FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Fairhope Brewing will hold another ticketed event that allows attendees “to relax, grab a beer and enjoy the show comfortably without worrying about finding a spot.”
With assigned seating and table options available for groups, the brewery’s ticketed shows have featured memorable live performances from regional bands ranging from Grits & Greens to Stormfolk. This upcoming show will feature one of the area’s most dynamic bands in an unlikely context.
A Different Shade
Crowds that have experienced Red & the Revelers know this collective of Azalea City musicians takes the stage with an unbridled sonic energy that fuels the group’s swampy rock and soul sound.
This Sunday evening will give their following a chance to witness the band in a different register. Greg “Red” Padilla and his crew will be offering an unplugged performance.
That promises to be quite a departure from the dazzling stage presence that has gathered the band a dedicated following now expanding beyond the Southeast.
An unplugged set is a genuine test for a band whose reputation is built on volume and energy. Stripped of amplification, the material has to carry on melody, arrangement and vocal delivery alone. Bands with strong songwriting tend to benefit from the format; bands relying on stage energy tend to find it exposing.
Stories Behind the Songs
In addition to the unplugged delivery, the show will be a chance for the audience to go behind the scenes with Red & the Revelers. Throughout the set, Padilla will reveal the stories behind the songs.
The songwriter-in-the-round format has a long history in Southern music venues, and it works particularly well in a seated room. The audience gets context most listeners never hear — what a song was written about, what it was originally going to be, why a line changed.
Two Albums of Material
With two full-lengths showcasing the evolution of the band’s sound, Padilla should have plenty of stories to complement the performance.
In 2019, Red & the Revelers used their debut full-length, “The Wizard & the Witch,” to introduce listeners to their raw, regionally influenced mix of blues, rock and soul, including the band’s hit song “Rainy Day Suggestion.”
Earlier this year, the band released its sophomore album, “Real Big Deal.” Red & the Revelers used Real 2 Reel Studios to sharpen their sound under the guidance of producers Will Turpin of Collective Soul and Brian Collins.
Bringing in outside producers for a second record is a common inflection point for a regional band. A debut typically captures what the band sounds like live; a second album is where arrangement, dynamics and studio craft get deliberate attention.
The Ticketed Show Format
Fairhope Brewing’s ticketed shows with assigned seating are a departure from the standard brewery taproom setup, where a band plays to a standing room and patrons arrive whenever they like.
Assigned seating with table options changes the dynamic in both directions. The audience is seated and attentive rather than circulating, and the band can play quieter material without competing against room noise — which is precisely what an unplugged, story-driven set requires.
With the group’s rowdy reputation for electrifying sound, the unplugged context should give the crowd a fresh take on Red & the Revelers’ catalog.
Ticket information is available through Fairhope Brewing.