Black Friday Southern Rock Meets Musical Gumbo

The concert brings together two North Alabama bands with distinctly different approaches to Southern music: the keys-driven blues, funk, soul and Southern rock of Otis Walker Band and the loud, guitar-driven Southern rock of The Alabama Heathens. But this isn't just a double bill. After each band performs its own set, all eight musicians will take the stage together for a special all-band jam to close the night. The evening will also serve as the official album-release celebration for Otis Walker Band's new record, Gumbo & Gasoline. OTIS WALKER BAND OPENS THE NIGHT Otis Walker Band will kick off Black Friday with an album-release set featuring music from Gumbo & Gasoline and the band's signature sound, which Walker calls “Musical Gumbo.” For the Black Friday performance, Otis Walker Band is: Otis Walker — vocals & keyboards Rob Malone — guitar Eli Brown — bass Chris Hodges — drums Led by Walker's Hammond-organ and piano work, OWB pulls together Delta blues, New Orleans funk, Southern soul, roots rock and Southern rock. The band's official bio describes that combination as a sound shaped by Memphis roots, Muscle Shoals grit and North Alabama, with the Hammond B3 at its center. The band's previous album, Forward, reached #19 on the Roots Music Report Blues Rock chart, while the band spent five consecutive weeks as the #1 independent artist in Alabama, according to the band's official biography. “I've spent a long time trying to explain exactly what kind of music we play,” Walker said. “At some point I realized the answer was already there. It's Musical Gumbo. You throw the blues, funk, Southern rock, soul and everything else that shaped you into the same pot. Gumbo & Gasoline is probably the best representation yet of what I've been trying to do.” For Walker, Black Friday is also about making the release of Gumbo & Gasoline an actual event rather than simply putting another album online. “There's so much music released every day that it's easy for an album to just appear online and disappear,” Walker said. “I wanted this one to have a night attached to it—a room full of people, two bands and a reason to come celebrate it with us.” Otis Walker Band THEN THE ALABAMA HEATHENS TURN IT UP Following Otis Walker Band, The Alabama Heathens take over with their high-energy brand of Southern rock. The Alabama Heathens are: Dylan Johnson — vocals & rhythm guitar Jude Roberts — lead guitar William O'Rear — bass & vocals Tim Humlicek — drums The Huntsville-area four-piece describes its sound as Southern rock delivered with a modern edge and road-tested intensity, built around gritty original music and an aggressive, high-energy live show. The Heathens have expanded well beyond their North Alabama home, performing across the Southeast and Midwest and sharing stages with acts including The Vegabonds, Them Dirty Roses, Ace Monroe, Drivin N Cryin and Taylor Hunnicutt. The band records with Jeremy Stephens at Clearwave Studios in Decatur. The Alabama Heathens SOUTHERN ROCK MEETS MUSICAL GUMBO The pairing is intentional. The Alabama Heathens bring the guitars, swagger and raw energy of Southern rock. Otis Walker Band brings Hammond organ, blues, soul, funk and improvisation. Then, at the end of the night, the distinction disappears. After both bands complete their individual sets, Otis Walker, Rob Malone, Eli Brown and Chris Hodges will join Dylan Johnson, Jude Roberts, William O'Rear and Tim Humlicek onstage for an eight-musician finale. The all-band jam will bring the two sounds together for a performance unique to Black Friday. “We didn't want this to just be one band plays, then the other band plays, and everybody goes home,” Walker said. “At the end of the night, we're putting everybody onstage together and seeing what happens. That's the spirit of the whole show—Southern rock meets Musical Gumbo, and by the end of the night we're throwing it all into the same pot.” Two bands. Eight musicians. One stage. EVENT DETAILS BLACK FRIDAY: Southern Rock Meets Musical Gumbo Friday, November 27, 2026 The Electric Belle at Stovehouse 3414 Governors Drive SW Huntsville, Alabama OPENING SET OTIS WALKER BAND Gumbo & Gasoline Album Release Celebration Otis Walker — Vocals/Keys Rob Malone — Guitar/Slide Guitar Eli Brown — Bass Chris Hodges — Drums SECOND SET THE ALABAMA HEATHENS Dylan Johnson — Vocals/Rhythm Guitar Jude Roberts — Lead Guitar William O'Rear — Bass/Vocals Tim Humlicek — Drums GRAND FINALE OTIS WALKER BAND + THE ALABAMA HEATHENS ALL-BAND JAM Tickets: $15 Advance / $20 at the Door Presented by Long Ears Music ABOUT OTIS WALKER BAND Otis Walker Band is a North Alabama original band led by keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter Otis Walker, alongside guitarist Rob Malone, bassist Eli Brown and drummer Chris Hodges. Built around Walker's Hammond organ and piano, the band's “Musical Gumbo” combines Delta blues, New Orleans funk, Southern soul, roots rock and Southern rock into a groove-driven sound centered on original songwriting and improvisation. The band's recent road dates have included performances in Clarksdale and Memphis, with upcoming 2026 appearances listed in New Orleans and Tupelo. Otis Walker Band Official Website ABOUT THE ALABAMA HEATHENS The Alabama Heathens are a Southern rock band from North Alabama featuring Dylan Johnson, Jude Roberts, William O'Rear and Tim Humlicek. Known for original songwriting and high-energy live performances, the band combines the spirit of classic Southern rock with a heavier modern edge and has built a following throughout the Southeast and Midwest. The Alabama Heathens Official Website MEDIA CONTACT Otis Walker / Long Ears Music [email protected]