The countdown starts now for the fall’s hottest performances, presented by the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.
This year, the Alys Stephens Center is shaking things up: Instead of announcing all the year’s artists at once, performers will be unveiled one by one throughout the spring and summer on its Facebook and Instagram accounts. Like and follow UAB’s Alys Stephens Center on social media to stay up to date on all the latest announcements.
Those who are truly passionate about the arts, or who want to be the first to hear about upcoming events, may become Arts Members for exclusive benefits. Members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets first.
Once an artist is announced, that means tickets are now on sale. Purchase tickets at AlysStephens.org, call 205-975-2787, or visit the Alys Stephens Center Box Office at 1200 10th Ave. South, Birmingham. UAB employees can get $15 off the purchase of two tickets for all shows in the season except The Alabama Troubadours.
Aug. 20: The Alabama Troubadours
The first performers of the season will be The Alabama Troubadours: Celebrating the Music of John Prine, 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. Reserved seating tickets are $29.
The band’s stellar lineup is Rick Carter (Rollin’ In The Hay, Telluride), Stan Foster (Rollin’ In The Hay, Phil And Foster), Donna Hall (Wet Willie) and William “Moose” Harrell (Jason Ringenberg, The Thieves, Telluride). With deep reverence, these Alabama legends will present the music of the great Prine, an American music treasure. Carter is authentic as one of his musical heroes, with Hall a stunning complement on the duets, Foster on bass and Harrell on assorted guitars. A must-see show for Prine fans or for those just learning about his masterful writings, a powerful musical experience is guaranteed.
Sept. 7-8: MOMIX presents “ALICE”
Second up for the Alys Stephens Center 2023-24 season is MOMIX: ALICE, an exhilarating 90-minute head rush and sensory overload trip into the wild world of “Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass,” with two performances, 7 p.m. nightly Thursday-Friday, Sept. 7-8. Reserved seating tickets are $49.
What the company of dancer-illusionists pulls off in shows seems superhuman. Like a hallucination or fever dream, it is a feat of artistic achievement that seems unreal; but that is what makes its excellence even more astonishing. The magic is made with visionary ideas, creative costuming and props, and bodies with extraordinary ability.
Known internationally for presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX is under the direction of Moses Pendleton. In addition to stage performances world-wide, MOMIX has worked in film and television, including performances on PBS’ “Dance in America” series.
Sept. 17: Ben Folds
Ben Folds
will bring his “What Matters Most” solo tour to the Alys Stephens Center on Sunday, Sept. 17. Reserved seating tickets are $45, $55 and $65.
Folds first rose to fame in the mid-1990s with Ben Folds Five, whose genre-bending take on piano pop helped define an entire era of alternative rock. He is widely regarded as a major music influencer of his generation. Folds’ masterful new album, “What Matters Most,” marks his first new studio release in eight years. Bold, timely and cinematic, it examines the tragic and the absurd in equal measure as it reckons with hope, despair, gratitude, loss, identity and perspective. Folds tours as a pop artist, while also performing with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras. He is the first artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.
Sept. 24: Corinne Bailey Rae
Neo-soul sensation Corinne Bailey Rae will bring her new tour and album “Black Rainbows” to the Alys Stephens Center 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. Her show is an exclusive performance of her new album, to be available on Sept. 15. Reserved seating tickets are $39, $49 and $59.
From Leeds, England, singer-songwriter and musician Bailey Rae shot to stardom with her self-titled, No. 1 UK debut album in 2006, featuring the global hits “Put Your Records On” and “Like A Star.” Bailey Rae has received two Grammy Awards and two British Music of Black Origin, or MOBO awards, alongside multiple nominations including BRIT and BET awards. She was awarded her first Grammy in 2008 for Album of The Year when featured on Herbie Hancock’s “River: The Joni Letters.” Her second album, “The Sea,” in 2010 was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. The subsequent EP “Is This Love” garnered a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance.
Oct. 3: Daniel McGrew and Parker Ramsay
Tenor Daniel McGrew and harpist Parker Ramsay will open the Alys Stephens Center’s Young Concert Artists Series this season with a free performance at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3.
Deeply committed to the art of song, McGrew performs a broad range of genres spanning opera, musical theater, early music and new music. Ramsay’s career defies easy categorization. Equally at home on modern and period harps, he is dedicated to invigorating the existing canon while delving into new and underperformed works and is co-director of A Golden Wire, a period instrument ensemble based in New York.
Sunday, Oct. 8: Keb’ Mo’
Guitarist/vocalist Keb’ Mo’ will perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Reserved seating tickets are $45, $55 and $65.
