Where to Hear the Blues: Juke Joints, Dive Bars and Historic Venues

The brick walls, small stage and strong drinks at Blind Willie’s make for the perfect blues-bar ambiance. In the Virginia-Highland area a few minutes outside of downtown Atlanta, Blind Willie’s is named after Georgia-native Blind Willie McTell (there’s an annual blues festival in his honor in nearby Thomson, Georgia). You’ll be treated by to live music seven nights a week, with many local acts and the occasional touring band. Atlanta’s major attractions, such as the Georgia Aquarium and High Museum of Art, in addition to historical sites and a top-notch culinary scene will easily fill out the rest of your itinerary.

A leading name in the Chicago blues scene, Buddy Guy is one of the most celebrated guitarists of all time. Inside Buddy Guy’s Legends are guitars signed by B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, great Cajun and Southern food and, of course, an amazing musical lineup. Guy is known to frequent the club and you might snag an autograph. At Blue Chicago in the River North district, bands perform on a platform the size of an area rug. It’s a welcoming, down-home atmosphere with no extravagance, just great music – the late greats Koko Taylor and Magic Slim performed here – seven nights a week.

You can expect to find some of the best blues around in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the birthplace of the 12-bar delta blues. At Red’s Lounge, sit back and experience the closest thing you’ll find to an original juke joint. Award-winning actor and part-time Mississippi resident Morgan Freeman co-owns the Ground Zero Blues Club, another Clarksdale favorite with great food, a full bar and nightly blues.

The oldest pub in Indiana, the Slippery Noodle Inn in Indianapolis, was founded in 1850 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s so much fascinating history here: It’s housed a bordello, a stop on the Underground Railroad, a slaughterhouse, a brewery and distillery. Now, the Slippery Noodle is a downtown Indianapolis hotspot to hear blues music. Enjoy live music nightly; it’s open microphone night on Wednesday. During daylight hours, visit popular Indianapolis attractions, including the Indianapolis Artsgarden and the historic City Market.

Nearly every square centimeter of wall space in Teddy’s Juke Joint is adorned with blues memorabilia, personal mementos and many, many Christmas lights. Most nights, the bar’s namesake, Lloyd “Teddy” Johnson, spins soul and blues tunes while his wife serves Southern food like giant turkey wings and red beans and rice. On nights with live music, listen to local artists or the occasional touring act. Either way, you’ll have a great time – and get to talk to Teddy himself. The attractions, Cajun cuisine and nightlife of Baton Rouge are just 30 minutes away.

Clifford Antone was credited with bringing worldwide recognition to Austin’s live music scene as well as helping launch the career of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Although the nightclub moved from its original location and is now co-owned by rock and blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr., Antone’s is still an Austin institution. Explore the rest of the Sixth Street entertainment district for more blues music in the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World.”

Home of the blues and world-famous Beale Street, Memphis is no stranger to top-notch performers. Head to B.B. King’s Blues Club to be treated to some of the greatest blues, rock and soul music around – the Southern food and Memphis barbecue is tasty, too. Named for the 1928 song “Minglewood Blues,” Minglewood Hall is a concert venue housed in an old bread factory in Midtown Memphis. Inside Minglewood Hall is the 1884 Lounge, a smaller venue where local musicians perform.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Bradfordville Blues Club lights up with live music in an authentic juke-joint atmosphere – a concrete-block house off a dirt road, surrounded by live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Each table is topped with an autographed painting of previous performers, including Bobby Rush, Percy Sledge, Big Jack Johnson and Eddie Kirkland. In the Florida Panhandle, the club is on the historic Chitlin’ Circuit, a collection of entertainment venues that catered exclusively to African-Americans during the first half of the 20th century.