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. Lenny Madden built the garage that now houses Gip's Place. Gipson and Jeff Dunaway keep up with maintenance and repairs on the juke joint.
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.
An early-morning fire caused damage to a storage building between Gipson's home and the performing area, destroying several guitars, including one that was a gift from Chuck Berry.
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
- Tomberlin, Michael (July 16, 2011) "Fire at Gip's Place won't silence hot licks, cool music." Birmingham News
External links
- Gips Place on Facebook