Courtesy New Orleans CVB
New Orleans
Music fans flock to New Orleans for great jazz, in addition to its legendary cuisine. Walking through the city, you’ll likely hear fantastic music played by street performers; for a traditional New Orleans jazz experience, though, Preservation Hall is the place to start.
“Preservation Hall is all about the music,” said Jennifer Day, director of communications and public relations at the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There’s no food or drink, and there are maybe seven rows of bench seating. But the music is amazing.”
At Snug Harbor, another local jazz venue, groups can dine and enjoy a more luxurious evening of cabaret-style entertainment. Unlike many music clubs where patrons socialize throughout the evening, Snug Harbor puts an emphasis on listening, enforcing a no-talking rule during performances.
For a smorgasbord of entertainment options, take your group to Frenchmen Street, where the diversity of New Orleans means a variety of musical choices.
“It’s known as the locals’ version of Bourbon Street,” Day said. “It’s an entertainment district with 12 venues to choose from. You’ll find everything from reggae to rock, traditional jazz and brass bands. That’s where locals go to have fun.”
Renfro Valley, Ky.
What it lacks in its small size, Renfro Valley makes up for in a grand country music heritage. The lifeblood of this destination is the Renfro Valley Entertainment Complex, a musical institution founded in 1939.
“We’re celebrating our 73rd year here,” said Craig Barnett, Renfro Valley vice president of public relations and entertainment. “Our classic show, the Renfro Valley Barn Dance, takes place in the Old Barn Theater. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and has the same wood andstage from when it was built in 1939.”
The Barn Dance show takes place several nights a week from March through October and features classical country, Southern gospel, mountain and bluegrass music, as well as comedy. Many of the performers hail from the surrounding area, although some are from other states and have toured nationally with prominent country artists.
In addition to the traditional shows, Renfro Valley also features a series of headline concerts in its state-of-the-art New Barn Theater. During the 2012 season, concerts will take place every Friday and Saturday night. Among the featured artists are Dwight Yoakam, Gretchen Wilson, George Jones and Randy Travis.
“It’s a 1,500-seat theater, so it’s a very intimate experience,” Barnett said. “It’s your chance to get up close and personal with the stars. You don’t often see them in small settings like this.”
— www.renfrovalley.com —
Stillwater, Okla.
In the late 1980s, a new style of music began to develop in Stillwater, Okla. Named “red dirt” music for the color of the local soil, this blend of country, rock ’n’ roll and blues soon spread around the country, popularized by artists such as Bob Childers and bands such as the Red Dirt Rangers.
Today, red dirt music has become a calling card of Stillwater.
“We brand ourselves as the original home of red dirt music,” said Cristy Morrison, executive director of the Stillwater Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The community really embraces this heritage, and we’re creating more events that feature red dirt musicians.”
One of the most exciting new music events is called Gypsy Cafe. Named after the venue where Childers and other red dirt musicians got their starts, this April event is something of a homecoming, bringing red dirt performers and songwriters to Stillwater to perform in various places around town.
Several Oklahoma State University events, such as College Days and the Annual Calf Fry, prominently feature red dirt music as well. And visitors can find bands playing red dirt songs any time of year at local establishments such as Eskimo Joe’s and the Tumbleweed Ballroom.
