When Bob Dylan — the most famously camera-shy figure in American music — eagerly poses for photos with a band, something remarkable has happened. The Southern Avenue band earned that moment during the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival Tour. However, that wasn’t the strangest part. Willie Nelson wore their t-shirt onstage and invited the Memphis quartet to sit in for his last three songs every night of the tour.
Furthermore, these weren’t polite gestures toward an opening act. Instead, two legends of American music recognized what audiences worldwide already knew. The Southern Avenue band delivers something rare, authentic, and impossible to ignore.
Notably, the Southern Avenue band takes its name from the street running through the heart of Memphis, leading directly past the original Stax Records building. That geography matters. Consequently, Southern Avenue channels decades of Memphis musical tradition — gospel, soul, blues, R&B — through a thoroughly modern lens.
Moreover, their sound emerges from an unlikely origin story: an Israeli guitarist chasing the blues across an ocean, three church-raised sisters from Memphis, and a shared conviction that this music still has urgent things to say. Since their 2017 debut made them the first Memphis act signed to the reformed Stax label, the Southern Avenue band has earned two Grammy nominations, a Blues Music Award, and a reputation as one of contemporary music’s most riveting live acts.
From Israel to Memphis: How Southern Avenue Found Its Sound
Ori Naftaly grew up in Even Yehuda, a small town east of Netanya, Israel. Born in 1987, he fell hard for American blues and soul as a teenager. He taught himself guitar by wearing out the records that built Memphis. The music grabbed him and never let go.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Memphis itself, Tierinii Jackson, Tikyra “T.K.” Jackson, and Ava Jackson grew up in a tight-knit church family. Gospel was the only music in the house. The sisters sang from childhood. Tierinii didn’t sing secular music until her teens. Nevertheless, when she did, her voice carried every ounce of that gospel training forward.
Naftaly’s road to Memphis began in October 2012 when he won the Israeli Blues Society contest. His band earned the title of Best Israeli Blues Band of 2013. As a result, they got an invite to the 29th International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Remarkably, they reached the semi-finals — the first Israeli group ever to get that far — and sold more CDs than any other act in the contest. That trip changed everything. As Naftaly put it, his move to Memphis “wasn’t just a move — it was destiny in the making.”
Finding the Jackson Sisters
He settled in Memphis for good in October 2013 and threw himself into the local scene. Over two years, he played over 200 shows across more than 40 states. However, he wanted something deeper — a true musical bond, not a hired band.
When friends pointed him toward Tierinii Jackson, the city’s most powerful singer, he went to see her perform. Indeed, the impact hit him right away. “The first time I saw her perform,” Naftaly recalled, “I saw my entire future flash in front of me.”
That future took shape in September 2015 when Tierinii’s sister Tikyra joined on drums. The chemistry was instant. T.K. brought raw power behind the kit — a hard-hitting style that locked into Naftaly’s guitar like a fist closing. With Jeremy Powell on keys and Daniel McKee on bass, the Southern Avenue band was born.
Consequently, within months they entered the 2016 International Blues Challenge — this time playing for Memphis itself — and reached the finals. The band that started with a chance meeting was now making noise on the biggest stage in blues.
Furthermore, the speed of that rise proved what the blues world would soon confirm: the Southern Avenue band played on a different level entirely.
The Music: Memphis Tradition Through a Modern Lens
Gospel Roots and Soul Power
The Southern Avenue band’s sound begins with the Jackson sisters. Tierinii’s voice carries the weight of a church singer who writes lyrics about real-world struggle. Moreover, her phrasing bends notes the way gospel singers bend whole rooms — with a force that hits the chest before the brain catches up.
Meanwhile, T.K.’s drumming drives the band with raw, punchy energy. She hits hard. Her grooves owe as much to James Brown’s rhythm section as to any blues player before her. Additionally, Ava’s violin and hand drums add layers that set Southern Avenue apart from every other act in the genre.
The sister harmonies are the band’s secret weapon. Raised on nothing but gospel, the three Jacksons built a vocal blend that no studio trick can fake. Indeed, when they lock into three-part harmony, the sound recalls the great women of blues and soul — the Staple Singers’ warmth, the Clark Sisters’ tightness, all filtered through Memphis grit.