With soul and folksy storytelling, Keb’ Mo’ keeps his sound contemporary while drawing heavily on the old-fashioned, country-blues style of Robert Johnson, according to his bio. A skilled frontman and accomplished sideman, he writes much of his own material and has applied his acoustic, electric and slide guitar skills to jazz- and rock-oriented bands. His 1994 solo debut “Keb’ Mo’,” a modern spin on vintage blues, was a critical and popular success, and 2006’s “Suitcase” was another laid-back set rooted in acoustic sounds. 2017’s “TajMo” found him collaborating with fellow idiosyncratic acoustic blues artist Taj Mahal, and 2019’s “Oklahoma” included cameos by Mahal, Rosanne Cash, Robert Randolph and others; both albums earned him Grammy Awards. His latest is “Good to Be…” from 2022, which proved he did not need superstar guests to ride a soulful, relaxed groove.
Oct. 15: Eric Benét
Eric Benét will perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. Reserved seating tickets are $45, $55 and $65.
Suave standard-bearer for contemporary R&B, the four-time Grammy Award-nominee singer and actor is originally from Mobile, Alabama. His albums include “True to Myself,” “A Day in the Life,” which featured the single “Spend My Life with You,” with Canadian artist Tamia, “Hurricane,” “Love & Life,” and “Lost in Time,” which included the single “Sometimes I Cry.” His later recordings include “The One” and “Eric Benét,” under his newly formed independent record label, Jordan House Records. His career in television and film includes the sitcom “For Your Love,” the film “Glitter,” the series “Half & Half,” the MTV scripted show “Kaya,” and “Trinity Goodheart,” which premiered at the American Black Film Festival.
Oct. 29: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
Horn player and natural born showman Trombone Shorty will perform with Orleans Avenue, presented by UAB’s Alys Stephens Center at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. Reserved seating tickets are $49, $59 and $69. A lobby party at 5 p.m. will feature food trucks on site and a cash bar.
Born Troy Andrews, he got his start (and nickname) earlier than most: at age 4, he made his first appearance at Jazz Fest performing with Bo Diddley; at 6, he was leading his own brass band; and by his teenage years, he was hired by Lenny Kravitz to join the band he assembled for his Electric Church World Tour. Since 2010, he has released four chart-topping studio albums; toured with artists from Jeff Beck to the Red Hot Chili Peppers; collaborated across genres with Pharrell, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Foo Fighters, ZHU, Zac Brown, Normani, Ringo Starr and countless more; played Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Newport Folk, Newport Jazz, New Orleans Jazz Fest and nearly every other major festival; performed four 
times at the Grammy Awards, five times at the White House, on dozens of TV shows and at the star-studded Sesame Street Gala, where he was honored with his own Muppet; launched the Trombone Shorty Foundation to support youth music education; and received the prestigious Caldecott Honor for his first children’s book.
Nov. 5: Renée Fleming
Soprano opera singer Renée Fleming, one of the most acclaimed singers of our time, will perform at the Alys Stephens Center at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. Tickets to her 6 p.m. performance are $59, $69 and $79. Fleming has performed on the stages of the world’s greatest opera houses and concert halls. Honored with five Grammy awards, including Best Classical Vocal Solo Album in 2023, and the United States National Medal of Arts, she has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Super Bowl. Fleming is a leading advocate for the study of the powerful connections between the arts and health and will work with UAB Arts in Medicine as part of a residency at UAB. As artistic advisor at large to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, she launched the center’s first ongoing collaboration with the National Institutes for Health. The Renée Fleming Foundation also partners with the NIH to develop a toolkit for standardizing music and health clinical research for brain disorders of aging.
Nov. 10: Tower of Power
UAB’s Alys Stephens Center will present American R&B-based horn section and band Tower of Power at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10. Reserved seating tickets are $39, $49 and $59, with a $199 VIP package available.
Tower of Power, originating in Oakland, California, is a 10-headed monster of funk and soul that has been performing since 1968, according to their bio. The band features a full horn section blazing away over a skintight rhythm section, and their scorching hot live show keeps people on their feet all night long.
Dec. 3: The O’Jays
The O’Jays were the first Black vocal group to perform in arenas throughout America during the 1970s and ’80s. Now the legendary R&B and soul kings The O’Jays are set to embark on their final tour, coming to UAB’s Alys Stephens Center for a 6 p.m. performance Sunday, Dec. 3. Tickets are $75, $85 and $95. A $245 VIP package is also available.
Throughout their legendary career The O’Jays have achieved 10 Gold albums, nine Platinum albums and 10 No. 1 hits. and created a sound that formed the soundtrack for generations. The O’Jays scored their first No. 1 and million-selling song “Backstabbers,” followed by chart-topping singles including “Love Train,” “Put Your Hands Together,” “For the Love of Money,” “I Love Music,” “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love),” “Livin’ for The Weekend” and “Use Ta Be My Girl.” The O’Jays were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and were honored with BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Jan. 7, 2024: Mutts Gone Nuts
On Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, the Alys Stephens Center is going to the dogs with “Mutts Gone Nuts.”
