World Music Central’s Guide to Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is a strong Blues town. Blues legend Tabby Thomas lives there and has his own radio show [unfortunately, his own famous nightclub, Tabby’s Blues Box, closed in 2004]. There are several other clubs (and restaurants) that have Blues groups that play. Baton Rouge is known as the Blues music capital of Louisiana. It’s situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, the great blues highway. To find out about what’s happening in town, you can go to these two Web sites, http://www.2theadvocate.com/ and http://www.cajunradio.org/bluesguide.html, for shows and calendar of events.

Venues

There are quite a few Blues clubs:

• Avoyelles, 333 Third St Baton Rouge. Phone: +1 225 -381-9385
• Beau’s Bistreaux, 120 South Blvd. Baton Rouge. Phone: +1 225 -381-0123
• Carmichael’s, 330 Lobdell Port Allen, La. 225-343-7383
• Cafe Reggae, 123 W. Chimes St. Baton Rouge. Phone: +1 225 -383-4743
• Club Infinity, 6984 Plank Rd. Phone: +1 (225) 335-2611
• Phil Brady’s, 4848 Government St., Baton Rouge. Phone: +1 225 -927-3786
• Rhythm Museum (Next to Rock Shop) at 1712 N. Acadian West
• Thirsty Tiger 140 Main St Baton Rouge. Phone: +1 225 -387-9799

Tthe Red Dragon Listening Room. They sponsor “home” concerts weekly. The concerts take place in a large street level room. The owner lives upstairs. The music genre is varied from week to week.

Newer clubs, such as SoGo and the Red Star, feature more fusion-style musics. Baton Rouge is becoming less of a blues town and more a place for fusions of different kinds.

Instruments

Mary Ann Walker owns and operates a small dulcimer shop in Baton Rouge called
Traditional Sounds. It is the only dulcimer shop in south Louisiana – and
possibly in the state of Louisiana. The store also carries music (Tab and CDs)
for Folk, Celtic, Bluegrass, and Blues. Instruments currently in stock include
mandolins, mountain dulcimers, guitars, penny whistles, harmonicas and bodhrans.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Phone:+1 225-317-1835.

Radio

The best radio station in town is WRKF – Saturday night 9:00-midnight
Hootenanny Power. Taylor Caffery is
the host. He plays Celtic, world and folk. 

There is also a great Internet, 24/7, station, www.folkalley.com. They play Celtic,
folk, and some bluegrass. It comes out of WKSU @ Kent State (89.7FM).

KBRH: AM 1260 plays Classic Blues and Rhythm & Blues. Baton Rouge Magnet High
School, 2825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Phone: +1 225 388-9030.

WBRH 90.3 FM has several Blues and roots related shows:

• Rob Payer, Rhythm Review. Saturday / 7am-1pm
• Tabby Thomas, Tabby’s Blues Box. FM Saturday / 1pm-2pm
• Weekly Guest host, Blues Buffet. Saturday / 2pm-3pm
• Pat McBride, Louisiana Gumbo. Saturday / 3pm-4pm
• John Fred, Roots of Rock & Roll. Saturday / 4pm-7pm

Zia Tammami hosts Spontaneous Combustion & Cat’s Corner ,Sunday KLSU 91.1 10am-2pm

Festivals

There is an annual festival, Baton Rouge Blues Week, usually held between April and May.

Organizations

The Baton Rouge Blues Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting local artists and cultivating appreciation and respect for the blues as both an important development in musical history and as a viable art form.

Club Louisianne, 639 Main St., Baton Rouge, LA 70801. Phone: +1 (225) 383-0968, Fax: +1 (225) 383-0966.

There is also the Cajun French Music Association of Baton Rouge.

This report was submitted by Mary Ann Walker, with additional information provided by Angel Romero and Ando Monta