DreamFest Weekend (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Festival:
CLE Events will host DreamFest Weekend 13 on May 17-19, 2024 at the historic Overton Park Shell in Memphis, TN. DreamFest Weekend is a weekend of events dedicated to promoting Memphis Music and artist collaboration. This 3-day event spotlights an impressive array of artists coming together in pursuit of a common goal: the promotion of unity, collaboration and community.
Visit the Dreamfest Weekend official website for more information.
Festival Lineup:
Coming soon.
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Stick ‘Em | Smokin’ Hot BBQ | Green Beetle
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Lukah with Hope Clayburn & The Fire Salamander (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Back from a tour of the UK and Europe in support of Raw Extractions and Permanently Blackface, Lukah continues to channel spiritual and intellectual urgency as he solidifies his status as one of the most treacherous and insightful writers in the South, described by DJ Statik Selektah as “the south’s Black Thought”. Lukah’s sonic world continues to evolve, as his signature, powerfully poetic lyrics meets the inimitable Hope Clayborn and the Fire Salamanders for second Memphis-exclusive engagement.
The band will play Lukah’s latest record, “Temple Needs Water, Village Needs Peace”, a collaboration with Real Bad Man. “Temple…” is a philosophical exploration into the essence of community, spirituality, and transformation, which meditates on themes of unity, leadership, sacrifice, and renewal.”
In the process of pushing himself musically, Lukah explored early talents developed in his family home, particularly voice and piano. He drew inspiration from Jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk. In the initial meetings for his upcoming LP with Real Bad Man, Temple Needs Water, Village Needs Peace, Lukah identified a collaborator who could embrace his vision to infuse his technically proficient rapping with equally proficient instrumentation. The result is his most soulful music yet, a concept album about meditation and peace. The storyline follows a warrior who ascends a mountain, a familiar metaphor that is adapted here to address the issues of self-determination and community uplifting that Lukah has dissected across his discography.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: TBA
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Sunset Symphony (Orion Free Concert Series)
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Soi No. 9 | Sips and Sammies
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Black Opry Revue (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Black Opry is a home for Black artists and Black fans of country, blues, folk, and Americana music. Country music has been made by and loved by Black people since it’s conception. For just as long, we have been overlooked and disregarded in the genre by fans and executives. Black Opry wants to change that. We invite you to discover, support and enjoy the Black artists that make magic in this space. One of the most valuable aspects of country music is its versatility and diversity in sound. Country, blues, folk, and Americana music often overlap or weave together- these artists explore all of those sounds and intersections. The Black Opry Revue showcases the diversity in sound and stories that Black artists offer to these genres.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Mexico in Memphis | Hot-N-Heavy Dogs | Green Beetle
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Bodywerk (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artists:
Inaugurated in the Green Room, upstairs from the freeform radio station WYXR, Bodywerk began as a fast-paced, inclusive, and adventurous platform for sharing dance music with Memphis. The group hosted residencies and brought the house down at venues around the city before exploring clubs in Washington DC, Baltimore, and abroad in Japan. Today Bodywerk splits time between New York City and Memphis. For a special performance, Bodywerk DJs Rmzi, DJ Blingg, and Ross al Ghul will be joined by Hope Clayborn representing Memphis and Takuya Nakamura from New York.
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Producer/DJ, Multi-instrumentalist Takuya Nakamura has been playing trumpet, keyboards, and various electronic instruments throughout the United States and the world with a diverse group of artists such as Quincy Jones(remix), The Street(remix), Billy Holiday /Remix&Reimagined(Sony), supported Lee scratch Perry, Gza(Wu Tang Clan), opened for DJ Shadow, toured with George Russell's Living Time Orchestra, Cocorosie, Arto Lindsay, Jojo Mayer, Brazilian Girls, Organic Grooves.
