The lookout
Sessions

A musical project in the artist community of Mentone, Alabama, atop beautiful Lookout Mountain

• Discover

The creative process

Mentone is an artist community atop Lookout Mountain in Alabama. The name of the town dates back to the late 1800s, and means "musical mountain spring." It's an apt moniker for a community immersed in the arts. The Lookout Sessions is a series of performances that showcase the creativity and inspiration of Appalachian artists in unique locations throughout the area.

sitting on top of the world

Mentone, Alabama, is located atop Lookout Mountain. Here you can:
… enjoy amazing sunsets
... witness the breathtaking scene as a variety of tree species display their fall color
… visit with artists of multiple media, and purchase their painting, pottery, woodwork, and more
... hear musicians share their talents from various stages
… catch a glimpse of eagles in flight
… hear a variety of songbirds, such as warblers, vireos, and chickadees
… listen to the train rumble through the valley along the Norfolk Southern RailwayThese encounters combine to weave a tapestry that balances and stills the soul. It’s the ideal backdrop for the creative process.

Infused with the arts

In Mentone, you will find plenty to inspire. Pottery. Crafts. Handblown glass. An authentic log cabin village of artists. Master crafters in a converted historic school campus. Pop-up art shows. Music festivals. An art center filled with eclectic finds.

Creation surrounds us

There’s no better inspiration than nature itself. A short drive from Mentone, you will find miles of hiking trails and wilderness solitude to immerse yourself in creation. Sandstone bluffs. Waterfalls. Breathtaking overlooks. Nearby DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon National Preserve offer unmatched outdoor experiences — including the only river in North America that forms and flows almost its entire length on the top of a mountain.

The Lookout sessions

Watch the video for our new project, The Lookout Sessions. The first installment features Anya Hinkle and Finn Magill. Anya began touring in early 2024 in support of her new album Oceania. This award-winning songwriter is steeped in folk and bluegrass, taking her unique style and stirring compositions across the U.S., Japan, and Europe. Finn, an acclaimed fiddler, Fulbright fellow, and composer, joined her for the tour. One of their first stops was The Mentone Arts Center in the mountain hamlet of Mentone, Ala.After a wonderful evening of music shared with a full house, Anya and Finn began the following morning within the 200-year-old exposed beam walls of The Lookout, a charming cabin on the edge of Lookout Mountain that welcomes visitors with local art, Southern literature, music, and breathtaking views of three states.Anya and Finn shared three songs with us that day:
• Bound Away - This song is from Anya's new album Oceania, produced by Kevin Moloney (U2, Sinead O'Connor) and featuring legendary Irish guitarist John Doyle and slide guitar master Billy Cardine.
• The Hills of Swannanoa - This song was a runner-up in the International Acoustic Music Awards in 2022.
• Devil Chasin' Me - This "story of a girl on the run" is also from the album Oceania.