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Overview
Can you really say you've seen the American South if you haven't explored the region's rich musical history and culture?
After all, the South is the birthplace of some of the world's most influential, enduring and popular genres of music. Rock 'n' roll, bluegrass, blues, country, gospel, jazz, soul, zydeco — the list goes on — are all genres with deep roots in the South and wouldn't sound how they do today without the region's musical influence.
Whether you want to trace the history of music in the Western world, experience the South's rich musical culture and traditions firsthand or simply see an unforgettable show that only the South can put on, then you won't want to skip any of these music destinations when you visit the South.
In partnership with Travel South USA, we've taken on the trip planning and handpicked the most unmissable music destinations and experiences in each of the South's nine states so that all you need to do is focus on having the trip of a lifetime.
Carnegie Hall — Lewisburg, West Virginia
There's no question where you'll find the beating heart of West Virginia's creative culture. It's in Lewisburg, one of the state's prestigious certified arts towns, at Carnegie Hall. The West Virginian landmark hosts musicians, exhibitions and special events year-round. The venue is also home to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame exhibition, which showcases the impact of the state's musicians, including Bill Withers and Little Jimmy Dickens to name just a few, over the years on the American music landscape.
Grand Ole Opry: Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is not only the home of country music — it's also where you'll find modern music's past, present and future.
The extent of Nashville's musical impact and influence can make it hard to decide how best to explore the city's music culture. After all, the city's countless studios, cafes, bars, halls, stages and venues always have something on and there are more musicians, shows and history than could possibly be covered in a lifetime.
That's why Grand Ole Opry is the best place to start. The legendary show, which started as a radio broadcast in 1925, is country music's biggest stage. To celebrate a century of country music, head to Opry House for Opry 100. Running over the course of the year in 2025, the celebration showcases an unprecedented lineup of country music's rising stars, superstars and legends through a series of spectacular live shows.
Carolina Country Music Fest: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
South Carolina's Myrtle Beach is a haven for music lovers. With venues ranging from beachfront bars to intimate lounges, the coastal city boasts a thriving live music scene that's sure to strike a chord with every visitor.
One of the best times to experience Myrtle Beach is when Carolina Country Music Fest is on. The annual summer festival takes place outdoors at the boardwalk along the beach and always features a stacked line up with over 40 of country music's hottest artists.
MerleFest: Wilkesboro, North Carolina
When you can't decide which artists to see live, music festivals are the obvious solution. Instead of tossing up between experiencing just one of the region's many musical genres, head to North Carolina — a state that straddles both the South and Appalachia — for MerleFest, one of the country's major festivals.
Held annually in Wilkesboro, the music festival celebrates "traditional plus" music, covering traditional music of the Appalachian region including bluegrass and old-time music, as well as Americana, country, blues, rock and more.
America's Prohibition era saw music clubs across the country shutter — but not in Kansas City. The city's clubs were run by the mob, not only continuing to serve alcohol, but also giving musicians a platform where they could keep performing. Soon, musicians were flocking to the city known as 'Paris of the Plains', where different musical styles merged and evolved.
The legacy of this long musical history in the city lives on today with countless jazz clubs, including the Mutual Musicians Foundation which hosts midnight jam sessions on Friday and Saturday nights and has done so since 1930, and the American Jazz Museum which allows visitors to dive into the history of the state's soulful music.
GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi: Cleveland, Mississippi
The GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi isn't just any music museum. It's the most technologically advanced music-themed museum in the South and was the second of only three GRAMMY Museums in the world, chosen in a testament to the state's musical chops, Mississippi has more GRAMMY winners per capita than any other state in America.
The influence of the Mississippi Delta on the development of American music can hardly be overstated. So much so, the state claims the title of "the birthplace of America's music". If Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Eddie Willis of The Funk Brothers — to name just three — ring any bells, it might be because they're all Mississippian musical greats.
Morgan Petroski
Frenchmen Street: New Orleans and Shreveport Municipal Auditorium: Shreveport, Louisiana
What do the musical genres of jazz, Cajun, zydeco and swamp pop have in common? They all hail from the great musical state of Louisiana and the impact of the state's musical history cannot be overstated — with blues, country and rock 'n' roll all being shaped by artists from this Southern state. The list of artists hailing from Louisiana reads like a history book of American music and includes: Louis Armstrong, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aaron Neville, and Mahalia Jackson, as well as Jon Batiste, Lainey Wilson and Trombone Shorty more recently.
Head to Frenchmen Street in New Orleans for a taste of live music as it can only be experienced in the South. Here, you'll find jazz bands like The Spotted Cat, while Lafayette is home to Cajun dance halls like Blue Moon Saloon.
To get even deeper into the South's music scene, head to north Louisiana and stop by Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. The performance venue is a National Historic Landmark, a designation that recognises locations of outstanding historical significance. Today, live performances continue to take place and the venue offers history tours about the Louisiana Hayride, a music show that not only featured artists like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and other major artists, but was instrumental in launching the career of the king of rock 'n' roll himself, Elvis Presley.
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame: Owensboro, Kentucky
It's difficult to pinpoint where exactly bluegrass originated, but it's easy to quickly brush up on your knowledge of the genre at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. The museum is a must-visit for music lovers who also want to explore Kentucky's cultural heritage. It celebrates the rich history of bluegrass music with engaging exhibits, live performances and a Hall of Fame honouring influential artists, including Bill Monroe, the "father of bluegrass music."
FAME Recording Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: Muscle Shoals, Alabama
The small town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama is one of those must-visit destinations for music lovers in-the-know. Located in the state's north-west, about equidistance from Memphis and Nashville, the town is home to FAME Recording Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Many of the greatest hits by Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones and countless others were recorded in these two studios.
Across the Tennessee River, about a ten-minute drive away is the town of Florence. It's the birthplace of W.C. Handy, the "father of the blues", and where a museum in his name stands today.
Also nearby is Huntsville, where a state-of-the-art, 8000-seat amphitheatre built by Mumford & Sons' member Ben Lovett stands, after being inspired by the Muscle Shoals music scene.
Find your next adventure in the South. Discover more unforgettable destinations and start planning your trip with Travel South USA.