If Opelika Had a Playlist

(The Sounds of Opelika Playlist)

In Opelika, live music is easy to find. On any given evening, you might hear an acoustic set

on the patio at Resting Pulse Brewing Company or catch a band playing late into the night

at Botanic. Beyond the venues, music is also at the heart of the city’s biggest events, from

Summer Swing and Food Truck Friday to the annual Opelika Songwriters Festival.

There’s no denying that the music scene is thriving in Opelika, but we wanted to take it a

step further. We set out to answer the question: “What does Opelika sound like?” And who

better to ask than the musicians who play here.

For Britt and Brennen Reece of The Secret Sounds, Opelika’s music scene stands out on a

larger scale. The band made their debut in late 2022 at open mic nights at The Jailhouse,

and in just a few years has grown into a regional presence, with performances across the

Southeast and beyond.

Despite that broader reach, Opelika remains central to their story. “Opelika is like the

Austin, TX of Alabama. There’s a huge, supportive community of local musicians and

songwriters working in pretty much every genre you’d want to listen to, and it’s been that

way for as long as I can remember. The faces may change, but the community has

remained strong and continues to grow.”

When asked what songs belong on a "Sounds of Opelika” playlist, they pointed to I’ve

Been Everywhere by Johnny Cash, partly because Opelika is mentioned, and San Diego

Serenade by Tom Waits, which carries a more personal meaning tied to time spent away

from home.

Truck Dog approaches Opelika’s music scene from a different angle, but lands in a similar

place. The band has been playing together for the past three years, though their connection

to Opelika goes back much further. Growing up, lead singer Joel Alvarado recalls idolizing

local musicians like Adam Hood, Dallas Dorsey, and Kevin Flanagan, artists who didn’t

need much more than a guitar and a crowd to have a good time.

“It’s not self-absorbed. It’s not ‘come look at me,’” he explains. “Around here, whether

you’re a cover artist or an original artist, most people are playing for the crowd, not at the

crowd. We want to give something back to the folks who came to hear us.”

When it comes to the playlist, they added crowd favorites like Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

and Mr. Brightside by The Killers.

The local band, Electric Rangers reference the wide range of music happening across the

city. With decades of experience performing across the country before settling in Opelika in

2014, they’ve seen how broad the local scene has become. They describe it as spanning 

genres from country and jazz to bluegrass, Irish, and big band. According to them,

Opelika’s music isn’t confined to one stage or one style. It happens in clubs, at outdoor

venues, during songwriter events, and at festivals that bring both local and visiting talent

together. Their song choices include Sioux City Sue by Bob Wills, Gene Autry, and Willie

Nelson, Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used to Do by Hank Williams, Here in the Real

World by Alan Jackson, and Till I Gain Control Again by Rodney Crowell.

For musicians like Heydin McDaniel, Opelika’s music scene is rooted in a strong sense of

community. Having played locally for the past two years, he describes it as a place that

feels like home. “Everyone involved, both musicians and listeners alike, are so supportive,

enthusiastic, and serious about experiencing good music,” he said. “In many ways, Opelika

is a true music town.” His additions include Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Have You Ever

Seen the Rain and Childish Gambino’s Sober.

For some artists, the connection to Opelika’s music scene spans generations. Father-

daughter duo Mark Wilson and Jessica Walters of Strawberry Whine have been performing

in Opelika since 2007. They describe Opelika’s music scene as vibrant and wide-ranging,

spanning everything from rock and country to original compositions. More than anything,

it’s the easygoing, friendly atmosphere that keeps them coming back, where audiences

make every performance feel special. Their picks include Small Town by John Mellencamp,

Who Says You Can’t Go Home by Bon Jovi, and Famous in a Small Town by Miranda

Lambert. 

The Opelika Chamber team even added a few personal favorites to the mix with songs that

capture the spirit of the community. Selections like Train, Train by Blackfoot, Sister Golden Hair

by America, Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men, and Azalea Blooms by Muscadine Bloodline.

Taken together, these voices paint a picture of a city that is as musically diverse as it is

connected. The “Sounds of Opelika” playlist blends classic rock, country, Americana, and

modern influences into something that feels both familiar and fresh. It’s a soundtrack built

for back porch evenings and windows-down drives through town.

Check out the playlist for yourself here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/31F30DBdHwGFyO3jM2AFCV?si=-au33s7MQXyz2j67_hea0A&utm_source=copy-link&pi=k86s1lDCQle74