My wife and I visited this little gem when we were stuck for a light lunch, particularly as my wife... read more
My wife and I visited this little gem when we were stuck for a light lunch, particularly as my wife... read more
Judy has lived here over 50 years. She has produced documentaries about the musicians including BB... read more
During the day this serves as a learning center of sorts and a great resource for information on the Memphis area and its history. But we stopped in at night. A small cover charge paid for the bad - Daddy Macks' Blues Band this particular evening. Beer and wine and soda is available but it's really not a bar - more a place to hang out and enjoy the show. It's small and intimate. During the break I spent time talking with Daddy and his friend - very casual and friendly. If you are looking to enjoy some music outside of the cacaphony of Beale street this is a good place to go on a Sat. night.
The Center for Southern Folklore has a passion for preserving history in its genuine forms. Music, stories, art convey the rich tapestries of life in the south. So much of our past would be totally gone were it not for Judy and devoted people at the center dedicated to honoring and preserving the Southern Ways.
A stroll through the center will be well worth it. I return to the Center for Southern Folklore every time I come to Memphis.
Be sure to listen to Hush Hogs Hush.
Meandering along Main St. following a great meal at the Majestic Grill, we heard some wonderful Blues emanating from the Southern Folklore Centre. We hadn't previously heard of the venue but we quickly recognised it as OUR best Blues experience in Memphis. Of course, there are many excellent Blues musicians plying their trade in Beale St. but it's all a bit seedy and it was a delight to walk into a small venue where the staff knew their music and were very proud of the traditions of southern music. Daddy Mack was playing and, as well as putting on a great display of the Blues, he was just as happy to join with the owners of the venue to promote Southern values. A well kept secret, we highly recommend a visit and certainly find out in advance which artists are playing and just enjoy talking to the fabulously well-informed and dedicated staff.
While the exhibits may not appeal to everyone, and this is not a sophisticated museum with modern technology, Judy is a font of information about the history of blues and soul in Memphis. She knew everybody, and she loves to talk about it.
If they are putting on any music show while you are in town, know that the musicians will likely be long time veterans, and they are likely to be excellent musicians.
So, unless you are looking for music influenced by hip hop, its worth checking out any performances Judy is putting on.
My granddaughter and I stepped in to get cooled off from the 98 degree heat. We met the nicest lady named Jill who offered us some peach tea and a place to sit down to get cooled off. The place is very unique. We looked at all the cool things on the wall. They had paintings, photographs and so many things that depicted their local culture. We sat there in took it all in. From that day on we stopped in to see Jill and enjoy her peach tea and peach cobbler everyday for the remainder of our trip. We were so sad to be leaving. It is a must see place to visit if you go to Memphis. Please look for Jill. She will treat you like family and make you feel like you have known her forever! It was the very best part of our trip and we made a forever friend.
We came into the cafe by accident, just looking for something cool to drink. The cafe had all this neat stuff on the wall, and soon we made our way to the little museum: a nice collection of photographs, paintings, quilts, memorabilia, curated by people who clearly love the local culture. We saw a couple of the videos that they had made. We spent a delightful hour. It looks like it would be a perfect spot to listen to music, though we were not in Memphis for a weekend.