Gip's Place
Gip's Place is a blues joint located in the back yard of Gip Gipson's home on Avenue C on Paul's Hill in Bessemer.
An avid blues fan and part-time musician, in 1952 Gipson began hosting barbecues in his back yard for musicians to entertain friends and neighbors. The weekend events grew in popularity and he gradually added a small enclosure with a stage. After members of the Magic City Blues Society "discovered" the venue, they helped build a tin roof over the shack.
Gip's Place has become, over the years, a must-stop venue for blues musicians across the Southeast. They cite the "authentic Delta" feel of the little shack that can hold 50 people shoulder-to-shoulder. On summer nights the side-tarps are removed to allow more people to hear the music while gathered in Gipson's back yard.
References
- Reynolds, Ed (August 7, 2008) "The Juke Joint: An authentic blues experience lies only a few miles west of Birmingham." Black & White
- Carlton, Bob (April 25, 2010) "For blues lovers, Gip's Place in Bessemer is the place to be on Saturday nights." Birmingham News
External links
- Gips Place on Facebook