Music gets meetings rockin’. To start your meeting on the right note, choose a destination where music is center stage.
Music cities make fun destinations for meetings. Planners can bring the energy of music festivals and concerts into their events with little extra effort. In addition, a city’s musical roots—whether hip hop, Zydeco, or blues—can be used as a theme throughout a conference or event.
If attendees can discover amazing live music within steps of the host venue, even better. Of course, there is always the opportunity to pull local musicians into your event for performances and special appearances or incorporate a trivia game based on the music and musicians from the region.
There are amazing musical hotspots in the South—from the Mississippi Delta blues to country music to Louisiana Zydeco.
Mobile, Ala.
Musical roots run deep in Mobile, Ala., home to one of the country’s hottest bands, The Red Clay Strays, along with ‘70s Southern rock band Wet Willie, country star Walker Hayes, contemporary Christian group Big Daddy Weave, and others.
Not to be forgotten is the late Jimmy Buffett. In September, Mobile held its inaugural Son of a Sailor Fest, a tribute to Buffett, who was raised in Mobile, attended McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, and was discovered at The Admiral Hotel on Government Street. According to Mobile.org, Buffett was playing a gig after completing his shift at the Alabama State Docks.
Joseph Brennan, organizer of the Son of Sailor Fest, says the event grew out of a second line held in 2023 after the musician’s death. “We party in the street in Mobile, and we love throwing a parade,” Brennan says. “That Mardi Gras spirit is in our blood, so it was only natural that we strike up a band, throw that margarita in a go-cup, and dance in the street for Jimmy.”
Mobile’s historic Saenger Theatre hosts top musical acts in its 2,000-seat venue, where the acoustics make the music reverberate through one’s soul.
Other unique music venues include Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in the city’s Oakleigh Garden Historic District, which has hosted The Strays (as they are locally known), Wet Willie’s lead singer Jimmy Hall, Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Alabama Shakes. You can grab a table inside or sit outside on the wrap-around porch to listen through the open windows.
Visitors can also hear amazing music at The Listening Room and Cedar Street Social. Or, take an Insta-worthy photo at the Heavenly Metal sculpture, designed by local artist Bruce Larsen, outside the Downtown Church at The Steeple on St. Francis Street.
As an events destination, Mobile offers more than 1,400 hotel rooms within walking distance of a bustling downtown, where visitors can discover dozens of locally owned restaurants, museums, art galleries, nightlife, shops, paddleboat cruises, and more. Plan an event during a second Friday, and participants can take part in the city’s monthly Arts Walk along Dauphin Street, catching street-corner musicians and great stage acts. With the connection to Buffett, a “Parrothead” theme is always appropriate for events held in Mobile.
Atlanta
Atlanta blends several genres for its sound, including rock n’ roll, country, blues, and bluegrass. The city showcases those sounds at its various music festivals, which include Sweetwater 420 Fest in April; Shaky Knees and Atlanta Jazz festivals, both in May; A-Town Music Fest in August; the two-day Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival in September; Decatur BBQ & Blues Festival and the ONE MusicFest, both in October.
“Atlanta plays host to several annual music festivals across a range of genres,” says Kristin Delahunt, vice president of destination services for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “Celebrating its 15th anniversary in Atlanta, ONE MusicFest is one of the largest urban festivals of its kind in the Southeast. Each year, ONE MusicFest brings together artists from hip hop, R&B, house trap, beats, and soul.”
Additionally, Delahunt says Atlanta Jazz Festival is one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country.
The city is also a hub for hip hop. “As hip hop began to rise in national popularity, Atlanta emerged as a key player, thanks to the rise of groups like Kris Kross and OutKast,” Delahunt says. “OutKast’s overwhelming success in the mid-1990s solidified Atlanta’s spot on the hip hop map.”
Today, hip hop and R&B continue to thrive in Atlanta, with popular artists such as T.I., Ludacris, Usher, 2 Chainz, and Future hailing from the city. Popular local attractions have been mentioned in songs by Snoop Dogg, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, and others.
“Meeting planners have the unique opportunity to incorporate the destination’s musical heritage into their events,” Delahunt says. “One approach is to include local musical talent in the event program.”
