Devon Allman, Duane Betts form Allman Betts Band for new album, tour

The Devon Allman Project has been successfully touring with special guest Duane Betts across the country and Europe since March, so it only makes sense the sons of former Manatee County resident Gregg Allman and current Sarasota County resident Dickey Betts would form their own band.

Devon Allman and Sarasota native Duane Betts have formed The Allman Betts Band.

The group will kick off 2019 with a new Allman Betts Band album and a worldwide tour that will feature new music, songs from their solo projects and classic Allman Brothers songs in honor of the 50th anniversary of The Allman Brothers Band. The new album, which is slated to be released in the spring of 2019, will be produced by Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price, John Prine and Elvis Presley).

The new ABB will feature Devon and Duane, joined by Sarasota County resident Berry Oakley Jr. on bass (son of original Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley), Johnny Stachela on slide guitar and DAP percussionists R. Scott Bryan (Sheryl Crow’s band) and John Lum.

Chuck Leavell (former Allman Brothers Band keyboardist and current Rolling Stones keyboardist) and Peter Levin (Gregg Allman’s Hammond B3 player) will also appear on the record.

“We’re working on it,” Duane told me in August when asked about a future album with Devon. “We started writing and we’re maybe halfway there. We’re going to demo some songs and see what we got. We need some more sessions but I’m not sure how much more we need to make sure it’s really good. I’m looking forward to getting in and recording.

“It’s on step three if it’s a 12-step program” he added with a laugh.