Special to the
Opelika Observer

The Opelika-based indie/folk duo “Martha’s Trouble” will host their 12th annual Christmas shows Dec. 21 and 22 at The Sound Wall in downtown Opelika.
Martha’s Trouble Christmas Shows are a fan favorite. These shows are a mix of their favorite Christmas songs, original songs and stories, and are a great way to enjoy the Christmas season with friends.
Tickets can be purchased for $20 in advance through www.thesoundwallopelika.com or $25 at the door. This is a “bring-your-own-beer” event. The studio is located at 605 Ave. B.
About The Sound Wall:
In 2016, husband-and-wife folk/rock duo Martha’s Trouble (aka Rob and Jen Slocumb) purchased an historical Victorian house, originally built in 1907 in downtown Opelika. The idea for The Sound Wall was born out of the couple’s experiences with touring and performing.
“When we were on the road a lot, we would always have the need for rehearsal space,” Jen said. “And more often than not, it was in our house, or we would rent out storage spaces. For a number of years, we dreamed of having an ideal space where we could work and be creative.”
“We see people go to Nashville or New York or L.A. and work in some great studios, but The Sound Wall a getaway from a lot of the craziness and pressure inherent in bigger cities,” says Jen. “It will be a place where folks can come and just create.”
The space is decorated using many materials repurposed from the house, with a design style that is an amalgam of ’40s glam meets modern meets reclaimed.
Two studio rooms grace the first floor (which can be used for recording, rehearsals, songwriting sessions, post-editing video, photo shoots, video shoots, and will be available for special events and intimate concerts). The space is rounded out by a gourmet kitchen with a large family-style farm table, which will allow local chefs to prepare meals on-site for visiting artists and bands. And a 1000-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment is housed upstairs, offering lodging to artists using the studios downstairs or to people who want an inspiring place to stay in town.
“Artists get a place to stay, a place to create, a place to record, a place to have great meals together, and there is the walking-distance proximity of what downtown offers, too,” Rob said. “We hope The Sound Wall will become an extension to the already existing and expanding arts community.”