Bar 3911 is an eccentric gay bar in the heart of Jackson, located on 3911 Northview Dr., and it’s one of Jackson’s hole-in-the-wall hotspots open to everyone of different orientations and age. Bar 3911 is open three days, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with each night having their own theme. Thursday is “low key”, where you can stop by and chill out after a long day at the office or just to hang out and have a drink. Friday’s are karaoke nights where you can get up on stage and sing hits from any decade or just play pool, drink, and talk to friends. Friday’s you can also pay at the door for the “drink and drown” specials, where you pay to get a wrist band for $20 and can drink from a variety of selected drinks from 8p.m.-1a.m. Finally, on Saturdays the bar offers drag shows starting roughly around 12:15 a.m. and you can experience the excitement of drag queens from all over the south perform. It’s free to get in on Thursdays, Fridays it’s $5 for 21 and under, and on Saturday’s it’s $10 for 21 and up and $15 for 21 and under.
Words from Local Drag Queens
Brooklyn Alexander
Brooklyn Alexander, one of the regular drag queens that perform at Bar 3911 and hosts, started drag as a dare and she says “18 years later, I’m still doing it. I fell in love with it.” Watching Brooklyn perform is one of the most entertaining experiences and it’s almost impossible not to laugh at her comedy. Mississippi is very different from when Brooklyn started her drag career, she states “you know how much hatred is harbored in the “Bible Belt”. There is a little more acceptance or tolerance. I do enjoy being a queen from Mississippi, though. I love to show there is actually some class and beauty in this state.” Brooklyn adds that the best part of performing is the audience, saying “Without them, there would be no us. People come to see us. See our craft, appreciate it and love it. But the best part to me is interacting with everyone. I like to think that my performance may make someone’s day better or put a smile on their face. You never know what someone is going through personally.”
Madyson Andrews Steele
Madyson’s first time going to a drag show was her freshman year in college in 2007 at a bar (that was only gay on Mondays) in Tupelo, MS and experienced her first gay bar. Madyson says “I didn’t know what to expect. My friend mentioned a show and when I asked what show, I was introduced to what drag meant. I thought the show was exciting and interesting at the same time. Several of my friends smoked and I would follow them outside and I met one of the drag performers and we started talking. They told me “pretty boys make pretty girls, and you should try it”. That stuck with me from then out. I saw how much the crowd loved it and they were being paid to be entertaining. That night sparked the idea of drag and it would be a part of my life for the next 14 years”. Madyson lived in Mississippi until 2016, where she moved to Louisiana for a job promotion, but still comes back frequently to perform monthly at bars and venues across the state. She explains “When I first started, like any entertainer, I was a little rough around the edges. But over time with growth, guidance, and lots of practice, the art took form. Mississippi is known for not being the most progressive state with equality for the LGBTQ+ community. When I came out, my family were more worried about my safety on nights I had shows. Over time, I believe Mississippi has become more accepting that it once was for the entertainment industry. I know there are still parts of the state that look down on it, but at least it’s out in the open. We don’t have to hide that the establishment we work at is a gay bar. We have drag brunches where people who don’t want to be in a bar setting can have entertainment, libations, and loads of fun.” Madyson says the best part of performing is hearing your stage name being called and the crowd cheering because it gets her hyped up and sets the tone for the number, “it makes you feel like you’re a celebrity and everyone came to see you shine and light up the room.” She also said whatever number she performs, seeing the crowd’s reaction is payment enough. She says, “You have smiles, cheering of “yes queen” and “you better work”, tears of emotion, clapping, and screams of delight; signifying that you are portraying the song, the character, and the feeling in the most accurate way possible.”
Words from the Owner
Bar 3911 is owned by Jackson local, John Corey Gully-Luckett and his husband Drew, who also performs at the bar. He says he bought the bar “so that people of the LGBTQ+ community have a place to go and be themselves in a relaxed environment. A safe-haven of sorts where no one has to worry about being judged for who they are.” Any one of any sexual orientation or gender identity is welcomed at the bar. At every drag show, the host always says “We don’t care if you’re gay, straight, trans, or whatever. When you walk through these doors, you’re family.” The owners have worked hard to makes sure the bar is an inclusive environment and have created one of the best establishments in Jackson for everyone to go and just be themselves.