A Decade in Color: Chance the Rapper Marks 10 Years of Coloring Book in Birmingham
Updated: Sep 4
Chance the Rapper brought the Coloring Book 10th Anniversary Tour to Avondale Brewing Company, but the night was more than nostalgia; it was a reminder that Birmingham is a city worth showing up for.
Written By Evelyn Stewart
Photography by Isaac Nunn
September 1, 2026 | Avondale Brewing Company | Birmingham, Alabama
Ten years is a long time to carry an album with you. Over the years, songs become more than just music; they turn into time machines, attaching themselves to older versions of ourselves. Lyrics shift in meaning as we grow, and sometimes we forget exactly where we were until a familiar beat brings every memory rushing back.
That feeling of connection is what made the September 1st show at Avondale Brewing Company seem like more than a standard concert stop. Chance the Rapper brought Coloring Book back around for its 10th anniversary, and Birmingham arrived with ten years of personal stories woven into those tracks. For some, it was genuine nostalgia; for others, a celebration of faith, joy, or the journey of growing up. And for many, it was simply the thrill of hearing iconic songs live in their own city for the first time.
For Sub Urban House, it offered an opportunity to document the magic that occurs when the right artist, the right music, and a community hungry for live performances all meet in one place.
Before Chance took the stage, however, Birmingham had another artist to meet.
La Reezy Sets the Mood
New Orleans rapper and producer La Reezy gave the crowd every reason to remember his name. His opening set was high-energy and authentic. At one point, he joked about trying to write a "hood" song, only for his dad to remind him, “Son, you’re not hood. You’ve never even shot a gun.”
La Reezy has been steadily building his catalog, blending sharp lyricism, Southern character, humor, and introspective storytelling, most recently showcased on his 2026 debut album, Skiddle Bandana.
"By the time his set ended, Birmingham wasn’t just waiting for Chance. The night was already well underway.”
Ten Years Later, Chance Still Means Every Word
The audience at Avondale was primed and ready, though an unforeseen circumstance required a bit more patience. Venue and security staff informed us that the performance was delayed while safety checks were completed. It was one of those behind-the-scenes realities that fans rarely see from the other side of the barricade.
If anything, the delay only heightened the excitement. When the stage lighting shifted, and Chance stepped into view, the delay instantly faded from memory.
For Sub Urban House, that moment carries a different intensity. Equipped with two camera bodies strapped into a harness, a 24–70mm lens on one side and a 70–200mm on the other. We stepped into the press pit, that narrow space between the edge of the stage and the surging front row. You glance back at the thousands of faces, then turn around, and Chance the Rapper is standing just feet away from you.
With photographers restricted to the first three songs, there is little time to process the atmosphere. The routine takes over: adjust lighting settings, compose, shoot, shift angles, and frame the next shot. Chance gave us plenty to chase. He brought straight energy from the start, moving across the stage and feeding off a Birmingham crowd that gave it right back.
Hands reached upward, lyrics rang out from the crowd, and a shared momentum took hold. Capturing live music demands juggling the need to document the moment with the desire to experience it fully.
After the third song, transitioning out of the photo pit and into the main crowd offered a full view of the audience Avondale had drawn: diverse generations and backgrounds, uniting listeners who have cherished Coloring Book since 2016 alongside newer fans. The crowd sang along with conviction, not just shouting the choruses, but reciting every word.
“Capturing live music demands juggling the need to document the moment with the desire to experience it fully.”- Isaac Nunn
That depth of engagement is fitting for an album that shaped Chance’s career. Coloring Book made history as the first streaming-only project to win a Grammy, earning Best Rap Album in 2017 (Best Rap Album 2017 Winners & Nominees, 2017), along with honors for Best Rap Performance and Best New Artist (Pearce, 2017). A decade later, performing the album in full alongside selections from across his discography, Chance openly acknowledged the weight of the milestone. A tenth anniversary occurs only once, and that awareness vibrated throughout his set.
Throughout the night, his performance balanced playfulness, reflection, and raw emotion. At times, visibly moved while looking out at the crowd, Chance came down from the stage to share the microphone with audience members, creating spontaneous, candid moments and giving us some of the night’s more humbling discoveries. Some of ya
’ll can sing and some of ya’ll absolutely cannot. The confidence, however, was outstanding.
Those interactions illustrated the essence of the show. Fans were not passively observing a celebrated record; they were actively participating in it.
Spiritual themes remained central to the experience, as they are to the album itself. Chance spoke openly about his faith, naturally blending moments of quiet reflection with high-energy performances that had the venue moving as one. Coloring Book has always brought together elements that rarely sit side by side: hip-hop and gospel, faith and doubt, celebration and vulnerability. Ten years on, that synthesis remains as compelling as ever.
Birmingham is worth the Stop!
Beyond the music itself, nights like this carry more significance for the city. People who live in cities like Birmingham are used to checking tour itineraries only to see stops limited to larger nearby hubs like Atlanta, Nashville, or New Orleans. When a major artist includes Birmingham on a national tour, it offers the local community a chance to answer a question that shouldn't really need answering: Will people come?
Now, if you know Birmingham, you know we might make you sweat a little at first. We are notoriously a “buy-the-ticket-later " kind of city. Presales might have you nervous. But don't confuse buying late with not showing up.
While ticket sales in the region often pick up closer to event dates, the turnout on September 1 offered a definitive response.
Yes! They will come, stay engaged, and match the artist's energy from start to finish.
Most importantly, the evening highlighted the vibrant, diverse, and growing music community that exists in Birmingham.
Birmingham loves music. Birmingham is growing. And nights like this let the city prove it.
Chance gave Birmingham a chance.
(The pun was unavoidable.)
But Birmingham did something with it. A decade after Coloring Book's release, gathering to celebrate the music that has soundtracked ten years of life felt like more than a single concert. It served as a clear message to touring artists and promoters alike:
“Bring the music here, and Birmingham will show up.”
EVENT DETAILS
Artist: Chance the RapperTour: Coloring Book 10th Anniversary Tour
Opening Artist: La Reezy
Venue: Avondale Brewing Company
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Date: September 1, 2026
Coverage: Sub Urban House
Photography: Isaac Nunn
Live music. Culture. Community.
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