Shoals Fest? ShoalsFest? Who's on Third?

 

We've certainly had the comments, both public and private, about the "ShoalsFest Presents" concert coming to Huntsville. Here's what we've found out:

1. There is no ShoalsFest registered in either Alabama or Tennessee.

2. There is a Shoals Fest registered in Tennessee. It has three members and the authorized agent is a Lillian Williams, a partner in a firm that engages in business promotion. Unlike Alabama, Tennessee doesn't list individual members, but we may assume that Mr. Isbell is one.

3. Just an aside, but Ms. Williams calls herself "LilSpicee." Since this is an opinion site, we'll inject ours here. It's difficult enough for women to make it in the business world without sexually suggestive names being attached to them. Unless those you're trying to impress have the IQ of Kardashian fans, we suggest something a great deal more professional.

4. Could someone register the name ShoalsFest in Alabama or Tennessee? We asked a legal eagle friend who said it would be possible for a festival not involving music (wine tasting?), but could fail with another music festival. At best it might produce a lawsuit from Shoals Fest LLC.

5. Did noise complaints cause Isbell to "take a year off" from McFarland? That we don't know, but since it isn't easy to stage a concert of the size being presented, we can see Jason being disappointed in the amount of criticism from nearby residents. We also see the residents' point of view, and wish Mayor Betterton had attempted to find a better location for the festival.

6. What is the real reason this Huntsville gig is using "ShoalsFest Presents?" We'll speculate that it's purely financial. Since it is NOT a copyright/trademark necessity, the main aim would seem to be to bring funds into the Shoals Fest LLC bank account. Perhaps a new company should be formed...say Green Hill Hootenanny? (For the humor impaired, that was a joke.)

We featured Jason Isbell's version of Refugee at the blog intro. It's actually better than Tom Petty's and is on our YouTube personal playlist.

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This is Luke B (we call animal cruelty!). He's a four year-old Lab mix in need of a new home and a new name. You can make him yours at the Florence shelter in the industrial park: