Shovels & Rope at The Princess Theatre

American Folk Duo Shovels & Rope to Take the Stage at The Princess Theatre

Decatur, AL— American folk duo Shovels & Rope bring their unmistakable blend of grit, harmony, and heart to the Princess Theatre stage on May 3.  Hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, husband-and-wife team Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst weave together elements of traditional folk, rock ’n’ roll, and country rock, drawing from both of their solo careers to create a sound that is raw, intimate, and deeply alive.

That spirit of curiosity and creative tension carries into their most recent work, Something Is Working Up Above My Head. Born from a late-night moment of wondering—hearing mysterious sounds overhead and imagining what unseen forces might be at work—the album explores questions of faith, instinct, imagination, and response. Is it something being built? A voice calling out? A presence only made real when someone answers back? The result is a collection of songs that feel both searching and grounded, rooted in lived experience and restless creativity.

At the heart of this record is a return to simplicity. For Shovels & Rope, less has always meant more. With a self-imposed rule that everything recorded must be achievable live on stage, the duo leaned fully into the risks and limitations of being a two-piece band. That struggle—figuring out how to make the music breathe and move in real time—has long been a source of innovation for them, often transforming songs once they’re performed live. This time, they began with that approach from the start, working backward from the stage to the studio. The result captures the energy, tension, and immediacy of their live performances more fully than ever before—what many might call their most definitive album to date.

Presale tickets for Princess Theatre members begin January 28 at 11:00 a.m. Public ticket sales open January 30 at 11:00 a.m. On the day of the show, doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the performance beginning at 7:00 p.m.

For tickets and more information, visit www.princesstheatre.org.