Comments on: Memphis recommendations

Question: Memphis recommendations

yoga — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 05:37:50 -0800

I'll be in Memphis for the first time April 8 - 10. Any recommendations for off the beaten path places to hear some good blues? Bonus points for acoustic sets.

By: abbyladybug

abbyladybug — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 07:00:34 -0800

Start here

I live in Memphis, but I am working a lot this year (on an internship) and don't have the time or energy to go out much. Still, when I've had the time to go to Beale Street, I've twice gone to see James Govan & the Boogie Blues Band at the Rum Boogie Cafe, and he's always enjoyable. The crowd is sometimes a little annoying there, because it is Beale Street (a lot like Bourbon Street in New Orleans), but the band means it's worth it.

Here's the Beale Street calendar.

Check out some of the links here.

Oh, and if you can find Billy Gibson and his band playing, GO!

By: omnidrew

omnidrew — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 07:26:01 -0800

The Center for Southern Folklore (though their website looks a little bleak these days).

By: abbyladybug

abbyladybug — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 07:26:01 -0800

A few more links:

Memphis Acoustic Music Association: Memphis Area Links

To get you revved up for the trip: Beale Street Caravan is "the most widely distributed Blues radio program in the world, attracts more than 2.4 million listeners each week. Produced in The Home of the Blues - Memphis, Tennessee - Beale Street Caravan covers the world with the heartfelt sounds and colorful stories of the Blues and its music makers."

The Blues Foundation, located in Memphis.

By: jodic

jodic — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:01:02 -0800

While in Memphis you should totally check out Sun Studios, that place has a vibe that cannot be denied. You can just feel the ghosts that haunt that place the moment you walk into the actual studio.

By: yoga

yoga — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:17:26 -0800

Thanks for the links, I will peruse....

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 10:16:22 -0800

When you're in Memphis, go to The Rendezvous for excellent barbeque.

By: absalom

absalom — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 10:40:12 -0800

Another Memphian here. (There are so many! Why no meetups?) The Rendezvous is totally overrated. Go to Neely's instead. If you're into the Sun Studios tour, you might want to try out Stax Museum of Soul.

You really should go to Beale Street, even if it is overpriced and touristy as hell. Lots and lots of blues

Also, our local weekly is the Memphis Flyer. They're all over the place, and provide a VERY comprehensive rundown of what's going down in Memphis every week. (New issues come out on Thursdays, I believe.)

By: Carbolic

Carbolic — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 12:30:18 -0800

I'm a current Memphian who grew up in New Orleans. Beale Street is exactly like Bourbon Street .... if Bourbon Street were run by Disney. Not to say that is necessarily a bad thing.

By: geekhorde

geekhorde — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 15:56:55 -0800

If you're into records and record stores, Shangri-la is so totally cool. When I go to see my brother there, that's my pilgrimage spot.

By: mrg

mrg — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 18:41:02 -0800

if you wait a few weeks you can catch memphis in may.. if not there's a general listing of stuff here (esp if you want to do museums and such - there are a few that are fairly decent). if you're not into the blues, check out some of the local bars/clubs - there's the Young Avenue Deli (with a variety of acts), and the Hi-Tone Cafe (which tends to run rock/punk afaik). local band This Is Goodbye (fairly atmospheric, they have mp3s available) is playing Newby's on the 9th; Newby's is interesting if you're into the college-bar-type thing. (it's right next to the University of Memphis.)

speaking of there's a lot of neat small stuff hanging around in Midtown (down near madison and cooper/young, where the Young Avenue Deli is - in fact, there's a neat sushi bar named Do right across the street from it, and a french restaurant called The Beauty Shop and a mexican place I can't remember the name of). I will echo those who said to look in the Flyer - pretty good amount of cool stuff in there (check in the Tail Spin section too - check Classifieds).

By: abbyladybug

abbyladybug — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 19:44:20 -0800

Do is closed, but there's a great fish place that's there now. Beauty Shop is DIVINE! For barbecue, I really like the Barbecue Shop on Madison. Best sauce I've had.

There are TONS of alternative/rock/punk/etc shows here all the time, but you said you wanted blues, right? If you change your mind and want newer hipster stuff, check out the events list on the left side of Scenestars.

BTW, I think Bourbon Street and Beale Street are equally Disney... 'cept more alcoholic than the regular Disney stuff!

By: yoga

yoga — Sat, 26 Mar 2005 05:26:11 -0800

Wow, and here I was thinking I was headed into redneck/barbecue emporium with nothing but Graceland on the side. I can't move the date - I'm a participant in a conference there - but I'll have most of friday to knock around and see the place. I'm really looking forward to it now, thanks to you guys!