Mississippi Delta Tour 2027

April 29 – May 11, 2027

Are You Coming Along?

Join Blues Alive on a journey to the birthplace of the blues, following in the footsteps of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, B. B. King, and other legends whose music changed the world. Over twelve days in the American South, we will travel from New Orleans through the Mississippi Delta to Memphis, visiting places where the blues was born and discovering the vibrant music scene that continues to thrive there today.

Along the way, we will explore legendary recording studios, music archives, museums, historic plantations, and hidden juke joints where the blues is still played without the tourist gloss. We will also meet local musicians, music industry professionals, and other fascinating people who don’t just tell the stories of these places but are part of those stories themselves.

Accompanied by two experienced guides from the Blues Alive team, you will discover places that would be difficult to find on your own and hear historical insights and firsthand accounts of life in today’s American South.

And because we travel in a small group, there will be plenty of room for spontaneous stops, unexpected encounters, and musical discoveries. These often turn out to be some of the most memorable moments of the entire journey.

Why Travel with Blues Alive?

A classic journey through the birthplace of the blues. From New Orleans through the Mississippi Delta to Memphis – a landscape where the blues emerged from African American musical traditions before spreading around the world. You will discover places associated with Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, B. B. King, R. L. Burnside, and Junior Kimbrough.

Iconic landmarks and a living musical tradition. We will visit the Robert Johnson Blues Museum in Crystal Springs, the legendary Blue Front Café in Bentonia, Dockery Farms, Stovall Plantation, the Delta Blues Museum, Cat Head, and the historic Riverside Hotel in Clarksdale. In Oxford, we will visit Fat Possum Records and the university’s Blues Archive. Memphis will offer Sun Studio, the Stax Museum, the Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, the National Civil Rights Museum, and Elvis Presley’s Graceland.

Live music you won’t hear every day. One of the highlights will be the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Other evenings will be spent in authentic blues clubs such as Red’s Lounge, Ground Zero, and the Blue Front Café. We also plan to attend the Blues Music Awards ceremony in Memphis, provided the confirmed date fits our itinerary.

Personal encounters and behind-the-scenes experiences. Thanks to Blues Alive’s connections, we will arrange guided visits and meetings with local musicians, producers, and other people dedicated to documenting blues history and keeping today’s blues scene alive.

A small group, an extraordinary experience. This is not a conventional sightseeing tour but a small group of blues enthusiasts traveling together. That allows us to visit intimate clubs and other places that simply cannot accommodate large tour groups. Our itinerary will be carefully planned while remaining flexible enough to embrace unexpected opportunities.

Expert guidance and interpretation. Throughout the journey, we will be accompanied by two experienced Blues Alive guides with extensive knowledge of blues history, the American South, and its contemporary music scene. All commentary will be provided in Czech and English.

Who Is This Tour For?

For lovers of blues, travel, and American culture who want to experience firsthand the places they know from recordings, books, and documentaries, discover today’s vibrant music scene, and gain a deeper understanding of the historical and social context of the music that profoundly influenced the development of rock, soul, rhythm & blues, and modern popular music.

Don’t expect conventional sightseeing or polished tourist attractions. We want to show you the real American South – its music, history, present-day culture, and everyday life.

Dates, Group Size, and Registration

Dates: April 29 – May 11, 2027
Group size: Maximum 12 participants
Guides: Two members of the Blues Alive team
Registration deadline: January 10, 2027
Contact: tour@bluesalive.cz

You will find the detailed itinerary, a list of services included in the price, and practical information below.

Mississippi Delta Tour 2027 – Itinerary

Our journey will focus on tracing the historical roots of the blues while discovering its vibrant present-day scene. Each day’s program has been planned in advance, but we will adapt it to local conditions, live music schedules, and the interests of our participants. Naturally, we will also make time for meals, relaxation, and unexpected surprises. After all, no journey through the Delta would be complete without them.

Thursday, April 29, 2027 – New Orleans

Departure from Prague, with a connecting flight to the United States.
Arrival in New Orleans, the city of jazz, blues, rhythm & blues, and other musical styles that profoundly influenced American popular music.
Depending on our arrival time and the group’s energy, an evening stroll through the French Quarter and a possible visit to a music club on or around Frenchmen Street.
Overnight in New Orleans.

