City: Memphis, TN

Category: Nightlife

Telephone: (901) 525-3655

Address: 119 and 123 South Main Street

Description: This large, brightly painted venue lives up to its name—promoting southern culture from music to folk art to food. The music, which focuses on but isn’t at all relegated to blues, is a cut above Beale in terms of authenticity. This funky space features live music most nights, including regular performances by the Daddy Mack Blues Band. The nonprofit center is a nightclub, tourist attraction, cafe, and unofficial welcome center. Most weekdays the center serves lunch alongside performances from a fine batch of local musicians. But the center also has night performances on a less regular basis, with acts such as folksinger Kate Campbell and the Holmes Brothers. Check out the artwork, too, especially the great folk art in the center’s “Sofo” gallery. There’s a cover charge for live music. The music hall is at the back on the lower level of the Pembroke Building, and the cafe/gift shop is in front. Look for the sign on Main Street.