Ori Naftaly’s Guitar: Blues With Global Perspective
Naftaly’s guitar grounds the band in blues while pushing toward soul, funk, and rock. He learned the blues from records, not from growing up in the Delta or Chicago. Consequently, he plays with both deep respect and fresh eyes. He doesn’t copy Memphis guitar styles. He talks with them.
Furthermore, his tone stays warm and clean, built on feel rather than flash. His rhythm work gives the vocals room to breathe instead of fighting them. That choice sets great blues players apart from loud ones.
The back-and-forth between Naftaly’s guitar and Tierinii’s voice defines the Southern Avenue band sound. He builds the ground; she builds the sky. Moreover, their writing partnership turns personal stories into songs that feel universal — music about struggle, strength, and chosen family that never drifts into the vague.
Message-Driven Music
The Southern Avenue band writes songs that mean something. In a world where blues can fall back on guitar tricks or safe twelve-bar grooves, this band insists on saying something real. Accordingly, their songs tackle fairness, hope, and the bonds that hold people together — themes that tie straight back to the blues tradition of music as a force for change.
As Tierinii puts it, “Our music is our expression of life. Our songs reflect our thoughts and feelings, baring our souls.” Indeed, No Depression called their music “compelling, exhilarating anthems that urge the listener to create the world in which they want to live.” That kind of praise doesn’t come easy.
The Recordings: Four Albums of Growth
Southern Avenue (2017)
Their debut on Stax Records made history before anyone heard a note. Southern Avenue became the first Memphis band signed to the reformed Stax label. That fact alone carried weight. Furthermore, the album backed it up, landing at number six on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart and hitting number one on the iTunes Blues Chart.
The record packed ten tracks — nine originals plus a cover of Ann Peebles’ “Slipped, Tripped and Fell In Love.” That cover tied the band to Stax’s roots in a single song. Producer Kevin Houston caught their live spark without smoothing it out. Consequently, the debut showed the Southern Avenue band as one that knew Memphis deep enough to push it forward, not just look back.
Keep On (2019)
Their second album raised the bar. Recorded at the famed Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis with producer Johnny Black, Keep On brought in Stax legend William Bell as a guest. That was no small thing — it meant old-guard Memphis soul saw the Southern Avenue band as worthy heirs. Moreover, the album cracked the top five on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart.
Furthermore, Keep On earned the band their first Grammy nod for Best Contemporary Blues Album. The writing grew sharper here. Songs mixed groove with real thought, and the production let the band’s natural feel lead. Standout tracks showed the range — from driving soul workouts to slow burns that gave Tierinii’s voice room to stretch.
Additionally, Bell’s presence sent a clear message: this wasn’t just a good young band. This was the real thing. The fact that a Stax icon chose to share a studio with them carried weight that no press quote could match.
Be The Love You Want (2021)
Album three pushed the Southern Avenue band into wider ground. Steve Berlin of Los Lobos — a multi-Grammy winner — took the helm as producer, with Naftaly co-producing. Released on BMG/Renew Records in August 2021, Be The Love You Want even brought in Jason Mraz as a co-writer on one track. Notably, that reach beyond blues circles showed the band’s growing pull.
However, the core stayed the same — gospel harmonies, Memphis groove, words that matter. Berlin’s touch helped shape the songs without sanding off their edge. Additionally, the album pulled Blues Music Award Band of the Year nods in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Three straight years of that recognition locks a band into the top tier of the genre.
Family (2025)
The Southern Avenue band’s fourth album marks their Alligator Records debut — and their strongest work yet. They cut it at Royal Studios in Memphis, the same room where Al Green and Ann Peebles made classic records. Furthermore, Grammy winner John Burk handled production, while Boo Mitchell — whose credits include Cedric Burnside and Bobby Rush — recorded and mixed every track. That lineup of talent says it all.
The title tells the story. Family speaks to blood ties, chosen bonds, and the link between band and fans. From the bold opener “Long Is The Road” to the warm “Found A Friend In You” to the rowdy “Rum Boogie,” all fourteen tracks blend blues, soul, and roots into one tight package.
Moreover, the fierce “Flying” and the bright “Upside” show the band at peak range. Closer “We Are” wraps the record with an honest look at what holds people together. Signing with Alligator Records — home to real blues since 1971 — puts Southern Avenue where they belong: among the genre’s best. Remarkably, Family earned the band their second Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2026 ceremony, confirming that Southern Avenue’s best work keeps getting better.
