Historic Music Venue and American Roots Music Center
The Louisiana Grandstand is housed in the historic Woman's Department Club building constructed in 1925. Located at 802 Margaret Place at the corner of Line Avenue and Margaret Place in the Highland/Stoner area just south of downtown this beautiful restored building is known affectionately as the Lady on Line. The building was designed by architect Clarence F. King and stands alongside the famous Strand Theater as one of the two oldest theaters in current-day Shreveport/Bossier City.
Venue Spaces and Theater History
The Louisiana Grandstand operates two intimate music performance spaces: the Legendary Listening Room with 400 capacity and The Listening Lounge with 75 capacity. Both feature exceptional acoustics with no bad seats in the house ensuring intimate performance experiences. The WDC Theater was originally built by the Woman's Department Club as a 400-plus seat theater on the second floor used for lectures performances and club events. The theater has hosted legendary figures including Robert Frost Katharine Hepburn and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Contemporary Programming and Artist Development
The Louisiana Grandstand was founded in 2019 to grow and innovate the American Roots music scene in Northwest Louisiana building on the foundation of the legendary Louisiana Hayride radio broadcast. The venue hosts a diverse schedule including touring artists regional talent showcases and artist development programming. A requirement for major bookings is that local Shreveport musicians must be included as show openers fostering local talent. The venue operates an onsite recording studio providing local artists with studio time and production resources.
Artist Ambassador Program
The 2025 Louisiana Grandstand Artist Ambassador Program pairs established music mentors with emerging local artist mentees for one calendar year. The inaugural mentors include Shreveport natives Kix Brooks one half of the iconic duo Brooks and Dunn and current country hitmaker Jordan Davis. This program reflects the venue's commitment to fostering grassroots music development.
Venue Features and Services
The venue emphasizes an acoustics-first intimate performance environment that values storytelling songwriting and live musicianship. Each performance is elevated with video presentations to enhance the visual experience. An upstairs concession area is complemented by the Louisiana Grandstand mobile app allowing patrons to order food and drinks to their seats at no additional charge. The venue offers validated parking and provides attentive personable hospitality. Every seat offers excellent views of the stage.
Historic Significance and Restoration
After struggling with COVID-19 impacts the Woman's Department Club partnered with Louisiana Grandstand in 2020 to restore the historic building. Restoration work includes a new roof installation and cosmetic improvements beginning in 2022. The Woman's Department Club remains active today meeting every Thursday with various programs and exhibits. The venue continues to preserve this important historic landmark while elevating it as a premier music center in Shreveport/Bossier City.
