Gip's Place
Gip's Place was 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 later housed Gip's Place. Gipson and Jeff Dunaway kept up with maintenance and repairs on the juke joint.
Gip's Place became, over the years, a must-stop venue for blues musicians across the Southeast. They cited the "authentic Delta" feel of the little shack that could hold 50 people shoulder-to-shoulder. On summer nights the side-tarps were removed to allow more people to hear the music while gathered in Gipson's back yard.
An early-morning fire on July 16, 2011 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.
On May 4, 2013, Bessemer Police shut down the venue for operating illegally.
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." The Birmingham News
- Tomberlin, Michael (July 16, 2011) "Fire at Gip's Place won't silence hot licks, cool music." The Birmingham News
- Stein, Kelsey (May 5, 2013) "Bessemer police shut down backyard blues joint Gip's Place." The Birmingham News
External links
- Gips Place on Facebook