In the past, Atlanta and Georgia-based artists, such as Big Boi, TLC, and The Zac Brown Band, have performed as part of clients’ evening ceremonies. “Additionally, many of our meeting planners hire a local drumline to begin their convention,” Delahunt says. “This creates a unique and memorable experience for attendees while also showcasing the city’s character.”
Macon, Ga.
Macon, Ga., has a deep-seated musical heritage and a thriving contemporary scene.
This city boasts a storied past, drawing the talents of some of America’s biggest music icons, such as Otis Redding, Little Richard, and The Allman Brothers Band.
“Macon presents a truly enriching destination for those passionate about the sounds and stories of the nation’s music heritage,” says Haley Garrett of Visit Macon.
Macon is a great place for conventions, with 5,000 budget-friendly hotel rooms, a central location, and unique spaces for meetings, receptions, and trade shows.
“Attendees who are passionate about music and its heritage will find Macon an enriching music and meetings destination,” Garrett says.
Historic landmarks, like Capricorn Studios—now renovated and both an operational recording studio and museum, known as Mercer Music at Capricorn—offer visitors a tangible connection to the city’s influential musical roots.
Redding’s legacy lives on through the Otis Redding Foundation. The soul singer funded educational initiatives in the community as early as 1967, but a tragic plane crash the same year cut short his life. A new facility for the Otis Redding Center for the Arts is set to open this fall, just steps away from Redding’s 1960s Cotton Avenue office in downtown Macon.
The city is also home to vibrant venues like Grant’s Lounge, where major American artists have performed, and The Big House, the former home base of The Allman Brothers Band and now a premier museum with rare memorabilia and immersive experiences.
Macon’s ongoing celebration of music continues, with lively festivals and musical events to keep the city’s artistic spirit vibrant, including the newly opened 10,000-seat Atrium Health Amphitheater.
For a virtual taste of Macon, VisitMacon.org features the “Macon Made” Spotify playlist and a livestream of The Creek 101.9FM radio show to tune into the soulful sounds of Macon from anywhere.
Use the Tour Macon mobile app to find Macon Music Trail, a database of staple stops in Macon with information, media, and videos for a look into the past and present music scene.
Lafayette, La.
A gumbo of cultural influences come together to create the sound of Lafayette, La. Known as the “Free Music Capital of the World,” Lafayette visitors can see performances seven nights a week, most in family-friendly venues. It is not all Cajun music or Zydeco, although there is plenty of both. The Lafayette sound includes Creole, blues, indie rock, and jazz.
To capitalize on this, the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) produces the Lafayette Weekly, a blog highlighting who plays in the area with an accompanying playlist to get a taste of the music.
The CVC also connects event planners with musical acts to open or close their events and curated offsite performances in some of its more unique venues and dance halls.
“We also have an abundance of free music events in the fall and spring with our concert series and annual festivals, which many event planners coordinate around to take advantage of the free entertainment,” says Jesse Guidry, vice president of communications for Lafayette CVC.
The concert series is held Wednesday through Friday during the fall and spring, with free concerts in Pelican Park, River Ranch’s Town Square, and Bach Lunch downtown.
Mardi Gras brings plenty of music during carnival season.
The Festival International de Louisiane takes place in April and bills itself as the largest outdoor Francophone event in the world. Hundreds of performing and visual artists from 17 countries—along with Lafayette’s own artists, residents, and visitors—converge on seven stages across downtown for five days of world music.
Fall gets even busier, kicking off with the free, three-day Festival Acadiens et Creole, held the second full weekend of October.
Nashville, Tenn.
In “Music City,” visitors are never far from the influence of music.
“We take great pride in our ‘Music City’ brand and in being the perfect destination for meetings and conventions to incorporate the craft of songwriting and live performances into their programming,” says Deana Ivey, president and CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “While visiting, attendees can experience live music in venues across the city, creating unforgettable memories. Music is a universal language that makes everyone feel welcomed.”
Thompson Nashville sets the stage for visitors to enjoy a downtown experience, with large guest rooms, 6,185 square feet of meeting and event space, and a 1,219-square-foot outdoor terrace.