With his diverse background of music, he has distinguished himself by composing and effectively fusing uncommon and exciting styles of music, leaving audiences and music critics alike ecstatic and excited for future performances. Takuya moved to NY from his native Tokyo and became an integral, sought after part of NYC's vibrant live/electronic scene: including the legendary D`n`B party "Prohibited Beats" with Jojo Mayer's “Nerve”, weekly party “Organic Grooves”(Codek Records)
He released EP “Three fans”,“Disco Airport” (Ism record), “SUN”(Codek Records), produced “Brooklyn Gypsies” first album “Sin fronteras” (Wonder wheel records), Helio Parallax’s album “Helio Parallax Vol.1”(M.O.D Technologies)
Takuya curate multi media show with his piano and other performing artist, and performed at National Sawdust(NY), and festivals. He recently performed live set for A-COLD-WALL x Converse. He has residency at The Lot Radio, guest DJ for WMFU, Rince FM Paris
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Soul-Jazz-Funk saxophonist/flautist and vocalist Hope Clayburn is on a mission to move the people. Her unique and energetic style has allowed her to perform/record with an eclectic mix of artists around the world, including The Allman Brothers Band, Snarky Puppy and The Temptations. She has appeared on multiple television programs including the iconic PBS music show Austin City Limits with Grammy nominated folk artist Valerie June and she is featured on Valerie’s new EP of cover songs Under Cover.
Hope can be found in Memphis, TN recording and performing with a variety of bands and with her own funk/rock ensemble Hope Clayburn’s Soul Scrimmage. They have a new album/vinyl record titled Y’ALL SO LOUD available now at all local record stores and all streaming platforms.
Artist Socials:
BODYWERK
Instagram | Youtube | Bandcamp
HOPE CLAYBURN
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Flipside Asia | Good Groceries Mobile Diner
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Laura Denisse (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Hailing from the Mountain City of Monterrey, Mexico, Laura Denisse Y Los Brillantes brings a beautiful blend of Country, Norteño and Tejano music that showcases their own brand of Country Americana and honors their roots. The international influence and power of country music is highlighted in every performance where one can experience the combination of sounds derived from both sides of the border, and odes to artists that have inspired a whole new class of Mexicans and Latinos, such as Rick Trevino, Freddy Fender, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Rodriguez and Raul Malo and The Mavericks, to name a few.
Laura Denisse y Los Brillantes exemplify the legacy of nuestra comunidad (our community) in country music. This is a band whose range and variety have made it clear that the torch left behind by these great icons is moving forward in new and modern ways. - Billboard Magazine
Their most recent album, 'Fortune', was recorded during a tour stop in Nashville, where Laura Denisse Y Los Brillantes teamed up with good friend, Mexican American, multiinstrumentalist, and producer Misa Arriaga (Kacey Musgraves). With 11 tracks ranging from Classic Country, Tex Mex and Boleros, 'Fortune' has played a huge role in opening doors for Laura Denisse in various new markets and has kept the band touring, spreading the Mountain City sound all over the US and Mexico.
Currently, the band is preparing to kick off their next tour, keeping their roots close to their heart and letting the music take you through a journey of sound. Keep an eye out for Laura Denisse y Los Brillantes as they come to a city near you!
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Soi No. 9 | Mexico in Memphis | Sips and Sammies
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Sister Hazel (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Originating from Gainesville, FL, Sister Hazel is comprised of five gifted, seasoned musicians whose well-spring of natural talent has been called "one of the Top 100 Most Influential Independent Performers of the last 15 years" by Performing Songwriter Magazine. Song "All for You," topped the adult alternative charts during the summer of 1997 and the success propelled their album to platinum status. Since then, the band has become firmly established not only in rock and alternative music, but now in country with four back-to-back Billboard Top Country Album Chart entries. Living up to their fan-centered reputation, the band was a pioneer in the themed cruise industry by co-founding "The Rock Boat" and annually hosts events like the “Hazelnut Hang,” and "Camp Hazelnut" that focuses on creating unique experiences and interacting with the fans. Sister Hazel has been equally attentive to connecting with their audience through social media having amassed over a million social followers. In addition to the events and touring, the band also gives back with “Lyrics For Life.” Founded by singer Ken Block, the charity unites musicians and celebrities for concerts and auctions to benefit cancer research and patient-care charities.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Pok Chas Eggrolls | TBD
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Kings & Associates (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Best described as “neo soul”, the Australian band KINGS and ASSOCIATES’ live show is both powerful and poignant. Awarded three Australian Blues Music Awards on the back of their second album TALES of a RICH GIRL, which was produced by 7-time Grammy winner Jim Scott. The band features a vocal powerhouse led by principal songwriter Angii Portolesi, singing her ‘life stories’ with honesty and vulnerability. Adding to the vocal lineup is guitarist Benny Cunnigham, whose soulful voice has been compared to the great crossover artist Johnny Guitar Watson. The vocal trifecta is completed by multi- instrumentalist and keyboardist Greg Jones. Rounding out this exceptional lineup is bassist and songwriter Stephen Portolesi, guitar virtuoso Matt Williams who is described as “the most under-rated guitarist in music today”, the punchy and powerful drummer, Kelvin Sugars, and keyboardist Paul White. This seven-piece lineup delivers the best of Neo-Soul music with a Blues twist in the industry today.
