9 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
