Need to get out of the house? Take a ride with the windows down! Plan a trip on the Mississippi Blues Trail.
Blues is an incredibly special genre of music that has many variations, which were influenced by the locality of the singers. Derived from spiritual, work songs, and field hollers, Blues express feelings of injustice, lost loves, money, agitation, and depression, but always with uplifting emotions. Early blues were referred to as Blue Devils Music. The first published sheet music of blues was the song “I Got the Blues” by New Orleans Artist Antonio Maggio, in 1908. As the Blues grew they influenced Rock and Roll, Jazz, and popular music.
Created in 2006 by the Mississippi Blues Commission, the Mississippi Blues Trail are interpretive markers placed at the most notable historical sites related to the birth, growth, and blues influence throughout Mississippi. Although the 200 markers extend all over the state and beyond, we have a number of markers here right on the coast.
Plan a road trip. Take the time to stop and take pictures with family and friends. Make it a challenge to collect pictures at each marker.
List of Blues Trail Markers:
Bay St. Louis – 100 Men Hall – 303 Union St.
Biloxi – Biloxi Blues – corner of Main and Murray Street
Gulfport – Broadcasting the Blues – corner of Martin Luther King Dr. and Arkansas Ave.
Moss Point – Moss Point Blues – near the corner of Dantzler St. near Riverfront Welcome Center
Pascagoula – MS Gulf Coast Blues – 2902 Shortcut Rd.
Ocean Springs – Ocean Springs Blues – on Hwy 609/ Washington Ave. South of Desoto St.
Want to expand your trip? See the full list of Blues Trail Markers at msbluestrail.org/blues_marker_list.
Along the way please support Coast businesses and artists, by visiting some of the Blues specialty joints and enjoy the live Blues music.
Blues Bars Joints and Restaurants:
Bay St. Louis – 100 Men Hall, 303 Union Street
Ocean Springs – The Shed Barbeque & Blue Joint, 7501 MS-5
Ocean Springs – Murky Waters, 1212 Government St. Live blues Sunday
Gulfport – Murky Waters – 1320 27th Ave – Live blues Wing Night Wednesday
D’Iberville – Satchmo’s Jazz Café, see website for upcoming performances
Pascagoula – Jacks by the Tracks, 709 Krebs Ave. Live music every Thursday & Friday night.
Note: When planning your trip, please confirm the current venues at the various restaurants.
If you just can’t get away take a virtual tour of all the blues markers at mississippimarkers.com
Now go enjoy some Blues, be safe, and have fun.
