Beloved Alabama Music Venue Returns After Years without Shows

Beloved Alabama Music Venue Returns After Years without Shows

For fans of raw, handmade music played in intimate settings, the return of beloved Alabama music venue, Tangled String Studios, couldn’t have come at a better time. After a three-year hiatus, the Huntsville-based studio, known for its listening-room style environment, reopened its doors to regular live performances in the summer of 2023.

The Journey to Rebirth

The venue, run by retired NASA rocket scientist Danny Davis, is housed within the arts center Lowe Mill. Davis, who began using the space as a site for crafting and selling his coveted acoustic guitars in 2012, managed to turn the studio into a vibrant hub for local talent as well as touring acts.

It was a home away from home for many artists including The Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson, Amanda Shires, John Paul White, and many others. However, when the global pandemic forced the pause of live music worldwide in 2020, Tangled String had to shutter its doors as a venue, much to the disappointment of local music fans and artists alike.

Navigating Changes

Coping with adjustments, Davis increased production of his acoustic guitars, hiring a couple of employees/apprentices, and turned out around 40 guitars a year. Yet, he forced a shutdown, repurposing more space for his luthier work. Eventually, he found himself longing for the less hectic times and went back to his one-man operation, annually producing 15 to 18 guitars.

Once Tangled String started live music again, Davis changed the studio’s model slightly. He now prepares the room and hosts, renting the room out for a flat fee. And while viewer capacity reduced from 140 pre-pandemic to the present 120, the modified model proved functional and even allowed for growth.

Increasing Local Presence

Through a collaboration with Artemis Music Productions owned by local singer/guitarist Alli Johnson, Tangled String began a Rising Artist Spotlight series. This offers local musicians such as Lana White, Delaney Faulds, Morgan Laubach, and other up-and-coming artists a chance to shine center stage in the intimate venue.

Huntsville singer Lana White, who is set to perform an EP release show at the iconic venue, expressed her joy about the studio’s return. “So now it’s like a vibrant reemergence of something that people hold dear,” she said.

A Continued Spot for Creativity

The studio’s revival hasn’t been limited to music. Alongside the live strings and harmonies, Tangled String is also serving as a space for celebrating other creative endeavors. Kicking off with a film screening for the Southern Fried Film Festival’s closing night selection, “Don’t Die,” directed by Huntsville filmmaker Benjamin Stark.

A Bright Future Ahead

Despite facing significant challenges and needing to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape, Tangled String Studios has displayed an impressive resilience. As the city of Huntsville expands and demand for live music intensifies, the beloved venue is uniquely positioned to resume its role as respected platform for local and developing musicians. But more than that, Tangled String Studios is once again a community hub, reconnecting Huntsville residents with their cherished haven for music and creative expression.