MSM Three Questions: Mitch Mann

8/15/26

By Monica Collier

Ahead of tonight's grand finale to Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s Mixtape Week, how about we play Three Questions with Fiddleworms guitarist, singer, songwriter, Mitch Mann?

1. Why? That's it, that's question one: Why do you participate in MSM shows? They're a lot of work -- why is it worth it? Seriously. Canned response not allowed.

Mitch: Honestly, it's a lot like (the song) "Bittersweet Symphony" -- "I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me ..."

It starts with the music. The music connects with you, then you want to connect and play with someone else. Then, there's a band and the band wants to connect and play for people.

We don't have a Grammy but we've made a little buzz helping build (special needs) playgrounds. All of a sudden "this" is working for us and Russell has figured out the happiness of it all and how to do it all for charity.

It's all about the circle, the community, the (Shoals) family ... it keeps growing. It grows and it keeps getting better. Once we're done with each (MSM) show, the question always comes: "What's next?"

2. Of the songs that you're working on for Mixtape Week, what are YOU looking forward to and why?

Mitch: I'm really looking forward to (singing) "Bittersweet Symphony" with the Shoals Strings. It's a very special song and they just make it even more special. I didn't get to perform with the Shoals Strings last time (MSM the 70s) and I'm really looking forward to it this time.

3. MSM is such a collaborative, encouraging, joyful family -- who would you like to thank and why?

Mitch: Other than Russell (Mefford), it would be Scott Todd. I'm the icing but he's the cake. I come in hot on two wheels but Scott has this calming effect on me. He's my brother.

* Just a quick disclaimer to Mitch's answer to Q3 ... his first response was thanking MSM mastermind and founding Fiddleworm, Russell Mefford.

Now's a great time to issue a heartfelt blanket "thank you" on behalf of the Shoals to Russell for a lifetime of being a cornerstone of our Shoals family and a decade (plus) of being the driving force behind the good work of Muscle Shoals Meets.

Thank you, Russell. Thank you so very much.

See you at the rock show, friends.

Dig Worms.