There are several things for which Missouri is famous, but two biggies are barbecue and music. Missouri is an important center of jazz and blues, as well as bluegrass and gospel. Missouri played a major role in the evolution of country music, and originated a vibrant style of fiddling characterized by a driving-bow.

Ragtime got its big early boost in Sedalia, thanks to Scott Joplin and his publisher John Stark, and through another Missouri native, James Scott. In the Ozarks, hillbilly music developed. Among the many famous artists from Missouri are Neal E. Boyd, Sheryl Crow, Tina Turner, Rhonda Vincent, Porter Wagoner, Burt Bacharach and Chuck Berry.

Chuck Berry is one of America's greatest lyricists and one of the pioneers of rock 'n' roll music. At the age of 87, this music legend still performs one show a month at Blueberry Hill, a restaurant and nightclub located in the Delmar Loop neighborhood of St. Louis.

Labor Day weekend (early September), St. Louis swings when the Big Muddy Blues Festival hosts a diverse collection of local acts, national headliners and Grammy winners from the world of blues, rock, soul, rockabilly and country. Featuring three outdoor stages and more than 30 bands, this festival showcases and celebrates the renowned history of music in St. Louis. The event is held in the historic Laclede's Landing entertainment district, adjacent to the iconic Gateway Arch.

Across the state, in Kansas City's famous 18th & Vine district, you can hear some of the top up-and-coming jazz and blues artists perform at The Blue Room; a museum by day and a working jazz club by night. Four nights a week, the Blue Room resonates with the sweet and cool sounds of jazz. The Blue Room is included on DownBeat magazine's list of the Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the World. The club consistently books top-name national and international entertainers to “get-down” on the stage in a hotspot designed to resemble a 1930s nightclub.

Memorial Day weekend (late May) in Kansas City, Jiggle Jam Family Music Fest is the nation's largest independent family music festival. More than two dozen bands and entertainers perform on three stages. In addition to music, this event includes loads of exciting family entertainment.

Next door you find the AmericanJazzMuseum, showcasing the sights and sounds of this uniquely American art form. Activities include interactive exhibits; films; and recorded music (some of which is rare). The facility includes the Gem Theater, a 500-seat performing arts center that schedules concerts by top jazz and blues artists from around the world.

In the center of Missouri, Sedalia hosts one of the most famous music festivals in America, perhaps even the world. The Scott Joplin Festival celebrates ragtime, a truly American musical style. The four day event in early June offers more than 100 hours of music paying tribute to Scott Joplin, one of the world's best-known ragtime composers, who lived in Sedalia when he composed “The Maple Leaf Rag”. There are free and paid music events; concerts by top pros and gifted amateurs; dinner shows; and dances. Sit back and be entertained; learn a 1900s dance; show-off your own piano skills – the opportunities are endless.

Also in Sedalia, the Missouri State Fair, usually in early August, is Missouri's largest festival and expo. Concerts in the grandstand include performances by some of the most famous current music acts in the world. Other venues at the fair expose you to local entertainers, in all music genres, who may very well be the next big stars. Also, the fair offers hours of fun for everyone: loads of competitions; a first-class midway; award-winning livestock; a monster truck show; a truck and tractor pull; automobile races; world-class horse shows, and food and drink galore.

Located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri is one of the premier vacation destinations in the central United States. With lots of live entertainment, three pristine lakes, championship golf, and miles of hiking and biking trails, Branson's wide variety of things to do offers something for all ages.

Best known for live music shows, Branson boasts dozens of theaters with acts including Comedy, Rock 'n' Roll, Country, Magic, and more. There's more than just live music here. You can visit one of the world's Top 10 theme parks, SilverDollarCity, which has roller coasters, water rides, live shows, artisans and crafts as well as tours of MarvelCave. White Water is close by and is one of the Midwest's best tropically themed waterparks. Indoor enthusiasts will love our spas, and shopping at outlet malls, in historic downtown, and at Branson Landing. Get your Kicks just off Route 66!

For four days at the end of July and first of August, the city of Lebanon, Missouri, presents a major gospel event: The Brumley Gospel Sing. Audiences enjoy more than two dozen of the best-of-the-best of America's gospel groups, plus a touch of bluegrass, with a little comedy thrown in for luck.

In addition to all of that, Missouri has literally thousands of small music venues including theaters, nightclubs, wineries and outdoor arenas presenting little-known local groups to renowned performers. Whatever style of music you like, you can find it in Missouri. That is one of the reasons our slogan is: Missouri ... Enjoy the Show.