‘Joni Mitchell said she felt as awkward as me’: Brittany Howard on poverty, chaos and fame
The Alabama Shakes frontwoman became the toast of music’s A-list – so why did she feel so miserable? She reveals the grief and heartbreak she overcame to make her stellar new album
July 2021
Teenage kicks
Brittany Howard: ‘I think back and I can’t even recognise that kid now’
Continuing our series where stars recall their teenage obsessions, the Alabama Shakes frontwoman remembers fishing, home recording and leftfield spirituality
March 2021
Alabama Shakes drummer Steven William Johnson arrested on child abuse charges
A grand jury indicted Johnson on charges of ‘wilful torture, wilful abuse, and cruelly beating or otherwise wilfully maltreating a child under the age of 18’
February 2020
‘It feels like an extra limb’ – musicians on the bond with their instruments
Horrible things happen to instruments in transit – as Ballaké Sissoko and others have recently learned. Five musicians explain why the damage goes more than skin deep
September 2019
Kitty Empire's artist of the week
Brittany Howard review – a funk-rooted tour de force
Brittany Howard thrills on a deeply personal solo detour from Alabama Shakes
August 2019
Brittany Howard review – politics and transcendence from Alabama Shakes star
A mid-set acoustic moment proves incendiary for this UK solo debut in support of Howard’s forthcoming album Jaime
January 2016
Hello from the winning side: Adele tops the list of Brits nominations
Singer is joined by Years & Years and James Bay on four nominations for the British music industry’s annual awards
November 2015
Adele: my favourite musicians
The singer chooses the artists, old and new, that most inspire her
October 2015
Readers recommend
Readers recommend: songs about discovery – results
Smog to Bhundu Boys, Alabama Shakes to Paul Kelly, RR regulars DarceysDad and treefrogdemon went on a joint voyage of song discovery, setting sail from last week’s topic
Their funky, postmodern retro soul may be studied, but with Brittany Howard at the helm, the Shakes unleash showstoppers
April 2015
Listen up
Five new albums to try this week: Alabama Shakes, Jlin and more
Stream five albums, from Tyler, the Creator’s most recent rap outing to Speedy Ortiz’s alt-rock, and let us know what you’ll be listening to
Alabama Shakes: Sound & Color review – riveting, kaleidoscopic second album
Brittany Howard leads the southern garage rockers on a magical mystery tour through soul, psychedelic funk and all points in between
Alexis Petridis's album of the week
Alabama Shakes: Sound and Color review – a bravely freshened sound, but too few great songs
Coachella day one: Tame Impala, Steely Dan, Ride and more
Coachella 2015, day one – in pictures
March 2015
Alabama Shakes: from small-town bar band to titans of rock
A few years ago, Alabama Shakes were playing covers in old people’s homes. Now, on the eve of their new album, they’re the world’s best southern rock act
February 2015
The playlist
The playlist: Americana – American Wrestlers, the Weather Station, Alabama Shakes and more
From near catastrophe on a road trip through Canada to a stirring evocation of the North Carolina landscape – with a bunch of beguiling stop-offs in between
August 2014
Benjamin Booker review – self-titled pugnacious punk blues
Benjamin Booker, who is on tour with Jack White, delivers appealing punk blues, writes Kitty Empire
December 2013
Alabama Shakes complete work on second album
Follow-up to last year's Boys & Girls has been recorded, but the band claim their sound has taken a 'different' turn
August 2013
AIM awards 2013: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis lead nominations
US hip-hop duo go up against British folk act Daughter for best breakthrough act as nominations announced for third annual independent music awards
