A new destination music event is coming to one of America’s most storied recording communities. SkyDog: The Shoals Experience debuts August 28-30, 2026, in Florence, Alabama, bringing together live music, food, film, and storytelling at the Renaissance Shoals Resort and Convention Center. Ticket bundles are available now, with additional artists and programming to be announced through the summer.
The lineup already runs deep. Jackson Dean, Marcus King, Maggie Rose, Wet Willie featuring Jimmy Hall, The FAME Gang, Mike Farris, Gary Nichols, Spooner Oldham, Scott Sharrard of Little Feat, Peter Levin of the Gregg Allman Band, and Sons of Legion are all confirmed, alongside a collective of legendary Muscle Shoals session players who shaped some of the most important recordings in rock, soul, and R&B history.
The name SkyDog was the endearing nickname of Duane Allman, and the event is built around his spirit and the wider legacy he helped create in The Shoals. Scott Sharrard, serving as guitarist, vocalist, and musical director for the all-star sets, put it plainly: “This show is about honoring Gregg’s brother Duane and his pioneering musical soul and visionary spirit.”
The Shoals connection runs as deep as American music gets. It was Duane Allman who talked Wilson Pickett and Rick Hall into recording “Hey Jude” at FAME Studios, a moment that helped define what Muscle Shoals could do. “My father, Rick Hall, was part of building that foundation,” said Rodney Hall, co-owner and president of FAME Publishing and FAME Studios. “This event is about honoring that legacy and giving people an elevated way to experience The Shoals.”
Organizers describe the concept as a “cruise ship on land,” with the hotel, convention center, outdoor staging, and surrounding programming designed to function as a single immersive weekend. Beyond the music, SkyDog Shoals includes regional food, books, film, and storytelling across the property, VIP experiences tied to the onsite Caution! Stones Ahead Rolling Stones Museum, and an intimate Sunday brunch to close the weekend.
SkyDog Shoals is a weekend that could only happen in Muscle Shoals. August 28-30 is the date. Florence, Alabama is the place.
SkyDog: The Shoals Experience:
Aug 28 — Florence, AL @ Renaissance Shoals Resort and Convention Center
Aug 29 — Florence, AL @ Renaissance Shoals Resort and Convention Center
Aug 30 — Florence, AL @ Renaissance Shoals Resort and Convention Center