Blue Moon Saloon & Guest House
Blue Moon Saloon & Guest House is one of the best-known music rooms in Acadiana. It is a home-grown honky-tonk on East Convent Street in downtown Lafayette with a backyard stage and a porch bar and a boutique guesthouse upstairs. For about 25 years it has brought world travelers and local families and working musicians together under one roof to dance and listen and play. Esquire magazine has named it one of the best bars in America.
The Story Behind the Blue Moon
The building is a Creole cottage with a history all its own. It first stood downtown at Vermilion and Jefferson Streets as the home of the McBride family and later C. E. Gahn. In 1900 it was moved to the Freetown neighborhood using mules and logs to make room for the Gordon Hotel. A large shed dormer and a side porch were added in 1933 which hide its 19th century roots. Over the years the house served as a family home and a flower shop before it became a hostel and saloon. A state historical marker now stands out front and tells the story.
The Vibe
Shows happen out back on a covered stage with the crowd spread across the yard and dancing right up to the band. The porch bar keeps drinks moving and the whole place feels like a house party that has been going on for decades. Locals and tourists and musicians all mix easily here. The owners describe it as a place where all kinds and sizes are welcome and that spirit shows on any given night.
Stay the Night
The Guest House offers boutique rooms above the saloon. Guests can relax on the front porch or by the fireplace in the shared living room and one balcony room looks out over the scene below. For travelers who come to Lafayette for the music it is hard to find a place that puts you closer to it.
Wednesday Cajun Jam
Every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM the Blue Moon hosts its long-running Cajun Jam. It is one of the most established drop-in sessions in the Lafayette area. Fiddlers and accordion players and guitarists sit in together while dancers fill the floor. Experienced players and those still learning the repertoire are both welcome and there is no sign-up list.
Why Musicians Love It
Playing the Blue Moon means playing for a crowd that knows Cajun and zydeco and roots music inside and out. The jam gives newer players a chance to sit in beside veterans and learn tunes the traditional way. Many touring musicians plan their routes around a night here.
More Music
The calendar is packed with Cajun and zydeco and swamp pop and Americana acts from Louisiana and beyond. The saloon is also a regular stop during Festival International and other big weekends in Lafayette.
Good to Know
Blue Moon Saloon & Guest House is at 215 E Convent Street in Lafayette LA 70501. Follow @bluemoonsaloon on Instagram or visit bluemoonpresents.com for the show calendar and room bookings. Schedules can change so confirm with the venue before heading out.
