Blind Boys of Alabama

More than a gospel institution, Blind Boys of Alabama are a cultural force that has swept up musicians from every stylistic precinct, including Prince, Willie Nelson, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, and Ben Harper. With five GRAMMY Awards (including one for lifetime achievement) and a sumptuous repertoire of soaring anthems, the group is a gospel standard bearer that has crossed over without adopting secular songs.

Formed by a group of elementary students at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the late 1930s who sang for pocket change, the quintet made a series of fine recordings in the post-war years that assured their place in the gospel pantheon, and they were an indispensable part of the soundtrack to the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.

After more than 20 albums and innumerable performances around the globe, the group returns with their newest album, 2023’s triple GRAMMY-nominated Echoes of the South. Drawing its name from the Birmingham radio program that hosted the group’s very first professional performance back in 1944, the album features a stirring updated version of Stevie Wonder’s “Heaven Help Us All” and marks the final appearances by longtime members Paul Beasley and Benjamin Moore.

Opening the show will be New Orleans singer, songwriter, and pianist Jon Cleary, known for his appearances in and theme song for the HBO series Treme. He performs a solo set.