Are you a finalist or winner? Need more information about the virtual awards ceremony? Email kimberly@jacksonfreepress.com or call 601-362-6121 ext 11. 19 th annual
Best Bar, Best Pub Quiz/Trivia Night: Fenian’s Pub
Best Local Band: Southern Komfort Brass Band
In 2021, Fenian’s Pub will celebrate its 25th year in business on East Fortification Street. Named after Finn McCool, a giant of Irish lore who is buried beneath Dublin, the Irish-themed bar serves traditional pub fare such as the scotch egg and fish and chips, but its most popular offerings are its beverages. Fenian’s offers an array of stouts and claims to have one of “the most extensive selections of Irish whiskies in the southeast.” Plus, the pub’s menu also features specialty drinks like the spiced pear old fashioned, the el diablo noche and the whiskey apple peanut butter, nicknamed the “WAP,” a nod to Cardi B’s song of the same name. Patrons who appreciate the pop-culture reference can try their hand at “Pub Quiz,” a trivia night offered at 7 p.m. each Wednesday that covers a wide range of topics. Each competing team is permitted six participants, and the winning team has the opportunity to take home prizes from the local Cathead Distillery. The pub quiz is currently postponed due to high COVID-19 numbers, and Fenian’s provides curbside pick-up to locals not yet ready to dine in. Fenian’s also honors those who have been vital during the pandemic with “Service Industry Day,” which takes place Monday through Thursday after 10 p.m. and offers $1 off every drink to qualifying customers. —Taylor McKay Hathorn
Though its style is based in the jazz traditions of New Orleans, the Southern Komfort Brass Brand infuses Mississippi’s music history into every song it performs. “We always want to point to where we are,” Lorenzo Gayden says, listing B.B. King and Robert Johnson as influences. The band formed after playing an event in 2010, and over the past 10 years has assembled a repertoire of over 120 songs, 15 of which are original compositions. Its nine members played jazz and marched with bands in college, and many are alumni of Jackson State University’s own Sonic Boom of the South. While Southern Komfort’s unique and improvisational covers are popular requests, many people enjoy their originals, like “Nothing But Love” and their recent Spotify single “D.A.F.” The band largely performs on Facebook Live now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Gayden says they “plan on hitting the ground running, and being better than when we left off” when gigs re-open. The nine members include Cedric Eubanks on tenor saxophone; Terry Miller, Corey Hannah and Joseph Handy on trumpets; Lorenzo Gayden and Eric James on trombones; Jamie Abrams on sousaphone; Gerard Howard on bass drum; and Timothy Boyd on snare drum. —Kyle Hamrick
(901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055, fenianspub.com)
(601-376-9764, facebook.com/southernkomfort)
Best Pub Quiz/Trivia Night Finalists Fondren Public (2765 Old Canton Road, 769-216-2589, facebook.com/fondrenpublic) / Library Lounge at Fairview Inn (734 Fairview St., 601-948-3429, fairviewinn.com) / Lost Pizza Co. (1392 W. Government, Brandon, 601-824-5515; 144 Friendly and Fresh Drive, Flowood, 601-345-8679; 500 Highway 51, Ridgeland, 769-300-31116; lostpizza.com) / Pig & Pint (3139 N. State St., 601-326-6070, pigandpint. com) / Urban Foxes (826 North St., 769-572-5505, urbanfoxesjxn.com)
February 3 - March 2, 2021 • jfp.ms
Finalists: 601 LIVE (601-735-8778, facebook.com/601liveband) / The Ballard Journeay Show (ballardjourneayshow.com) / Burnham Road (artistecard.com/ burnhamroad) / Chad Wesley Band (chadwesley.com) / Hairicane (601-7509991, facebook.com/Hairicane) / Steele Heart (601-832-5351, facebook.com/ Steele-Heart)
Best College Student Hangout: M-Bar Sports Grill
Best Live Music Venue or Place for Live Music: Duling Hall
