Musical Journey through the Deep South

Welcome to Chicago. Among one of the largest cities in the U.S., Chicago’s unique blend of stunning architecture, attractions and local charm makes it an unforgettable destination. Stroll the Lakefront. Take an architectural boat tour. Visit the second tallest building in North America, Willis Tower. Check out incredible panoramas from 360 CHICAGO. See mind-bending reflections of the city skyline at “the “Bean” (Cloud Gate). Enjoy Buckingham Fountain’s colourful light and music display as it glows against the skyline and lakefront, or indulge in some cheesy goodness at one of Chicago’s famous pizzerias. Whatever you choose, the Windy City will blow you away with the sheer number of things to see and do.

From Blue Grass to Brass Bands, Kentucky has popular music for every listener. Today’s destination is Louisville, Kentucky, home of the famous Kentucky Derby which takes place at Churchill Downs the first Saturday each May. Recently featured in the movie Sea Biscuit, Churchill Downs is the mecca of American horse racing and home of the Kentucky Derby Museum. Take a short side trip to Bards town and visit My Old Kentucky Home State Park, the inspiration for Stephen Foster’s anthem of the same name which is sung by the crowds every year at the Kentucky Derby. No visit to Kentucky would be complete without a visit to a bourbon distillery, but remember that many Kentucky counties are “dry,” so often there are no tastings. Baseball fans should ensure they fit in a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum, an interactive museum honouring many of baseball’s greats.

Head to Nashville, which is best known as Music City for its deep and long roots as the home of Country Music. Nashville boasts about its music heritage at every opportunity, including the newly built Country Music Hall of Fame. However, it's not all about Country - there is a rich blues history here also and singer-songwriters from every genre enjoy playing the bars in this town. Top attractions in the city's diverse music scene include the historic Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Bluebird Cafe, Music Row and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. With a city full of established and up-and-coming songwriters and musicians, excellent live music venues abound.

Leave country music, memories of its top artists and catchy tunes behind and head to wonderful Memphis. The capital of blues and rock is located on the edge of the Mississippi River. If to you Elvis Presley is King, you simply have to visit. No true fan can avoid making the pilgrimage to Graceland, the King’s mansion, where you can see where hits like Hound Dog and Heartbreak Hotel were recorded at Sun Studios. For music fans, Memphis isn’t just another city. It’s almost a place of worship. From dedicated rock and rollers to history buffs and gourmet food lovers, Memphis attracts a broad spectrum of people, and all of them find a way to fall in love with this charming southern destination.

Travelling the backroads of the Mississippi Delta, follow the Mighty Mississippi along legendary Highway 61 toward Clarksdale, the unofficial capital of the blues, you’ll become intimately acquainted with the area’s perfectly authentic, gritty vibe. Many of the sites and stories on this leg of the Gold Record Road are told through the Mississippi Blues Trail, an incredible resource for preserving and promoting the history of the blues long after the physical buildings and landmarks have crumbled or been razed in the name of progress. In this day and age, blues history isn’t tied to specific addresses—it’s about breathing in the thick air of the Delta, watching the Mississippi carve its way through the basin, standing on a railroad track at a country crossroads and soaking up the cotton-covered rural landscape. It’s about finding yourself in a juke joint in a rural town and understanding segregation, hardship, beauty and strength in a new way. Welcome to the Delta Highway.

Nowhere else on earth is quite like the Big Easy. Situated at the mouth of the Mississippi, New Orleans is the home of jazz and blues, Cajun cooking, and the spectacular colours and parades of Mardi Gras. If you love a good time, there’s no better destination. Spend your evenings on bar hopping Bourbon or Frenchmen Street hopping from bar to bar, catching some of America’s most talented musicians. Head to Treme to watch blues bands light up the local clubs, or find a spot in Jackson Square and watch the street performers.