Baton Rouge Music Mecca

As surprising as it may seem, in 2019 Newsweek magazine called
Baton Rouge music Mecca. And named the local Listening Room as
the best place in the US to hear live music!


The music industry in Louisiana is one of the state’s most
powerful economic and cultural engines, though most of the credit
and attention typically goes to New Orleans. Why is Baton Rouge
music business overlooked? And what does the Capital Region have
to offer in the music space?


Somebody who is well qualified to address these questions is
Chris Maxwell. He's owner of the Red Dragon Listening Room a
local venue for live music that, as its name implies, really
focuses on the music and the quality of the sound its artists
produce, instead of the glitz and glam you might find in a larger
concert arena.


Founded in the early 2000s, the Red Dragon Listening Room
showcases Louisiana talent. And giving back to the community – it
is a nonprofit – not a business. The Listening Room puts money
back into the arts and other nonprofit organizations.


Though it is tucked away on Florida Boulevard in a neighborhood
where you might not be looking for it, The Listening Room was
recognized in 2019 by Newsweek magazine, no less, as one of the
best places to hear acoustic music in a city that Newsweek
described as "one of the top 10 music meccas in the world.” 


Dustan Louque is a local artist, musician and songwriter, who was
born in St. James Parish and came back to South Louisiana after
spending time in Brooklyn.  Though Louque, as he is known,
signed with a major record label early in his career, which led
to a two-year stint touring and selling his music to films, he
walked away from the corporate side of the business and these
days, travels the country in his 1987 Westfalia,  performing
year round and connecting on a more personal level with fans of
his music.


Out to Lunch Baton Rouge is recorded over lunch at Mansurs on the
Boulevard. For more discussions over lunch about the Baton Rouge
Music Business, check this out.


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.