Southern Music

To music fans, it's well known the South plays a crucial and influential role in American music. The region serves as inspiration for songwriters, is the foundation behind various musical styles, and is the birthplace of many of the nation's greatest musicians.

It's impossible to think of American music without such Southern derived forms as jazz, country, blues, gospel and rock n roll. These vibrant styles are a root for American popular music enjoyed around the world. Even legendary foreign based musicians such as the Rolling Stones and Beatles pay homage to these southern roots.

In Arkansas, these roots run deep and are showcased in folk music festivals across the state.

Interested in bluegrass music in Arkansas? The town of Mountain View, located in the Ozark Mountains, is the "Folk Music Capital of the World" where traditional folk instruments like the fiddle, dulcimer, and mandolin take center stage. Pine Bluff's Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame pays tribute to musicians like Al Green and Johnny Cash. Eureka Springs is home to an annual Bluegrass Festival and Hot Springs hosts a popular Jazz Music Festival every year. The legendary Arkansas King Biscuit Blues Festival is in Helena and various live music venues can be found in cities across the state.

Whatever musical genre you enjoy, you will find the spirt of southern music alive and well in Arkansas.