When Ethan Brown was nine years old, he heard Eddie Van Halen’s Eruption, turned to his dad, and asked, “What is this?” That moment set his course, and he’s never looked back.
“He’s known since day one that this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life,” says his mom, Meredith. “And he has not wavered since he was nine.”
Now 16, Ethan is the frontman of Oxmoor, a rising local band with a loyal following, and a student at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. He’s played the front stage at Avondale, sat in with Birmingham jazz legends, and just returned from Berklee College of Music’s summer intensive Aspire—one of only a few teens nationwide awarded a full scholarship.
“Music has been the heartbeat of my life, guiding me through the highs and lows," Ethan says. "Each note is a reminder of who I am and where I want to go. Artists like Trey Anastasio, Jimmy Herring, Allan Holdsworth, Tony Rice , Luiz Bonfa among others didn’t just inspire me; they gave me the soundtrack to my journey.”
Ethan sings. He plays guitar, bass, drums—classical, jazz, bluegrass, jam, jazz fusion, rock, country. “He can pretty much play anything," says his mother, Meredith. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more dedicated, committed, passionate person about anything."
Birmingham, as it turns out, has quite the youth rock scene. Behind rising musicians like Ethan are the programs and places helping them plug in. From Firehouse Community Arts Center to Girls Rock Birmingham to Mason Music, the city is raising its own generation of career musicians.
One of the loudest forces behind that movement is Firehouse Community Arts Center, a nonprofit tucked into Birmingham’s historic Avondale neighborhood. Founded by musician Eric Wallace, Firehouse is dedicated to making high-quality music instruction accessible to all.
“It was harder and harder to ignore the fact that all of my students were kids from the suburbs who could afford private lessons,” Eric says. “That’s when the idea for a nonprofit really came to life.”
Today, Firehouse offers lessons in drums, guitar, bass, voice, and keys—and provides instruments to students who need them. “Anyone taking a guitar lesson goes home with a guitar if they don’t have one,” Eric says. “If their people are cool with it, we’ll even give them a full drum set if they need it.” Over a third of students receive some form of scholarship, all made possible through donations.
“What really set Firehouse apart for me was the fact that they actually offer scholarships to kids that might not be able to afford music lessons or any kind of music education,” says instructor and longtime Birmingham musician Daniel Raine.
At Firehouse, the teaching approach is collaborative and student-centered. “Our philosophy is geared toward the best part of what music is—playing music with your friends,” Eric says. “You can learn guitar from YouTube, but you can’t learn what it looks like to live your life in music unless you see it up close.”
Daniel agrees. “I’m a big believer in telling kids, ‘Why don’t you try bass, guitar, drums, and keys and see which one you like best?’” he says. “A lot of these kids are so new to music, they don’t know what they’re good at yet.”
Beyond the classroom, Firehouse is also home to a basement venue that hosts student shows, community concerts, and underground bands. “Typically, you’ll have more punk, garage, and hardcore bands, but it’s open to whoever wants to book a show,” Daniel says.
That open-door ethos extends to the local scene as a whole. “The spirit of music community here in Birmingham stands out in that we really support each other, collaborate, and help each other,” Daniel says.
For Eric and his team, the goal isn’t solely musical skill. “What’s possible when true musicians and artists teach young kids how to become themselves is so much bigger than just a guitar lesson or drum lesson,” he says. “It’s the creation of a community and a lifelong passion.”
That sense of community is clear even in the youngest musicians. “Friendship is the way to go in music,” says eight year old Wren Mulvehill, a student at Firehouse. “It feels good to play with your friends. It feels like you’re actually making friends instead of just band members.”
Her sister, Riata, agrees. “Music is more than strumming strings. It takes practice to get better,” she says. “It feels good because you’re not being judged on what you’re playing. You’re just doing what you like.”
Seventeen-year-old bassist Lillian Lagrone brings both brains and soul to the stage. A member of Oxmoor, she plans on becoming a neurologist someday. “I like challenging my mind and applying myself to difficult subjects.”
Geddy Lee of Rush is her musical hero whom she admires for playing bass and keyboard at once while demonstrating his wide vocal range. But it’s songwriting that’s taught her the most. “You can never stop learning,” Lillian says. “There’s no right or wrong way to make music.”
Over at Woodlawn Theatre, ten-year-old Te'Montez Martin-Peebles is discovering the joy of playing live. A self-taught drummer who started banging on pots and pans at age three, he began lessons at Mason Music last year after his parents, Artesha and Tenez, enrolled him to support his passion. In June, he had the opportunity to perform onstage with The Voice artist Kate Cosentino.
“When I’m performing, I feel so excited — it feels like my soul ignites with light,” he says.
Another powerhouse organization shaping Birmingham’s music future is Girls Rock Birmingham, the nonprofit that hosts a high-energy summer camp empowering girls through music. “Campers get the full rock star treatment to look, sound, and feel their best,” says executive director Susie Cousins. Over one week, participants learn an instrument, form a band, write an original song, and perform it live on stage.
The results have been impressive. “Two of our Girls Rock alumnae were recently chosen to perform on stage with Brandi Carlile at her Mothership Weekend,” Susie notes, “and one opened for a surprise show by the Alabama Shakes!”
Girls Rock is about more than performance skills. It’s confidence, courage, and creativity in motion. “More and more young students want to develop their own personality through writing and performing pop, rock, and country music,” she says. “Rather than learning music as a solitary pastime, they are looking to gain the skills and confidence to perform in front of an audience.”
Girls Rock Birmingham is part of a dynamic network. “In addition to Girls Rock Bham, Firehouse Community Arts Center and Mason Music both offer programs and performance opportunities that foster musical experience for kids in the Birmingham area,” Susie says—all building a stronger, stage-ready generation.
Birmingham’s youth rock scene is thriving at Mason Music, home to the long-running Rock Band League program.
“Think youth sports—but rock ’n’ roll,” says Park Butterworth, Mason Music’s operations manager.
Each season, students are grouped into bands and paired with a professional coach who guides them through song selection, weekly rehearsals, and three live shows. “Since Rock Band League’s inception, the Birmingham music scene has really opened up to younger musicians,” Park says. “We have students who are now performing outside the program—from open mic nights to ticketed concerts alongside local and regional artists.”
For those ready to take it further, there’s Encore, an application-based summer session that takes the full-band experience on the road. “They sell their own tickets, branded merch, and then we hit the road to Nashville to perform alongside professional, touring artists,” Park says. “It’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else: a memory that’ll last a lifetime.”
For many kids, Rock Band League is the start of something lasting. Confidence. Community. A reason to keep picking up their instrument after the show ends.
“If you would’ve told me, the mohawked metal-head introvert at 15, that I’d be leading a program like this in my career, I would’ve thought I had died and gone to heaven,” Park says.
“Rock and roll is alive and well in Birmingham—and the next generation of rockstars is doing just fine.”