The Ultimate Guide to Memphis Music Culture

Named after the ancient city in Egypt, Memphis, Tennessee, has a historic reputation as a rowdy, Mississippi River town. It is also well known for the colorful characters that have made indelible imprints on the music scene. Considered to be the place you go to if you really value music and nightlife, Memphis’ musical joie de vivre radiates from the inside out. Rock and blues likely come to mind first for many, but the city’s legacy includes soul, jazz, power pop, hip-hop, punk, alternative and gospel that shaped the national music scene. For an insider’s guide to the hippest Memphis music haunts, we’ve teamed up with KOOL to show you how to get the most out of it.

River City Records

Memphis’ newest hang for record collectors is a haven for both connoisseurs and dabblers alike – it efficiently packs in music, books, cassettes, merchandise, and new and used vinyl. A “staff picks” section up front offers curated picks, alongside a selection of local favorites, and for newer local and regional record releases, signed copies may be available. Among the knowledgeable employees on staff is the dog Groovy, their resident mascot waiting to greet would-be customers with her adorable face. On select days, the record store also hosts release and listening parties for local musicians to really immerse you into what Memphis is all about.

Eight & Sand

Memphis’ Central Station makes you do a double take. It’s a train station with service north to Chicago and south to New Orleans, but it’s also the home to a luxury hotel with a bar that’s an unexpected place to listen to music. Eight & Sand houses DJs from all over and underneath neon lights and a wall of vinyl records, guests lounge among  the many sofas, sit on the stairs, or hit the dance floor. The bar is open later on weekends and on Thursdays is a ladies night series celebrating female DJs. The specialty cocktail menu at Eight & Sand features aesthetically-pleasing seasonal cocktails and food. No matter how you arrived to Memphis, be it a train, plane or automobile, you don’t need a ticket for Eight & Sand.

Cameo

Hidden on the bottom floor of a modern-looking apartment building lies a cocktail bar with the straight-to-the-point motto “fancy drinks, party time.” Cameo is known for turning the lights down and turning the music up, including a rotating DJ series on Thursday nights. The evocative lighting serves as a highlight to the funky Memphis decor, which includes a variety of exotic animal heads and trinkets. If you’re hungry you certainly won’t be disappointed, but let us steer your attention to the inventive, tongue-in-cheek drinks, such as ‘Underberg’ that’s aptly described as ’iykyk’ on the menu, and Lion’s Tail, a prohibition-era cocktail for those bored of whiskey sours. Whether you need an introduction or just a reminder, Cameo is a great place to nerd out on cocktail history while listening to some body-moving music.

The Memphis Listening Lab

The Memphis Listening Lab is a certified goldmine of music thanks to Ardent Records’ co-founder John King’s donation of thousands of records, CDs, books, and memorabilia that are its foundation. In what feels like a religious experience, you’re here for real music worship. Memphis musical history is everywhere, with the shelves filled to the brim with racks of vinyl and countless books. Fitted with custom, state-of-the-art speakers, they often host listening events. The sleek Listening Lab has several listening stations with record players and headphones. For those creating on the road, there’s even a small studio to edit music or record a podcast, available for free rental. Whether you’re a musician yourself or not, the Memphis Listening Lab is a worthy stop for anyone who’s serious about music.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

With legendary musicians like Aretha Franklin, and Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire, Soulsville is a fitting name for the home  of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Siblings Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton founded the iconic soul label Stax, known for bringing together Black and white band members in the 1960s with stars who shaped the sound of American music, including Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and Otis Redding, among countless others. Within its walls are innumerable record covers,  exhibits, and memorabilia, including a reconstructed church brought from rural Mississippi, and even Isaac Hayes’ 1972 fur-lined, gold trimmed, baby blue Cadillac Eldorado. Mary Helen Randall, the communications director of the Soulsville Foundation, presses upon the importance of Stax; “It serves as a bridge between the past and the present, inspiring new generations of musicians while honoring the groundbreaking music created here at the same corner of College and McLemore more than 60 years ago.”

B.B. King’s Blues Club

With a promise of live music every night, B.B. King’s Blues Club is an institution that puts live music front and center. Blues, soul and rock bands perform under colorful lights in an atmosphere that reminds you that  live music is King of the street. Their specialty ribs are a lip smackin’ blend of spices and barbecue sauce. Other Southern delicacies on the menu include ‘Born on the Bayou’ shrimp and grits, ‘Chicken Fried Chicken’ and jambalaya pasta. Dinner and a show may sound like a cliché, but at B.B. King’s it’s the whole point.

Overton Park Shell

Sitting on a 342-acre public park, Overton Park Shell gathers music-loving Memphians to enjoy open-air concerts by local, regional, and national music acts right before they take off in the mainstream. It is notably the site of Elvis Presley’s first professional performance, which cements it as a pivotal point in rock-and-roll history. Bring your own blanket or a chair and grab a bite from one of the many food trucks and bar stands. Natalie Wilson, Overton Park Shell’s executive director, says; “For close to 90 years, the Overton Park Shell has been a catalyst for Memphis music, for bringing all walks of life together, and for creating a vibrant livable community”