The Soundtrack of September: Mississippi Music Festivals and Live Music Stops 

As summer eases into fall, Mississippi’s music scene hits a high note with live performances, songwriter showcases, blues history, and small venues that keep the state’s sound alive. Ocean Springs hosts the Mississippi Songwriters Festival each September. 

In the state known as the Birthplace of America’s Music, a road trip deserves a soundtrack. 

Mississippi’s influence on blues, country, rock ’n’ roll and other genres can be explored in museums and trail markers across the state, but its musical story is not frozen in the past. It is still being written in clubs, theaters, restaurants and songwriter rounds every week.  

September is an especially fitting time to listen. 

Ocean Springs: Hear the Story Behind the Song 

Make the Mississippi Songwriters Festival the anchor of a September music getaway. 

The 17th annual festival is scheduled for September 17–20, 2026, with Ocean Springs serving as its home base.  

Rather than focusing only on the performer behind the microphone, the festival celebrates the craft of songwriting itself. Songwriters gather for acoustic performances in intimate settings, giving listeners the chance to hear the stories, ideas and experiences behind the music. The festival brings Mississippi writers together with professional songwriters from beyond the state.  

Between performances, explore downtown Ocean Springs, grab dinner and let the festival lead you from one venue to another. 

Clarksdale: Go Where the Blues Still Plays 

For blues, point the car toward the Delta. 

Clarksdale remains one of Mississippi’s essential music destinations, where the state’s blues history lives alongside an active live-music scene. Ground Zero Blues Club is among the city’s best-known venues, while Red’s Blues Club offers another chance to hear the Delta’s sound in the place that shaped it.  

Before the music starts, visit the Delta Blues Museum to add context to the artists, places and sounds that changed American music.  

Then stay after dark. Clarksdale is one of those places where understanding the music requires hearing it live. 

Cleveland: Explore Mississippi’s Music Legacy 

About 40 miles south of Clarksdale, Cleveland gives music travelers another way into the story. 

The GRAMMY Museum Mississippi explores the musical achievements and influence of Mississippi artists through interactive exhibits, while nearby Dockery Farms is widely associated with the early development of Delta blues.  

Pair the two for a day that connects Mississippi’s musical roots with the artists and genres that followed. 

Jackson: Find the City With Soul After Dark 

In Jackson, music fits naturally into a night out. 

Live-music institutions including Hal & Mal’s, Martin’s Downtown and Duling Hall keep the city’s music scene going after dark.  

Build an evening around Fondren or downtown Jackson, grab dinner and check the local calendar to see who is performing. The experience does not need to be a major concert. Sometimes the best way to encounter Mississippi music is in a room small enough to see every instrument onstage. 

Meridian: Follow Country Music’s Mississippi Roots 

For a different side of the state’s musical story, head east to Meridian. 

The city is closely tied to Jimmie Rodgers, whose work helped shape country music while drawing heavily from the blues. Today, visitors can explore that history and catch contemporary performances at venues such as the MSU Riley Center, housed in Meridian’s historic Grand Opera House.  

Pick a Genre or Build a Road Trip 

You do not have to cover the entire state in one weekend. 

Choose the Coast for songwriters. Head to the Delta for the blues. Spend a night in Jackson for live music and food. Or connect several stops on a longer trip and listen to how Mississippi’s sound changes from one region to the next.