Georgia Getaway Guide for Music Fans
Take your Cowboy Carter stay in Atlanta to the next level with a deep dive into Georgia’s rich musical history, much of which helped shape and inspire Queen Bey herself. From iconic venues and immersive museums honoring rock, soul, and blues legends to vibrant murals of music royalty, Georgia’s sound runs deep, and it’s well worth exploring.
Where to stay
Hyatt Centric Buckhead puts you right in the heart of Buckhead, next to Lenox Mall and steps from luxury shopping and dining. Its rooftop bar, Spaceman, is a buzzy local hotspot with beautiful skyline views and a lively crowd. The hotel is also near Buckhead Theatre, where stars like Dua Lipa, Common, and Charli XCX have taken the stage.
FORTH Hotel in the Old Fourth Ward offers stylish stays and standout restaurants. It’s also close to City Winery at Ponce City Market, where artists from every genre perform, including the soul singer/Beyoncé collaborator, Bilal. It’s also a quick hop from The Eastern, one of Atlanta’s top-tier concert venues with rooftop views and incredible acoustics.
Find more places to stay in Atlanta.
Things to do
Hear live music
Atlanta has been producing music legends for decades – Gladys Knight, Usher, OutKast, Future – they all called Atlanta home. It makes sense that there are nearly as many great music venues as there are famous musicians. In Little Five Points, Variety Playhouse is known for its versatility, hosting everyone from indie bands to major touring acts. If you're after the syrupy sounds of the blues, head to Northside Tavern in West Midtown, where you’ll find live music seven nights a week.
Downtown near Centennial Olympic Park, The Tabernacle, housed in a former church, is a fan favorite thanks to its stunning architecture, great acoustics, and genre-spanning lineup. At Underground Atlanta, The Masquerade brings three themed stages – Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory – hosting rock, metal, electronic, and hip-hop acts as genre-fluid as Beyoncé herself.
Visit iconic landmarks & attractions
Madame C.J. Walker Museum & WERD Studio
Located in Atlanta’s historic Sweet Auburn District, the Madam C.J. Walker Museum & WERD Studio celebrates groundbreaking firsts – Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first female self-made millionaire, and WERD, the nation’s first Black-owned radio station. Explore rare memorabilia and dive deep into the legacy of Black entrepreneurship and media.
Trap Music Museum
Founded by Atlanta rapper T.I., the Trap Music Museum is the first museum dedicated to exploring the rise and influence of trap music. Through immersive exhibits featuring artists like T.I., 2 Chainz, and Future, it offers a look into how the sub-genre shaped current Southern hip-hop and left its mark on popular culture – that includes artists like Beyoncé, who’s drawn on its sound and style with tracks like “Top Off” with DJ Khaled and Future.
Cascade Skating
Cascade has been an Atlanta landmark since it opened in 2000. It’s not only one of the spots where R&B star Usher honed his smooth skating moves, but it’s also a cultural hub. While there’s no guarantee you’ll spot Beyoncé (though she has skated there), what you can count on is a buzzy energy and an atmosphere that seamlessly blends music, movement, and culture.
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film
SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) FASH is one of Atlanta’s most creatively driven spaces, known for standout exhibits and design innovation. Past shows have spotlighted Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter. It’s easy to imagine Beyoncé finding inspiration here.
Record stores
Although record stores aren’t as common as they once were, Atlanta still has a few standouts that double as cultural hubs for musicians and music lovers.
Criminal Records in Little Five Points has hosted in-store sets by bands like Manchester Orchestra, who credit the shop with helping launch their career. Wax ‘N Facts, also in Little Five, offers deep vinyl crates and a legacy tied to local legends like The B-52s and Pylon.
In Riverdale, DBS Sounds has been a cornerstone of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene for decades, with artists like Scarface and Gucci Mane stopping by for signings and events.
