Ground Zero is a blues club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, US that is co-owned by Morgan Freeman, Memphis entertainment executive Howard Stovall, and businessman Eric Meier. Attorney Bill Luckett was also co-owner until his death in 2021. It got its name from Clarksdale being historically referred to as "Ground Zero" for the blues. It opened in May 2001 and is located near the Delta Blues Museum. In the style of juke joints, it is in a repurposed, un-remodeled building, vacant for 30 years, that had housed the wholesale Delta Grocery and Cotton Co. The venue is filled with mismatched chairs, Christmas-tree lights, and graffiti. Blues fans in Clarksdale welcomed it as a place where local musicians have a chance to work regularly.Stephen Kinzer, In Search of the Blues, at Its Roots; Musing on a Genre's Purity, Fans Flock to Mississippi, NY Times, March 25, 2003, Section E, Page 1
The menu consists of traditional Southern foods, and the restaurant has live blues music playing Wednesday through Saturday. In addition to the food and music, there are seven rental apartments above the club.
Ground Zero is also associated with Ground Zero Biloxi, located in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Performers Ground Zero has hosted local, national, and international performers. Artists include:
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram Super Chikan Charlie Musselwhite Bobby Rush Willie Nelson Robert Plant Paul Simon Anthony "Big A" Sherrod
Symphonic Blues Experience Since 2022, Ground Zero has merged Delta blues with symphony music from around the world through the Symphonic Blues Experience. Performances include collaborations with:
Savannah Philharmonic in Savannah, Georgia RTÉ Concert Orchestra in Dublin, Ireland Big Island Orchestra in Wolfgangsee, Austria
In media Ground Zero has appeared in many television shows and publications, including: CBS 60 Minutes NPR CNN The New York Times Southern Living Stephen Fry in America (BBC Documentary), third episode, aired October 26, 2008. The Mighty Mississippi "The Story of God w/ Morgan Freeman, S1/E3 (Who is God)" ([NatGeo]) Loud Hailer Magazine Garden & Gun Magazine National Geographic The Times
Video
Live at Ground Zero Blues Club: Bobby Rush
See also
References
External links Ground Zero Blues Club home page Gary Vincent Productions