OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI–AUGUST 2019–For an immersion in Southern Americana head to Oxford, Mississippi, a Deep South vacation destination off Interstate 55 in north Mississippi, about an hour from Memphis, Tennessee. Here the ghost of William Faulkner and his beloved home Rowan Oak preside over a scene that would surprise and delight him. In Oxford, the past exists alongside a hip and happening now, embodied in its urbane university vibe, historic architecture and literary landmarks, traditional roots music icons and contemporary artists. One of the unique ways to experience some of the South’s finest musicians and authors is to plan a visit around a free performance of The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour.
Number three on Garden & Gun Magazine’s “Celebrate the South: The Ultimate Southern Bucket List,” Thacker Mountain Radio offers visitors and locals a taste of old-time radio shows with an astonishing and soul-satisfying range of authors, songwriters and performers. Guests will hear interviews and readings from notable authors of every genre along with top performers of contemporary and traditional musical varieties of the American South, from traditional to country, jazz to soul and gospel, to blues, funk and rock and roll. Host and award-winning author Jim Dees and his team inspire the magic between the artists and a live and lively audience of up to 200 who come from all over the world for the experience.
Weaving through the program is The Yalobushwhackers house band, who would be a don’t-miss all on their own, with its award-winning singer/multi-instrumentalist, drummer, piano and bassist, each who have learned from and played with greats from almost every genre.
Celebrating 22 years in 2019, Thacker Mountain Radio produces around 30 shows a year in town during the spring and fall as well as on the road at festivals across the state. It’s at the top of the list of things to do in Oxford. Guests are advised to come early for the 6 p.m. Thursday performances at Off Square Books at 129 Courthouse Square and the shows at nearby Lyric Theatre Oxford. The show airs live on Oxford’s WUMS 92.1 FM; rebroadcasts can be found Saturday nights at 7 p.m. on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and at 9 p.m. on Alabama Public Radio. For more on the history and the schedule of The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour, visit Thackermountain.com.
More tastes or a deep dive into Southern music and cuisine can be found in Oxford. The town acts as both an archive and incubator, thanks to the University of Mississippi’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture and the Southern Foodways Alliance. Their public programs include conferences, archive exhibits and more, such as The University of Mississippi’s annual Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference each July, where Faulkner and more are figuratively dug up for discussion at lectures, panels and at a buffet supper on the grounds of Rowan Oaks. Many of the Thacker Mountain authors also sign their hard and soft covers at nearby Square Books, one of the country’s most successful independents with stacks of Southern-themed fiction and nonfiction, guidebooks, cookbooks and more. Here’s an itinerary for literary lovers.
Oxford’s timeless charm is also invigorated by its destination dining and entertainment scene. Restaurants range from James Beard winners to Southern comfort food meat-and-threes to independently owned foodie favorites. Several clubs and venues are meccas for the blues and more where legendary masters play alongside noted up-and-comers. Some serve up sides of fragrant and delicious food, from bar fare to upscale entrees.
Spring through fall, festivals, concerts and special events keep this Deep South town lively with arts, music and culture. Choose from dozens of great places to stay, including ultra-hip boutique hotels, historic B&Bs and renovated Ole Miss traditions. To view a tantalizing variety of options and build a custom immersion itinerary, go to VisitOxfordMS.com. For travel media: For more story ideas on Oxford, Mississippi, visit www.TravelMediaPressRoom.com/mississippi/oxford-ms/.