It is often said that Memphis is the city mentioned most often in popular songs. Whether true or not, the city has an indisputably rich music history. As "Home of the Blues and Elvis Presley," Memphis has also given birth to such great artists and groups as W. C. Handy, Jerry Lee Lewis, B. B. King, Booker T and the MGs, Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes. From Beale Street to Graceland to Sun Studio, this history has created many of the citys most popular attractions. Because of this tradition, at any time of the year travelers can hear wonderful music from established artists and novices trying to make a name for themselves.

Music

Anyone traveling to Memphis should spend at least one weekend evening club-hopping on Beale Street. This street, where B. B. King got his start, has been revived through a joint initiative of the city council and local merchants. Beale Street bars and clubs feature an outstanding variety of live music every night. Rum Boogie Café attracts 20-somethings who come to dance to the hot rhythms of R & B and rock groups, while Kings Palace Café draws listeners with its line-up of blues artists. Purists insist on Willie Mitchells, where the music is as funky as it ever was in Beale Streets heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. In the spirit of something for everyone,? The New Daisy theater books alternative groups for the young and hip crowd. On weekends, Beale is closed to traffic and comes alive with bands playing both inside and out, tourists and locals mingling in the streets, and artists entertaining viewers with gymnastic antics. On special weekends, a particular type of music, such as Zydeco, may be featured. A wristband assures unlimited entry into all clubs.

With numerous venues from The Pyramid arena to the Mud Island Amphitheater, there always seems to be a concert of some kind. If nothing in Memphis appeals to you, take a short drive to Tunica, just south of Memphis, and catch one of the many concerts at the strip of casinos that have sprung up along the Mississippi.

Every year in May, thousands of people travel from all over to take part in the rapidly growing Beale Street Music Festival. This three-day event includes six different stages, each dedicated to a different kind of music. Whether you enjoy rock, blues, country or jazz, this festival has it all. In recent years, artists such as Bob Dylan, Percy Sledge, Joan Jett and Bryan Adams, plus groups such as Creed, Dave Matthews Band, the Allman Brothers, Los Lobos and the Foo Fighters have played here.

Theater

Memphis locals enjoy their theater almost as much as their music, even if the theater scene is not as well-known. The strong theater tradition in Memphis has produced such stars as Cybill Shepherd, Kathy Bates and Michael Jeeter. Just a block from the Peabody Hotel is the restored Orpheum Theater featuring touring productions of Broadway hits such as Cats and Phantom of the Opera as well as performances such as Stomp and River Dance. For local theater, check out the Circuit Playhouse and Playhouse on the Square in Midtown or Theatre Memphis in the University of Memphis area. All three theaters stage traditional favorites like Noel Cowards Private Lives, as well as more experimental pieces by modern playwrights. Playbills from these theaters reflect the eagerness with which up-and-coming thespians come to Memphis.