6 Must-Visit Music Joints Across Mississippi

By: TLP's Partners

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When you read “Birthplace of America’s Music” on every welcome sign entering the state, you can feel it. Mississippi is the place where music’s kings and queens pieced together melodies that gave way to entire genres, defining the American South. It’s the place where music is not just something you listen to; it’s experienced with a deep reverence that borders on a spiritual devotion. It transcends time and space, opening a door to the past while looking toward the future.

The Lyric is a music venue in Oxford Mississippi with a modern, white exterior.

For the past century, the resilient Mississippi blues of B.B. King, the electrifying rock ’n’ roll of Elvis Presley, and romantic country ballads of Tammy Wynette have filled homes, restaurants, and music venues. These legends and many others have created community through the spirit of the beat.

Live music is a way of life in Mississippi, and there’s no shortage of venues where guests flock to hear the tunes that started it all. No matter where you come from or where you’re heading, these venues are one-of-a-kind destinations that give guests the opportunity to experience everything that is the “Birthplace of America’s Music,” opening a door to the past, while looking towards the future.

Red’s – Clarksdale

Located in the heart of the Delta, Red’s Blues Lounge delivers the Mississippi blues to anyone who enters. After taking over LaVene’s music store, where icons such as Ike Turner bought their instruments, Cornelius Orlando “Big Red” Paden made Red’s the place to be in the 1980s, and this reputation still rings true today. Each month is packed with live music performances, from traditional, acoustic Delta blues to raucous electric blues, making each night at Red’s one to remember.

The Ellis Theater in Philadelphia, Mississippi is a large, brick theater proudly showcasing its affiliation with the Congress of Country music, a local nonprofit.

Ellis Theater – Philadelphia

From the dreams of country icon and Philadelphia, Mississippi, native Marty Stuart, Ellis Theater is the headquarters of the Congress of Country Music, a multi-phased nonprofit project that reintroduces, reinvents, and reclaims Mississippi country music. Ellis Theater, the old historic theater of Philadelphia, had its start showing silent films. Now, it has opened its doors to live music and events, such as country artists, orchestras, and even game shows like Wheel of Fortune: Live.

The Lyric – Oxford

Originally built in the late 1800s and converted into a theater in the 1920s, The Lyric is known as a North Mississippi live music destination. The theater building originally operated as a horse stable and was owned by the father of the renowned author and Mississippi native, William Faulkner. Today, The Lyric is known for its live music performances, occasional film screenings, and Oxford’s Uncorked Wine Festival.

Duling Hall – Jackson

Located in the former auditorium of a 1927 elementary school, Duling Hall offers an intimate experience in a space infused with nostalgia. With stained glass windows and eclectic architectural details, guests will notice the obvious charm in the venue space that is a direct reflection of the Tudor revival in educational institutions. Today, the venue offers updated amenities, excellent acoustics, and a full bar to provide a perfect environment for catching national touring acts and local favorites.

Club Ebony – Indianola

Club Ebony was the first African American club in Indianola, and it has hosted acts by legends such as Ray Charles and Ike Turner. In 2008, B.B. King purchased the club to preserve the venue’s tradition of bringing people together. With blues, R&B, and soul performances offered throughout each month, the club has remained a beacon of the Indianola community.

A colorful mural outside of 100 Men Hall in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi showcases various blues artists in blocks of blue, orange, and green.

100 Men Hall – Bay St. Louis

100 Men Hall was originally a culture and social center for the local African American community. It has featured a variety of acts, including James Brown, Etta James, B.B. King, and Guitar Slim, to name a few. Today, guests can enjoy performances by solo artists, bands, comedians, and more, in addition to a wide range of workshops, cultural events, and community gatherings.