Tickets to the 3 p.m. show are $20, with a family of four special: four tickets for $65. From shelters to showbiz, these amazing mutts unleash havoc and hilarity in an action-packed, comedy spectacular, featuring some of the world’s most talented four-legged performers. Deemed “A Must See” by The Washington Post, the dogs are sure to knock your socks off and steal your heart.
Feb. 7, 2024: Xavier Foley
Xavier Foley is known for communicating his virtuosity and passion for music on the double bass, which is rarely presented as a solo instrument. See Foley live at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in a free performance as part of the Alys Stephens Center’s Young Concert Artists Series.
Foley strives to become a world artist on the double bass as he continues to incorporate all styles of music, whether it be cultural, national or folk music. He is a first-prize winner of the 2016 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, winner of the 2014 Sphinx Competition and a 2018 Recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant. An avid chamber musician, he has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Marlboro Music Festival, Tippet Rise Music Festival, Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival and Skaneateles Festival.
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024: Steep Canyon Rangers
Grammy Award winners, perennial Billboard chart-toppers and frequent collaborators of the renowned banjoist, actor and comedian Steve Martin, the Steep Canyon Rangers will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Reserved seating tickets are $20, $30 and $40. UAB employees can get a $15 discount on the purchase of two tickets.
The band, from Asheville, North Carolina, started in college at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, then dove headfirst into bluegrass in its most traditional form. Over the years, Steep Canyon Rangers have risen to the top of the bluegrass genre, headlining top festivals such as Merlefest and Grey Fox Bluegrass. Their most recent release of all original music, “Arm in Arm,” came out in late 2020. The Rangers are Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Aaron Burdett on guitar and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums and vocals, and Barrett Smith on bass, guitar and vocals.
Feb. 17, 2024: Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater
UAB’s Alys Stephens Center will present Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater at 7 p.m. Feb. 17, 2024, in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center Concert Hall. Tickets may only be purchased through Ticketmaster, which can be accessed through alysstephens.org.
Four seating levels are available; tickets range from $42-$82. There is no service fee if tickets are purchased in person at the BJCC Box Office. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is led by Artistic Director Robert Battle and Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Led by Ailey and a group of young African American modern dancers, that performance changed forever the perception of American dance, according to the company’s biography. Ailey drew upon his “blood memories” of Texas, the blues, spirituals and gospel as inspiration, which resulted in the creation of his most popular and critically acclaimed work, “Revelations,” now celebrating 60 years. Today the company continues Ailey’s mission by presenting important works of the past and commissioning new ones.
The company’s tour repertory has not yet been announced; but their signature work, “Revelations,” will be performed. 
Saturday, March 2, 2024: “An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee”
Sixteen-time Grammy award-winning musician, composer and producer David Foster and acclaimed singer, television and Broadway star Katharine McPhee are bringing their viral Instagram show to UAB’s Alys Stephens Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024. Reserved seating tickets are $65, $75 and $85. UAB employees can get a $15 discount on the purchase of two tickets.
Coming directly from their living room to the stage, this intimate show with the powerhouse duo will be packed with Foster’s hits from “Chicago,” Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé and others, and McPhee’s biggest songs from “American Idol,” “Smash” and “Waitress.”
April 7, 2024: Syncopated Ladies
Fierce female tap dancers Syncopated Ladies will perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 7. Reserved seating tickets are $25, $35 and $45.
Los Angeles-based Syncopated Ladies was created by Emmy Award-nominated tap dancer and choreographer Chloe Arnold, protege of Debbie Allen. They have worked with megastar Beyoncé and appeared on FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance” as the winner of the first dance crew battle, and their viral videos have amassed more than 100 million views. Syncopated Ladies have performed on “Good Morning America” and at the U.S. Open and performed to sold-out audiences in their full-length concert, “Syncopated Ladies: Live!”
May 5, 2024: Buckets N Boards Comedy Percussion Show
Buckets N Boards Comedy Percussion Show has performed 10 critically acclaimed summer seasons in Branson, Missouri, and is one of the most requested headline acts on Disney Cruise Lines. Now UAB’s Alys Stephens Center is bringing the show to Birmingham on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Tickets to the 3 p.m. performance are $20, with a family of four special: four tickets for $65.
Musicians and comedians Matt Levingston and Gareth Sever bring a joyous charm to the spectacularly imaginative show. Born from their shared passion for music and rhythm, the show truly comes to life through their nonstop hilarious interaction. With imaginative songs, beautiful harmonies, tap dancing, beatboxing, body percussion and bucket drumming, and a fresh and unique brand of clean comedy, Buckets N Boards has crafted an original theatrical experience the entire family will enjoy.