Juke Joints MS (Jackson, Greenville, Clarksdale: hotel, to buy, school)

[chadwick]

Hi,
My husband and I are planning a road trip in a couple of months and we want to spend a few days in the Delta.

We're huge blues fans and will be visiting Greenwood, Indianola and Leland. We'd really like to spend the night somewhere around that area and listen to some proper blues music.

Can people reccommend any bars which would be authentic (not the type of touristy bars you find in Memphis), but where we would not be intruding in other people's space?

We probably couldn't look any more like European tourists if we tried but we've visited the US quite a bit, and have previsouly spent time in Jackson, Clarksdale and Memphis.

Also, am I right in thinking that live music tends to only happen on a Friday/Saturday?

Any tips would be really welcome.

[mccarley]

Not the delta area, but on the coast, The Shed, Ocean Springs. Blues every weekend and great Bar B que every day.

[JeffConn]

Here's some websites that might be of help. Lots of info about Mississippi blues.

The River bore the alluvial plain that is the Mississippi Delta

The Mississippi Blues Trail - Home

[brickpatio]

If you're going to Greenwood, staying at the Alluvian Hotel is a must (thealluvian.com). A lot of people go for the spa, the Viking cooking school and Giardianas restaurant at night. I would suggest you call them and ask for suggestions for blues places in the area. While you're in Greenwood, enjoy a walk or run down picturesque Grand Avenue. And yes, both Indianola and Leland have blues museums.

[jacksonian]

Ground Zero in Clarksdale has live music wed-sat nights. In Jackson, there are several places - 930 Blues Cafe, F. Jones Corner, and Underground 119 just to name a few.

[SoBelle]

The Shed in Ocean Springs is a MUST-SEE! You won't find a better blues joint. You should check them out on Facebook to get the lowdown on the upcoming performers. You just can't go wrong with The Shed!

[poptones]

If you look like euro tourists and are friendly I doubt you'd have to worry about "intruding" on other's space in most any bluesey joint. I suspect you'll find most folks will be out of their way to be friendly, some might even offer to buy you a drink. And I'm assuming because you're going to Greenwood you plan to visit Clarksdale? I mean, you really must visit Clarksdale...

[duck hunter]

Ground Zero is a good one, Morgan Freeman is the owner, ha one of the most real "juke joints" is called the Po Monkey Lounge, it has been on a couple of national covered news programs its in the middle of a corn field in Merigold I have had the opportunity of going twice, it is definitely an experience however I think it might be a little shocking for you, another place that has live music is the Blues Bar in downtown Greenville it can be pretty fun on a friday and saturday night.

[chadwick]

Thanks for all your tips!
We're spending our first night in Clarksdale and are going to stay in one of the rooms above Ground Zero on a Friday night!

Thanks for the tips about not intruding too. We're extremely friendly and open minded. We just don't want to intrude on other people's territory and look like insensitive poverty tourists (if you know what I mean).

Really looking forward to it. We actually drove through Clarksdale about 10 years ago, but were a bit wet behind the ears and didn't have the nerve to really explore it properly.

[chadwick]

Originally Posted by duck hunter

One of the most real "juke joints" is called the Po Monkey Lounge, it has been on a couple of national covered news programs its in the middle of a corn field in Merigold I have had the opportunity of going twice, it is definitely an experience however I think it might be a little shocking for you

Just looked at Po Monkey - wow that looks like fun! You don't get bars like that in the UK!