Mississippi blues club one of Top 50 best dive bars in US. Where to hear music, get a drink

Bonnie Bolden from The Clarion-Ledger reports on Red's Blues Lounge in Clarksdale, Mississippi, being named among America's 50 best dive bars by Huckberry.

This legendary Delta juke joint continues operating despite founder Red Paden's death in December 2023, maintaining its authentic blues atmosphere where musicians perform at crowd level on carpet flooring. The historic venue, once Levine's Music Center where Ike Turner bought instruments for early rock recordings, serves cold drinks and grilled food Thursday through Saturday nights in an intimate setting decorated with music memorabilia and rope lights.

• Red's preserves Mississippi's disappearing juke joint culture as one of the few remaining authentic Delta blues venues
• The cash-only establishment features live music performances in a darkened room where European tourists and locals share the same intimate space
• Red Paden's legacy continues through both the club's operation and his annual Old-Timer's Blues Festival, scheduled for August 30, 2025
• The venue represents genuine blues history, connected to legendary musicians like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and the birthplace of rock 'n' roll