Learning about the musical history of the Mississippi Delta is one thing, but nothing compares to hearing the music firsthand. With such a rich live-performance culture, it’s hard to narrow down the choices regarding venues. It would be difficult to go wrong, given the abundance of talent in the region. But there are a few tried-and-true staples in the music scene that are sure to guarantee an unforgettable experience.
If you're looking for an authentic, no-frills, hole-in-the-wall juke joint experience, Red’s Lounge in Clarksdale and Blue Front Café in Bentonia more than deliver. Drawing crowds as eclectic as their decor and furnishings, these fabled, rustic music halls host a range of local favorites and traveling acts.
For blues buffs worldwide, Clarksdale, Mississippi, is known as "Ground Zero.” Taking on the name to honor the place that started it all, Ground Zero Blues Club was created to celebrate the area's rich blues heritage and to ensure that its rich musical and cultural traditions endure. Located in historic downtown Clarksdale adjacent to the Delta Blues Museum, Ground Zero Blues Club promises visitors an authentic blues experience in the heart of where it all began.
While in Clarksdale, a stop at Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art is a must for fans of vinyl records, as well as eclectic souvenirs created by local folk artists. And while there is no substitute for in-person shopping. Cat Head Records regularly updates its website with funky and fun merchandise that makes for great gifts year-round.
No list of live music venues in the Mississippi Delta is complete without mention of B.B. King’s Club Ebony in Indianola. Since its opening at the end of WWII, Club Ebony has remained one of the most influential African American nightclubs in the South. It was part of the storied “Chitlin Circuit” that provided performance opportunities to African American musicians during the Jim Crow era. Over the years and through changing ownership, the club has hosted giants including Ray Charles, Count Basie, B. B. King, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, Albert King, and Willie Clayton, to name a few. Today, Club Ebony stands adjacent to the B.B. King Museum. Following extensive renovations, Club Ebony will reopen to the public on March 18. A grand reopening celebration is scheduled for June 1-4, with regular performances highlighting prominent voices in blues and R&B sure to continue drawing crowds from around the world.
For more of the best live music venues in Mississippi, click HERE.
.jpg)