And if you're up for a quick road trip, Wuxtry Records in Athens is worth the hour-long drive – it's where R.E.M.’s Peter Buck met Michael Stipe and where Grammy-winning producer Danger Mouse once worked. It's the kind of crate-digging tour Beyoncé herself might take – especially in her Cowboy Carter era, where history, sound, and storytelling all collide.
Street art murals
Atlanta’s musical legacy is etched into its streets – and painted on its walls. The city is covered in vibrant, expressive murals, many of them tributes to music legends.
At the corner of Luckie and Forsyth downtown, the Jazz Mural by Muhammad Yungai honors Atlanta’s jazz legacy with bold, vivid imagery.
In Little Five Points, the OutKast mural by JEKS – painted in 2019 – quickly became legendary. The huge black-and-white portrait of André 3000 and Big Boi is striking and absolutely photo-worthy.
On Main Street in East Point, you’ll find two standouts by Maggie Keane – one of Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa, and another of Prince – Beyoncé collaborator and icon – complete with a mirrored installation that reflects his sunglasses.
And you can’t go mural hopping without hitting Krog Street Tunnel, Atlanta’s most famous graffiti landmark. Connecting Cabbagetown and Inman Park, it’s part of the Beltline’s Eastside Trail and a constantly changing gallery of local and international street art.
Find more things to do in Atlanta.
More must-dos outside Atlanta
Take a day trip to Macon
About an hour and a half from Atlanta, Macon offers a deep dive into the music that shaped artists like Beyoncé. Rock Candy Tours guides you through historic spots like the Douglass Theatre, where Otis Redding was discovered and where other musical greats like Little Richard, Ma Rainey, and Cab Calloway performed from 1921 to the 1970s.
The Otis Redding Museum honors the King of Soul with personal items and recordings, and Gateway Park is home to a life-size Otis Redding statue. The Tubman Museum – the largest African American museum in the Southeast – features music artifacts, including a piano once played by Little Richard.
Don’t miss The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House, where the Allman Brothers lived and Southern rock was born.
Embrace your inner indie/Americana rocker in Athens
We know Beyoncé’s album is coming in three acts. We’ve already got the first two, Renaissance, which captured the energy of house music, and Cowboy Carter, which paid homage to country music. The Beyhive is buzzing about what the third act could be, with many busy bees landing on the idea that it’ll be a rock album.
Whether that speculation is true or not, you can embrace your inner indie rocker with a day trip to Athens, about an hour away from Atlanta. There, you’ll find the roots of iconic indie and alternative bands like R.E.M. and The B-52s, both of whom helped shape the college rock scene from this very town. Explore legendary venues like the 40 Watt Club and Georgia Theatre, where countless artists – famous and on the rise – have taken the stage. Whether Beyoncé’s Act III is rock or not, Athens is the perfect place to get into that mindset.
Celebrate the blues in Columbus
Beyoncé’s album pays homage to country music and its undeniable blues roots. Take a deep dive into that legacy at the Ma Rainey House and Blues Museum in Columbus, about two hours from Atlanta. Known as the “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey was one of the genre’s earliest and most influential voices. The museum, located in her former home, showcases her life, music, and impact on American culture.
Visit Ray Charles Plaza & learn about civil rights history in Albany
About three hours south of Atlanta, Albany offers a storytelling mix of music and civil rights history. At Ray Charles Plaza, you’ll find a life-size, rotating bronze statue of the soul legend seated at a baby grand piano, with his music playing softly through speakers. Just blocks away, the Albany Civil Rights Institute tells the story of the city’s central role in the movement, making this a powerful stop that bridges sound and struggle.
Take a selfie with the James Brown Statue in Augusta
Beyoncé is known worldwide as one of the most consummate performers of all time – so is James Brown. Augusta, about two and a half hours from Atlanta, is the hometown of the Godfather of Soul. The James Brown Statue, located downtown on Broad Street, honors that legacy with serious flair. The bronze sculpture captures Brown mid-performance, flanked by speakers that play his greatest hits. It’s a must-see for music lovers paying respect to a trailblazer who helped shape the funk, soul, and pop sounds that still influence artists like Beyoncé today.