Live Power: Why Southern Avenue Owns Every Stage
Records tell one story. Live shows tell a bigger one. JamBase said it best: “Southern Avenue is jaw-dropping. They are not to be missed.” Accordingly, that word-of-mouth earned them tour slots with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Sheryl Crow, Los Lobos, Galactic, and The Revivalists. These are acts that don’t share a stage with bands that can’t keep up.
The 2024 tour season showed just how far the band had climbed. In June, they headlined the Chicago Blues Festival at Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Notably, that same year featured Buddy Guy’s farewell Chicago show. Sharing that spotlight is no small thing.
Then came the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. The Southern Avenue band played alongside Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and John Mellencamp for weeks on end. Remarkably, Dylan — who rarely lets anyone near him with a camera — posed for photos with the band. Nelson went further still. He wore a Southern Avenue t-shirt onstage and asked them to play his final three songs every night. Indeed, when Willie Nelson pulls you onstage, the music speaks for itself.
What makes the band hit so hard live? It starts with Tierinii. She owns a stage the way a great preacher owns a pulpit — with force and warmth in equal measure. Meanwhile, T.K.’s drums lock the crowd into grooves that make it hard to stand still. Naftaly’s guitar stays in the pocket until the right moment, then breaks free with sharp, focused runs.
Additionally, the Jackson sisters’ three-part harmonies fill a room in ways that no studio mix can match. Consequently, the Southern Avenue band has grown their following one show at a time, across North America, Europe, and Australia. Every night, they turn new listeners into lifelong fans.
Why Southern Avenue Matters Now
Blues faces a simple question right now: can it grow without losing what makes it real? Southern Avenue says yes — loudly. Instead of treating the music like something behind glass, they live in it. They pull from the deep roots of the blues while adding gospel fire, soul craft, and words that speak to today.
Furthermore, they are something rare in music: a true family band. The ties between these four people aren’t a press angle. They’re the engine that drives every note. Their story alone sets them apart from the rest of the field.
Think about it. A guitarist who crossed an ocean to find the blues. Three sisters who grew up on nothing but gospel in a Memphis church. Moreover, when those paths crossed, they made a sound that no single background could have built. The Southern Avenue band proves the blues is still a living, global talk — not a relic stuck in the past.
The band’s path from Blues Challenge finalists to Grammy nominees to sharing stages with Willie Nelson tracks a rise built on hard work and real talent. Consequently, each album has pushed further without losing the core. Each tour has grown the crowd without watering down the message.
As Naftaly puts it: “Through our music, we expand our family to include our fans and whomever is moved by our songs.” That’s not a slogan. It’s a promise they keep every night on stages around the world. Furthermore, the Southern Avenue band makes music that heals, pushes, and brings people together. Indeed, they honor blues history by adding to it — not just playing it back.
Essential Listening: Where to Start
For Live Energy and Stage Power
Start with Family‘s opener, “Long Is The Road.” The track captures Southern Avenue at full force — the Jackson harmonies soaring above Naftaly’s guitar while T.K.’s drums drive the whole thing forward. Additionally, “Rum Boogie” from the same album showcases their ability to make a room move.
For Songcraft and Emotional Depth
Try “Found A Friend In You” from Family. Consequently, the song reveals why their songwriting has matured so dramatically across four albums. It demonstrates the band’s gift for writing music that connects on a deeply personal level without sacrificing groove. Furthermore, the production at Royal Studios gives the performance room to breathe.
For Memphis Soul Tradition
Their self-titled debut’s cover of Ann Peebles’ “Slipped, Tripped and Fell In Love” connects Southern Avenue directly to the Stax lineage. Moreover, the track proves they understand the tradition they inherited when they signed to that legendary label. The original tracks on the debut — particularly the material co-written by Naftaly and Tierinii — establish their voice within that tradition.
For the Complete Journey
Listen in order: Southern Avenue, Keep On, Be The Love You Want, Family. Indeed, the growth across four albums is clear as day. Each record captures a band finding new parts of who they are. Moreover, the through-line stays the same every time — family. Blood family, chosen family, musical family. It gets stronger with every record they make.
