Fame Studios Popup Session (Muscle Shoals)
The Henhouse Popup is coming to FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals! November 15-19, 2027
A fully recorded, mixed, release-ready song with world-class musicians and engineers - in one of the most historic recording studios in American music.
($200 CDN deposit is required to book a spot - 100% of the deposit goes towards the balance)
($200 CDN deposit is required to book a spot - 100% of the deposit goes towards the balance)
Total Cost: $1400 CDN per song
(approx. $1000 USD)
The Band:
Steve Dawson - all acoustic & electric guitars, pedal steel
Gary Craig - drums & percussion
Dave Jacques - bass
TBA - keyboards
Sheldon Zaharko - engineer
You - singin’ and songwritin’, playing some guitar, piano or whatever it is you do!
The Henhouse Popup Sessions began in 2024, when Nashville-based Juno Award-winning producer/guitarist Steve Dawson rented a studio in Vancouver during a few days off while on tour. He brought in some of his talented friends and invited artists and songwriters to book a time slot to record with his band. This allowed artists who may not have had the opportunity to get into a real studio with experienced musicians a chance to do that, and in a very short amount of time, walk away with a unique, professional recording, and have an incredible experience while they’re doing it.
They worked at a fast clip - 6 songs a day - but the results were outstanding. Every artist walked away with a fully recorded and mixed song, plus individual tracks from the session.
Since then, The Henhouse Popup has made several appearances throughout the year in different cities, and recorded over 400 songs in this format.
For this one, we’re taking the whole thing to FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
FAME is one of the truly historic recording studios in American music - a central part of the Muscle Shoals story and the room where landmark records were made by artists including Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Clarence Carter and many others. It’s still a working studio today, not a museum or a recreation of what used to be there. Explore their website here: Fame Studios
I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time. The idea that we can bring the Henhouse Popup format into a room with that history, and give people the chance to actually record there, is pretty extraordinary.
You’ll still get exactly what makes the Popups work: one focused hour, a great band, a finished recording and individual tracks. The difference is that this time we’ll be doing it at FAME.
This is a rare chance not just to visit FAME Studios, but to actually make your own record there, with the full Henhouse band set up and ready to go.
These events tend to sell out quickly, and we expect this one will be particularly popular.
“The seven songs I have recorded so far at the Henhouse Popups are the seven best decisions I’ve ever made to support my music. I’m so grateful that I took the step and booked that first song. Currently booking song #8!”
- Taysey (2024/2025 Participant)
Why Fame?
FAME is one of the places where the Muscle Shoals sound was born. Rick Hall built the studio on Avalon Avenue in the early 1960s, and records made there helped change the sound of soul, R&B, rock and country music. Aretha Franklin recorded “I Never Loved a Man” there; Wilson Pickett cut records including “Mustang Sally”; Etta James, Clarence Carter, Otis Redding and generations of artists have worked in these rooms.
And FAME is still making records. That's a big part of what makes this so appealing to me. We’re not going there to recreate history - we’re going there to make some music.
If you haven’t seen the documentary Muscle Shoals, it’s well worth watching. It tells the larger story of the music that came out of this tiny corner of Alabama and gives some sense of why these studios and these rooms mean so much. Watch / learn more about Muscle Shoals here. The film helped bring renewed attention to FAME and the wider Muscle Shoals story.
Part of what makes the Popup format special is that it brings together a great studio, producer, engineer and full band in a way that would normally cost far more to arrange on your own.
How It Works
The format at FAME will work exactly like the Henhouse Popups always do - I don't want the historic surroundings to change the thing that makes these sessions work.. We move quickly, but efficiently. Before the session, I’ll create charts for your song. When you arrive, we’ll listen to your demo (a simple iPhone recording is fine) and then play through your song together while you sing.
We’ll usually record 2-3 full takes. You’ll be isolated, so you can re-sing while we overdub if you like - but the goal is to capture a great live energy in the moment.
