When the Black Suns of Natchez take the stage at Smoot’s Grocery Tuesday, it won’t just be another gig.

The band will be joining musicians across the state performing on the Americana in Mississippi Tour, which kicked off March 1 and runs through April 28.

The tour is traveling to 16 Mississippi cities offering free concerts showcasing local musicians, as well as the tour’s house band, Rambling Steve Gardner & the Jericho Road Show.

Visit Mississippi’s Music Trails Program Manager Drew Young said the tour was spurred by the development of the Americana Music Triangle.

The Americana Music Triangle was launched by Leiper’s Fork, Tenn., businessman and musician Aubrey Preston and the Franklin, Tenn.-based Americana Music Association as a tourism venture connecting the musical roots of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“Aubrey just loved the idea of Mississippi being the center of the Americana Music Triangle, so we brainstormed a little bit about how we could celebrate it and how we can work with the clubs and the people who support Americana music,” Young said.

And so began the birth of the Americana in Mississippi Tour. Visit Mississippi partnered with local convention and visitors bureaus around the state to identify venues and local musicians for the concerts.

Natchez CVB Director Kevin Kirby said The Black Suns of Natchez and Smoot’s Grocery were natural selections for the tour.

“Smoot’s is one of the original juke joints — the type of venue where so much of the musical genres we know today were developed and where they flourished,” Kirby said. “The Black Suns of Natchez is a local band which captures a unique sound showcasing their distinct interpretation of the evolution of American music with a reverence to its roots.”

Jeremy Houston of The Black Suns of Natchez said the band, whose music includes reggae, blues and rap influences, is honored to be a part of the tour.

“With all the musical talent in Natchez, to be specifically chosen for this, we feel like it is a real honor,” Houston said.

The inclusion of Natchez in the tour, Houston said, is an opportunity not only to showcase local talent, but the expanding music scene in Natchez as well.

“We’re hoping it brings the city together, too, and brings more attention to the music scene that is rapidly growing here in Natchez,” Houston said.

When cultural tourists think about destinations to see live music, Natchez may not be at the top of their list, Young said.

“When you think about cultural tourists, when they come to Mississippi, they want to know first of all where to eat, and then they want to know where they can see live music,” Young said. “With Natchez, you don’t necessarily think about live music, even though there is a robust live music scene in the city. I hope that we can increase these cultural tourists in cities like Natchez for tourists who are maybe traveling through the Delta for music and maybe they would like to come down and see music and the older homes and other great stuff in Natchez.”

Since opening, Smoot’s Grocery has been focused on attracting those tourists to Natchez with live music offerings every weekend.

“My goal is to bring live entertainment to Natchez every week,” Smoot’s owner Dub Rogers said. “It’s not an easy thing, just with the management of artists and paying the money to get quality local, regional and international artists. But we’re serious about the music.”

To be recognized with venues across the state that support Americana music is a special honor to be bestowed on Smoot’s, Rogers said.

“We are ecstatic,” he said. “To have the state come in and have the faith and trust in us to host this, we feel very honored. We’re going to make sure everyone has a really good time.”

The support for the Americana in Mississippi Tour has been tremendous, Young said, with packed houses at the venues.

“I really want to do a part two,” Young said. “I’m not going to say we’re going to do it, because I don’t know yet, but I think the support we’ve gotten bodes very well for a second part of the tour.”

Tuesday’s free concert begins at 6 p.m. Smoot’s Grocery is located at 319 N. Broadway St.