A decade after disbanding, Alabama announces new tour and album

Ten years ago, supergroup Alabama completed its farewell tour, and even released an album and DVD to mark the occasion, “Alabama: The American Farewell Tour.” Now, like seemingly every act that has ever announced its retirement from touring, Alabama is hitting the road once again for a new, run titled the Back at the Bowery tour, and a new album is due out later this year.

The title is taken from the tour’s opening venue, The Bowery in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where the band will play April 5. Alabama landed its first club residency at The Bowery in 1973, a summer gig playing as the house band.

Twelve dates have been announced so far, but more are expected to be added to the tour, which will also encompass Canada. The band will play in smaller venues than they did on their last tour “in an effort to create special up-close-and-persona​l memories for their fans,” according to tour publicity materials.

“I'm so excited to celebrate 40 years since our first show at The Bowery,” says Alabama front man Randy Owen in a press release. “We still love one another, have played music together all these years, and are blessed to still be around. Most importantly, we are ever grateful for the fans, many having been with us since we used to play for tips, so to be able to go back out and play for them will make this a very special year.”

Alabama will also embark on its first musical cruise, The Alabama and Friends Festival at Sea, Oct. 24. The four-night cruise sails from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, and Great Stirrup Cay.

The band was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.