Muscle Shoals Fest On Hiatus

CityFest, the annual musical event of Muscle Shoals, Ala., will disappear this year because of lack of sponsorship.

Mayor David Bradford called off the October event July 9, saying the city hated to ask companies for funding while they were laying off employees. CityFest, which was created to celebrate Muscle Shoals’ musical history, is 6 years old and has been headlined by Neal McCoy, Craig Morgan and Mark Wills.

This year’s two-day event would have coincided with the 50th anniversary of the city’s FAME Recording Studios, where Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Percy Sledge recorded hits in the ’60s.

Bradford said the city hopes to bring back the festival when the economy improves.