Artist to Watch

WXPN Radio

The premier guide for new and significant artists in rock, blues, and folk - including NPR-syndicated World Cafe ®

Listen Xpo

24/7 Musical discovery. A unique mix of emerging and heritage blues, rock, world, folk, and alt-country artists.

Singer Songwriter Radio

Featuring classics from heritage troubadours to new musicians and bands in the singer-songwriter tradition.

Folk Radio

Folk music radio streaming on the web; Americana, Roots Music, recordings, and stories from folk's best.
Listen Live

The Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls - ATO

We first met the Alabama Shakes this fall when the young band from Athens, Alabama released their first EP. Four songs rarely ignite a career as much as they’ve done for the Alabama Shakes. Fresh out of high school, the soulful rockers have been aggressively touring, impressing show-goers and gearing up for the release of their debut, full length album, Boys & Girls, due out this month on ATO Records. Led by dynamic frontwoman Brittany Howard, the Shakes deliver on their potential with Boys & Girls for one of the year’s most exciting debuts.



Boys & Girls is a continuation of what we first heard on the Alabama Shakes EP. In fact, all four songs make their way onto the new album. And so does that passion and power in the voice of Brittany Howard that has already become a trademark of the band. Where the band has gained its fair share of attention due to their live performance (anyone who has seen the band will testify to that!), Howard doesn’t hold back in the studio. We know that from songs like “Hold On” and “I Found You”. And we hear it again on album standouts like “Hang Loose” which is propelled by Howard and a slick, stylish baseline by Zac Cockrell. Heath Fogg on guitar and Steve Johnson behind the drums round out the Shakes completing a perfect blend of blues, rock, roots and soul.

Pure talent may set the Shakes apart from lots of up-and-comers, but so does their poise. As you listen to Boys & Girls, you’ll hear a confidence that’s extremely rare, especially for a group not too far removed from the corridors of high school.

Another Way to Support WXPN

Pick up Boys & Girls @ Amazon.com. Your purchase that starts here supports WXPN Public Radio.

Help Support WXPN

Non-COMM recap: Photos, audio, and setlist from the Mississippi Blues Project concert with Super Chikan and the Fighing...

Award winning Blues guitarist and singer Super Chikan and the Fighting Cocks made the trip from his home in Clarksdale, Mississippi to...Read More

Non-COMM recap: Photos, audio, and setlist from the Mississippi Blues Project concert with Homemade Jamz Blues...

Last Thursday during XPN’s Non-COMMvention, the Tupelo, Mississippi brothers and sister trio, the Homemade Jamz Blues Band,...Read More

RIP Ray Manzarek of The Doors (listen to songs from their Live at The Spectrum show in 1970)

Raymond Daniel Manczarek, Jr., known to most as Ray Manzarek, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, has passed...Read More

Listen to Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee and Allison Crutchfield of Swearin’ cover Grimes via Rookie...

This is a pretty awesome track from the fun and talented Crutchfield sisters. For Rookie Mag’s “Theme Song” series,...Read More

Non-COMM Recap: Pete Yorn and J.D. King brought The Olms to World Cafe Live

Photo by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com Pete Yorn and J.D. King developed their new project The Olms out of a shared love of 60s psych...Read More