Friday, April 30, 2027 – New Orleans

Morning guided tour with a local guide, focusing on the city’s musical history, influential figures, and locations associated with the birth of jazz, blues, and rhythm & blues.
Visit to the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, one of the world’s most important celebrations of the music and culture of the American South.
In the evening, an opportunity to visit clubs on Frenchmen Street, Bourbon Street, or elsewhere in the city, depending on the current music schedule.
Overnight in New Orleans.

Saturday, May 1, 2027 – New Orleans → Mississippi

Journey north from New Orleans into Mississippi, where the history of the blues began.
Stops in McComb, the birthplace of Bo Diddley, and Hazlehurst, where Robert Johnson was born.
Visit to the Robert Johnson Blues Museum in Crystal Springs, founded by the legendary bluesman’s family.
In Jackson, exploration of historic Farish Street, once a thriving center of African American business and cultural life, including sites associated with Trumpet Records and other pioneers of the blues recording industry.
Visit to the Blue Front Café in Bentonia, one of the oldest continuously operating juke joints, made famous by Jimmy “Duck” Holmes and the distinctive Bentonia blues style.
Overnight in the Yazoo City area.

Sunday, May 2, 2027 – Yazoo City → Greenwood → Indianola

Attendance at a traditional gospel church service.
Travel through Belzoni, with a stop recalling the legacy of blues pianist Pinetop Perkins.
Visit to Greenwood, the town associated with Robert Johnson’s final days, and his grave at Little Zion Church.
Stops along the Mississippi Blues Trail, commemorating several other important figures in blues history.
Visits to locations connected with B. B. King’s childhood in the Itta Bena and Berclair areas.
Exploration of Indianola, B. B. King’s longtime home, including historic Church Street.
Depending on the current schedule, an evening visit to the legendary Club Ebony.
Overnight in the Indianola or Cleveland area.

Monday, May 3, 2027 – Mississippi Delta → Clarksdale

Visit to Dockery Farms, the historic cotton plantation associated with Charley Patton and other pioneers of Delta blues.
Stop at the former Po’ Monkey’s juke joint in Merigold, now commemorated by a Mississippi Blues Trail marker.
Visit to the Parchman Farm area, home to the notorious Mississippi State Penitentiary, whose history is connected with forced prison labor and historic field recordings of African American music.
Stop at the grave of Sonny Boy Williamson II in Tutwiler and other historic sites along the way.
Arrival in Clarksdale, one of the most important towns in blues history.
Evening of live music at one of the local clubs, such as Bluesberry Cafe.
Overnight in Clarksdale.

Tuesday, May 4, 2027 – Clarksdale

A full day exploring Clarksdale, a town that has maintained an exceptionally vibrant blues scene despite decades of change.
Visit to the Delta Blues Museum, whose exhibits include Muddy Waters’ original cabin.
Visit to Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, the shop and cultural hub run by Roger Stolle, one of the key figures supporting today’s Delta blues scene.
Tour of the historic Riverside Hotel, a former African American lodging establishment associated, among others, with Bessie Smith.
Excursion to Stovall Plantation, where Alan Lomax recorded the young Muddy Waters for the Library of Congress in 1941.
Meetings with local musicians and people involved in the blues community.
Evening visit to one of the local clubs or galleries featuring live music.
Overnight in Clarksdale.

Wednesday, May 5, 2027 – Hill Country Blues

Full-day excursion into North Mississippi, home of the distinctive Hill Country Blues tradition.
Stop in Como at the grave of Mississippi Fred McDowell, or a visit to R. L. Burnside’s grave in Harmontown.
Visit to Oxford, a university town with a rich musical and literary heritage.
Visit to Fat Possum Records, the record label that brought the music of R. L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and other North Mississippi blues artists to a wider audience during the 1990s.
Visit to the Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi, one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to preserving and documenting blues history.
Holly Springs and Chulahoma – places associated with Junior Kimbrough, his legendary juke joints, and other Hill Country Blues musicians.
Evening return to Clarksdale and a visit to Ground Zero Blues Club or Red’s Lounge.
Overnight in Clarksdale.

