When it comes to music venues, we all have our favorite haunts. They are the places that feel the most like home to us. Sometimes, they feel more like home than our actual homes. When faced with a musical dilemma, the tie usually goes to the venue. My current favorite venue is Proud Larry’s though I have a place in my heart too for Two Stick, and The Longshot, Jubilee, The Library and The Levee. I’ve also spent a few happy hours at Parrish’s and logged plenty of time at Murff’s since it was Irelands.

But more often than I should, I stick to my favorite spots. That’s not always a good thing. When I first moved to Oxford as a college student, I haunted two places that provided some of my favorite live music—Forrester’s (which was then in the current location of The Levee) and Syd & Harry’s (current location of City Grocery). I saw lots of great local acts and touring bands in those two joints. But I also missed an awful lot of shows by the Tangents down at The Gin, just because it wasn’t my favorite venue. I also skipped out on the first Oxford appearance of Phish at The Gin, following the reasoning that they would surely be back to one of my spots soon after (it was about 4 years later when they fenced off the parking lot by the student union to play for a few thousand folks). So while the tie should go to the club, the music should always come before venue. The heart found in the best music isn’t restrained by walls. Wherever you find it can be your home, if just for a little while.

Oxford now has more great music venues than ever before, some with their own character, and cast of characters. There’s also the promise of some new alternate venues in town. The Powerhouse and Big Truck Theater have the potential to fill the void of music venues that don’t necessarily come attached to a bar. So venture out of your comfort zone in the next couple of weeks and hear some music that you might otherwise miss.

My touring act pick for this issue is JJ Grey & Mofro with Hobex at The Library on Tuesday April 24th. The front-porch soul of Mofro is supplemented on this tour with a horn section that includes Art Edmaiston of The Gamble Brothers on saxophone. Touring behind their third release, Country Ghetto, this band is sure get you moving. Having the North Carolina-based Hobex on board to open the show will help immensely.

My local band pick for this issue is Rocket 88 at The Longshot a couple of days later on Thursday April 27th. There are a couple of local bands staging reunion shows in the coming months, including Kudzu Kings this week. The legendary Blue Mountain has also scheduled a couple of dates. If you want something to tide you over until then, be sure and check out this raucous alt-country via rockabilly outfit led by the husband and wife songwriting team of Jamie and Rosie Posey. They’re keeping the Blue Mountain tradition alive as much as anybody. And with the word that The Longshot will be closing its doors, this may be one of your last chances to see this band in this great venue that has been such a good home to them.

So when you’re out and about, just remember: Home is where the heart is.