Next, we’ll do any necessary overdubs, including vocal re-takes if you wish. Then Sheldon and I will mix the song - all within an hour. It’s fast, fun, and spontaneous - the essence of making music together in real time!
I know the time restraints can feel intense, but they’re part of the excitement. And remember: if you ever want to re-sing your part later, you’ll have the tracks to do that with. That said, I hope you love your vocals and want to keep them! (Plus, I’m betting you won’t have that $30,000 microphone at home that we’ll get on you at the studio!)
“Working with Steve and the gang at the HenHouse Popup sessions has been a truly fantastic and memorable experience! They helped my songs come to life in the most beautiful way, were incredibly supportive and made the whole experience a total blast! I cannot recommend this enough to any musicians out there - a definitive 10/10, 5 star experience!!”
- Lisa (2025 Participant)
($200 CDN deposit is required to book a spot - 100% of the deposit goes towards the balance)
The Details
Cost:
$1400 CDN per song
No hidden charges or fees. You get a single. Or record more than one - we have many repeat customers! We all get high 5’s. You can release it, only play it for your Mom, or license it to Tom Cruise for Mission Impossible 18 - it’s all yours.A $200 deposit secures your spot.
Maximum two songs/person
What You Need:
A song. Most people bring in an original song, but you can record a cover song if you’d like
A rough demo (so we can prepare an arrangement and be ready). This should be a very simple iPhone voice-memo style recording. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just show me the song in the key and at the tempo you want to record at. This will need to be done about 6 weeks before the session. Please note - No Suno/ai demos please!
What You Get:
An hour-long session with incredible musicians and engineer in a world-class recording studio
A full mix (completed right there at the session)
A mix without vocals (for re-singing later if you really need to)
All individual tracks
The Studio: FAME
We’ll be recording at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama - one of the great surviving recording studios in American music.
The room is part of the story, but it’s not just history. FAME remains an active recording studio, and that combination - the records that were made there, the sound of the room, and the fact that people are still making music there today is exactly why I wanted to bring a Henhouse Popup to Muscle Shoals.
I can’t think of many better places to spend an hour recording a song.
Dates & Times:
Nov. 15-19, 2027
Choose your preferred day and time and I will do my best to accommodate you.
Daily time slots:
11AM -12PM
12:15 - 1:15
1:30 - 2:30
(break)
3:30 - 4:30 PM
5 - 6
6:15 - 7:15
Booking & Payment
A $200 CDN deposit per song holds your spot.
6 weeks before the session, I will contact everyone to get their balance paid in full. This is also a good date to get me your demos (voice memo recordings are all we need!). Final payments are non-refundable - We aren’t in a position to be able to deal with cancellations due to all of our expenses.
($200 CDN deposit is required to book a spot - 100% of the deposit goes towards the balance)
Payments can also be made via Interac, so just email me here if you’d rather do it that way.
Any questions? Feel free to
reach out to Steve here - he’s happy to help.
“What you can accomplish in an hour with these guys is very impressive, they are pro’s. The atmosphere of a world class studio and the people that come with it doesn’t hurt either. Don't hesitate and you won't regret it. Good times!"
- Eddy (2024 Participant)
Here’s a few fantastic songs recorded at Popup sessions over the last year.
“I've never recorded live off the floor before, and certainly have never tried to lay down an entire finished song in only an hour, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I can tell you, though, the experience was amazing from start to finish! If you're looking for an incredible recording experience, do a Henhouse Pop-Up session. These guys are phenomenally skilled players, with great musical instincts that will definitely improve your song!”
- Michael (2024 Participant)
We hope to see you in Muscle Shoals - Let’s make some music!
"These guys are top of their game for sure, it was such a joy to watch them work and be part of the process!! The song sounds super dreamy, so lovely and truly amazing it was all done in an hour!"
- Norine (2024/2025 Participant)