Thursday, May 6, 2027 – Clarksdale → Memphis

Drive along historic Highway 61, one of the most famous roads in blues history.
Stops at selected Mississippi Blues Trail sites, including locations associated with James Cotton and Son House.
Visit to the Gateway to the Blues exhibition in the Tunica area.
Arrival in Memphis, the city where the blues played a crucial role in the development of rock ‘n’ roll and soul.
Planned attendance at the Blues Music Awards, the most prestigious annual awards ceremony honoring blues artists. The date of the 2027 ceremony has not yet been confirmed.
Overnight in Memphis.

Friday, May 7, 2027 – Memphis

Visit to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, whose exhibitions trace the development of American music from rural blues through early rock ‘n’ roll to soul.
Guided tour of the Blues Hall of Fame, operated by The Blues Foundation.
Time permitting, visit to the National Civil Rights Museum at the historic Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
Evening visit to music clubs on Beale Street, such as Rum Boogie Café or B. B. King’s Blues Club.
Overnight in Memphis.

Saturday, May 8, 2027 – Memphis

Visit to the legendary Sun Studio, where Sam Phillips recorded Howlin’ Wolf, B. B. King, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and other musicians who changed the course of popular music.
Visit to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, celebrating the iconic Memphis record label and recording studio.
Depending on available time, further exploration of places associated with Memphis music history.
Evening visit to clubs on Beale Street or elsewhere in Memphis, depending on the current music schedule.
Overnight in Memphis.

Sunday, May 9, 2027 – Memphis

If possible, attendance at a traditional gospel church service featuring live music, reflecting one of the important musical roots of blues, soul, and other African American genres.
Visit to Elvis Presley’s Graceland, including extensive exhibitions devoted to his musical career, cars, stage costumes, and memorabilia.
The rest of the day free for shopping, relaxation, or a final stroll through Memphis.
Overnight in Memphis.

Monday, May 10, 2027 – Memphis

Departure from Memphis, with a connecting flight to Europe.

Tuesday, May 11, 2027 – Prague

Arrival in Prague.

Price and Booking Information

Tour Price: CZK 105,000

The price includes:

Round-trip flights from Prague to New Orleans and from Memphis to Prague in economy class, including airport taxes and fees.
11 nights’ accommodation in hotels and other selected properties, in double rooms.
Breakfasts.
All ground transportation from New Orleans to Memphis.
Admission to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Admission to selected music clubs.
Guided tours and visits to historic sites associated with the blues.
Admission to museums and other institutions listed in the itinerary, including the Robert Johnson Blues Museum, Delta Blues Museum,
Gateway to the Blues, Sun Studio, Stax Museum, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Blues Hall of Fame, and Graceland.
Visits to Fat Possum Records and the Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi.
Admission to the 2027 Blues Music Awards.
Guiding and interpretation services provided by two blues experts throughout the tour.

The price does not include:

Travel medical insurance and liability insurance.
Trip cancellation insurance.
Checked baggage exceeding the allowance included in the airfare.
Lunches and dinners.
Food and drinks purchased at music clubs and restaurants.
Personal shopping and other individual expenses.
ESTA application fee or, if applicable, the cost of obtaining a US visa.
Any other services not explicitly listed under “The price includes.”

Additional Information and Travel Arrangements

At many of the places we plan to visit, a large group would be more of an obstacle than an advantage. We want to explore the local environment respectfully, remain unobtrusive, and, whenever possible, blend into everyday life. We are not fans of mass tourism and strongly believe that traveling in a small group allows for a much more authentic and rewarding experience.

For this reason, the number of participants on the Mississippi Delta Tour 2027 is limited.

Your place will be reserved once the deposit has been paid. The deposit amount, final payment deadline, and other payment conditions will be specified together with the final tour price.

Before paying the deposit, we strongly recommend checking whether you qualify for entry to the United States through the ESTA system or whether you will need to apply for a visa.

Czech citizens who meet the relevant requirements may travel to the United States for tourism without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. However, certain circumstances, such as previous travel to Cuba on or after January 12, 2021, or to certain other countries on or after March 1, 2011, may make travelers ineligible for ESTA.

The ESTA application fee for 2027 is USD 40.62. An approved ESTA is generally valid for two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first.

Official ESTA information and application:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

If you need assistance with your ESTA application, we will be happy to help.

Any questions? Or have you already decided to join us?
Get in touch at tour@bluesalive.cz.

We look forward to exploring the roots of the blues together!