M-Bar Sports Grill off County Line Road sports a number of attractions for those needing a break from their studies. Twenty-two televisions adorn the business’ walls, 20 clocking in at 55 inches and the remaining two at an impressive 80 inches. DJs like DJ Kool Laid raise the hype levels with their vibing beats, and the kitchen boasts a varied menu. The sports bar’s culinary fare ranges from appetizers like fried green tomatoes, sliders and “M-Dip,” which is a mix of cream cheese, diced green onions and seasoned ground chuck served in a bowl surrounded by chips. Entrees include shrimp po boys, wings and philly cheesesteak sandwiches. M-Bar’s drink selection includes domestic and imported beer, wine, and signature drinks such as the hard-hitting “Walk Me Down,” made with gin, rum, triple sec, tequila, blue curios, and sweet-and-sour mix. During happy hour, 4 p.m to 7 p.m., M-Bar holds events based on the day of the week. Taco Tuesdays feature $2 steak, seafood and shrimp tacos, while Wing Wednesdays showcase 75-cent Wings. —Julian Mills
Duling Hall, a 350-seat event space in the heart of Fondren, is as vibrant today as when the former school hosted elementary-school recitals 50 years ago. It is in use more than 200 times per year for weddings, parties, receptions and concerts. “It’s a good-sounding room with its old, hollow wood stage,” owner and manager Arden Barnett says of the venue’s popularity. “We’ve got great lighting, it’s comfortable, there are no bad sight lines, and you can easily do a seated or standing-roomonly show. There’s a bar in the back and lots of restaurants nearby.” Before the pandemic, 85% of bookings were made by band agents requesting the venue for a concert. “We are known by many musicians and managers. (Duling) is a smaller venue than most bands usually play, but they love it,” Barnett says. Despite COVID, Duling hosted a few shows in November and December at about 25% capacity. “We sold only tables of two or four, no individual tickets,” Barnett explains. “There’s a barrier around the tables, and we ask patrons to wear masks. Every show sold out. We’re trying to help local bands stay alive.” —Michele D. Baker
Finalists: Bar 3911 (3911 Northview Drive, 601-586-1468, facebook.com/Bar-3911) / Coffee Prose (1619 N. West St.; 769-208-0230; 4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 173; 769-237-6153; coffeeprose.com) / F. Jones Corner (303 N. Farish St., Suite 3227, 601-983-1148, fjonescorner.com) / Fenian’s Pub (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055, fenianspub.com) / Fondren Public (2765 Old Canton Road, 769-216-2589, facebook.com/fondrenpublic) / Shucker’s Oyster Bar (116 Conestoga Road, Ridgeland, 601-853-0105, shuckersontherez.com)
Finalists: BB’S LIVE - Bonny Blair’s (1149 Old Fannin Road, Brandon, 769-447-5788) / The Iron Horse Grill (320 W. Pearl St., 601-398-0151, theironhorsegrill.com) / Johnny T’s Bistro & Blues (538 N. Farish St., 601-954-1323, johnnytsbistroandblues.com) / Martin’s Downtown (214 S. State St., 601-3354-9712, martinsdowntownjxn.com) / Pop’s Saloon (2636 S. Gallatin St., 601-961-4747) / Shucker’s Oyster Bar (116 Conestoga Road, Ridgeland, 601-853-0105, shuckersontherez.com)
(6340 Ridgewood Court Drive, 601-398-0999, facebook.com/TheMbarJxn)
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COURTESY SOUTHERN KOMFORT BRASS BAND
COURTESY FENIANS PUB
Best Bar Finalists 4th Avenue Lounge (209 S. Lamar St., 601-259-5825, 4thavenuejxn.com) / BB’S LIVE - Bonny Blair’s (1149 Old Fannin Road, Brandon, 769-447-5788) / M-Bar Sports Grill (6340 Ridgewood Court Drive, 601-398-0999, thembarjxn.com) / Names and Faces Lounge (224 E. Capitol St., 601-955-5285, facebook.com/namesandfaceslounge) / Pop’s Saloon (2636 S. Gallatin St., 601-961-4747) / Shucker’s Oyster Bar (116 Conestoga Road, Ridgeland, 601-853-0105, shuckersontherez.com)
(622 Duling Ave., 601-292-7121, dulinghall.com)
