Few places in the world have shaped popular music quite like Alabama. From the unassuming studios of Muscle Shoals emerged recordings that changed the course of soul, rock and popular music, with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, The Rolling Stones and Paul Simon travelling to the state to capture a sound unlike anything else being made at the time. Forged in the deeply complex social landscape of the American South, that sound did not stay within US borders. It travelled across the Atlantic, influencing generations of British musicians and becoming woven into the fabric of UK soul, rock and Americana.
A new documentary aims to explore exactly how that happened. ‘I’ll Take You There: Discovering the Sound of Alabama' will premiere globally on YouTube on 12 March 2026, offering audiences a journey through the musical and cultural forces that turned one American state into one of the most important creative hubs of the twentieth century.
The film takes viewers deep into the places where this history was written. Filmed on location at landmarks including FAME Recording Studios, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and the Birmingham Civil Rights District, the documentary explores the intersection between Alabama’s revolutionary music scene and its pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement. Through archive material and interviews with studio owners, historians, faith leaders and community figures, the film reveals how the state’s music evolved alongside the fight for social change.
At the centre of the story is a group of powerful female voices who serve as both guides and interpreters of this legacy. Alabama-born soul icon Candi Staton is joined by acclaimed UK artists Lady Nade, Michele Stodart and Lauren Housley as they travel through the state on a musical pilgrimage. Their journey takes them from legendary studios to community institutions, meeting the people who continue to preserve Alabama’s cultural history while reflecting on how those stories still influence songwriting and live music culture today.
The film also highlights the women who now lead many of the organisations keeping this legacy alive. Through performances, conversations and moments of reflection, the artists explore how a region shaped by both oppression and creativity continues to inspire musicians across continents. The documentary makes clear that Alabama’s influence reaches far beyond its borders, shaping not only American music but also the sound and spirit of artists in the UK and Europe.
Behind the scenes, the project reflects a growing model of collaboration between cultural organisations and creative producers. Developed with support from partners including Visit the USA, Sweet Home Alabama, The Orion Amphitheater, Thirty Tigers and 5f Marketing, the documentary is designed not as a promotional film but as a lasting cultural document that celebrates the history and continuing influence of Americana music.
Executive producer Romano Sidoli says the project was made possible by the people who welcomed the filmmakers into places that carry enormous historical weight. He describes the experience of meeting the families who run the studios, the venue owners and the choirs whose voices once provided the soundtrack to the civil rights movement as both humbling and inspiring. For Sidoli, the aim was always to honour that legacy while telling the story in a way that feels contemporary and culturally meaningful.
If the film encourages audiences to listen more closely to the music and the history behind it, he believes it will have succeeded. And perhaps more importantly, it may inspire viewers to experience the places and stories for themselves.
I’ll Take You There: Discovering the Sound of Alabama premieres worldwide on YouTube on Thursday 12 March 2026 at 3pm CDT, 4pm EDT and 8pm GMT, with filmmakers and artists joining viewers for a live conversation during the broadcast.