Adding to the ambiance is the boutique hotel’s location: smack dab in the center of The Gulch, a trendy neighborhood with plenty to offer, including Broadway’s Honky Tonks, Bridgestone Arena, Music Row, Frist Art Museum, and endless shopping.
Thompson Nashville offers a slew of music-focused programming and packages
for groups of all sizes. Inspired by the locale, the hotel melds classic country soul with urban sophistication, from the guest rooms and suites to the restaurants, event spaces, and more.
Thompson Nashville has a partnership with 10-time GRAMMY nominee Eric Church, who personally designed a carefully curated selection of vinyl records available for guests to enjoy on newly added, in-room Victrola record players and Marshall Bluetooth speakers. Guests can also spin tunes on the turntable in the lobby. A rotating roster of performers entertains at the hotel’s rooftop bar, L.A. Jackson.
Biweekly Whiskey & Vinyl Sessions are hosted in Thompson Nashville’s penthouse suite. They feature a guided whiskey tasting expertly paired with vinyl records spotlighting homegrown artists by Tennessee Whiskey and Vinyl guru AJ Soldo. Private classes are also available and can accommodate up to 12 guests.
From the lobby and meeting spaces to guest rooms and dining outlets, Thompson Nashville’s interiors celebrate the creative Southern spirit of “Music City.”
Honorary Mentions
Other notable music destinations in the South include Bristol, Tenn./Va., the “Birthplace of Country Music,” and Lubbock, Texas, which has its own hall of fame dedicated to local musicians.
Bristol, Tenn./Va.
Bristol is home to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, a 24,000-square-foot, Smithsonian-affiliated attraction chronicling the musical heritage of the region.
“With Bristol’s rich musical heritage and home to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, we have seen more groups host their events in Bristol to experience a taste of the ‘Big Bang of Country Music,’” says Matt Bolas, executive director of Explore Bristol. “Some meeting attendees have hosted events at the museum itself, with receptions and training sessions, then explored our vibrant downtown, where music can be found in several venues each night.”
A group tour of the museum is a perfect addition to a conference itinerary.
The Earnest Tube recording studio, which specializes in direct-to-disc recording, was inspired by the 1927 RCA-Victor Bristol recording sessions. These sessions launched a music genre by recording the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Visitors can record a session and take home a playable 12-inch disc.
The Sessions Hotel also celebrates the musical lineage located in repurposed historic buildings in Bristol, Va. Guest rooms feature curated art depicting area musicians and Victrola Bluetooth radios. The property also features music venues, meeting rooms, and an onsite barbecue restaurant.
“Along with Bristol’s country music roots, there are several other attractions meeting attendees enjoy, including Bristol Motor Speedway and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol, set to open this winter,” Bolas adds.
Lubbock, Texas
Perhaps the most underrated music town in Texas, Lubbock has been steadily producing legendary musicians for more than half a century. It is known as the “Original Live Music Capital of Texas” for a reason.
Some of the more well-known musicians to hail from this part of the state include Buddy Holly, Lloyd and Natalie Maines, Richie McDonald (of the band Lonestar), Waylon Jennings, Mac Davis, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Joe Ely and the Flatlanders.
“Lubbock is an ideal destination for meeting planners, offering easy accessibility and warm hospitality,” says John Osborn, president and CEO of Lubbock Economic Development Alliance and Visit Lubbock. “Our city’s rich musical history allows planners to create impactful experiences, whether through versatile meeting venues or live performances from talented local artists.”
The historic Cactus Theater serves as a premier listening room and showcases a wide variety of local, regional, and national talent. Once a movie theater in the 1930s, the Cactus is home to concerts throughout the year. An amazing outdoor venue is Cooks Garage, a lively, car-themed spot offering live music.
The Mission of Moonlight Musicals holds family-friendly entertainment and musical theater education through a tradition of summer shows held at Moonlight Musicals Amphitheater. Recent productions include Seussical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Lion King Jr.
The “West Texas Walk of Fame” at the corner of 19th Street and Crickets Avenue celebrates Lubbock’s native artists, with Buddy Holly Museum paying homage to Lubbock’s most famous native son. The exhibit even includes Holly’s famous black-rimmed glasses. The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences opened as a 220,000-square-foot campus with multiple theaters to host renowned musicians.