After two long years of Covid lock down in their home state of South Australia, Kings and Associates returned to the U.S. for their third American Tour in the summer of 2023, playing their way across the Heartland with performances at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Parkway Bank Park in Chicago, and multiple Levitt venues. With each performance, the band seemed to reach new heights and won the hearts and minds of music lovers at each stop along the way. Post tour, the band signed with the Toronto based AMG Corporation and a subsequent distribution deal with Sony Music.
2024 will be a big year for KINGS as they prepare to record and release their fourth studio album on Big Wing Records, and plans are in the works for multiple U.S. Tours.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Good Groceries Mobile Diner | Mexico in Memphis | Soi No. 9
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Perpetual Groove (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Perpetual Groove was founded in Savannah, GA, in 1997 before relocating in 2005 to Athens, Georgia, a town long renowned for its thriving music scene. PGroove comprises 1904 and current members: Brock Butler on guitar and lead vocals; Adam Perry on bass guitar; and Matthew McDonald on keyboards and vocals. Drummer Albert Suttle joined the band in 2001 but has announced his departure culminating with this year’s NYE show. Replacing him on drums will be Darren Stanley (Jimmy Herring, Col. Bruce Hampton).
PGroove, a band categorized by fans as “Trance Arena Rock,” is an amalgamation of rock and indie electronica, with a touch of metal thrown in for good measure. With their intelligent light show and experimental stage set up, PGroove continues to create a cultivated, unique experience for each live show. Since their inception, the band has toured the U.S., and performed in Japan and Amsterdam and Jam Cruise. In 2013, PGroove went on 2 year hiatus but caught everyone by surprise in 2015 when they returned to the stage. In 2019, they released a new recording, the eponymous Perpetual Groove, delighting fans with a new sound by the reinvigorated group.
PGroove's latest release, “C’mon. Covers?” EP, was recorded at Chase Park Transduction (R.E.M, Drive-By Truckers, Bettye Lavette) in Athens and includes songs by Peter Gabriel, The Cars, The Go-Go's, and Johnny Cash. It was produced by Jason Kingsland (Band of Horses, Belle and Sebastian). The recording ensemble included Butler, Perry, McDonald and Stanley. It was released on all major digital formats on September 17, 2021.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Stick ‘Em | Sips and Sammies | Mexico in Memphis | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Cedric Burnside (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
The official credit tells it like it is. “Recorded in an old building in Ripley, Mississippi” – that’s all the info we get, and all that we need.
When Cedric Burnside prepared to record Hill Country Love, the follow-up to his 2021 Grammy-winning album I Be Trying, he set up shop in a former legal office located in a row of structures in the seat of Tippah County, a town with 5,000 residents that’s known as the birthplace of the Hill Country Blues style.
Certainly, plenty of things have happened in Cedric Burnside’s life since he went on the road at age 13, drumming for his grandfather, the pioneering bluesman R.L. Burnside. His two albums before I Be Trying – 2015’s Descendants of Hill Country and 2018’s Benton County Relic – were both nominated for Grammys. He has also appeared in several films, including Tempted and Big Bad Love (both released in 2001) and the 2006 hit Black Snake Moan, and he played the title character in 2021’s Texas Red.
Burnside is a recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship, the country’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts and was recently recognized with the 2024 Mississippi Governor's Art Award for Excellence in Music. He has performed and recorded with such diverse musicians as Jimmy Buffett, Bobby Rush, and Widespread Panic.
Yet as the title of the new album indicates, Burnside has never strayed far from the distinctive blues style introduced to the world by his “Big Daddy” R.L. and such other greats as Junior Kimbrough, Jessie Mae Hemphill, and Otha Turner. “I’ve been traveling my whole life, and the song ‘Hill Country Love’ gave me a chance to let people know that I love what I do and give a sense of how we do it in Mississippi – like, the house party is a tradition here, Big Daddy threw a lot of them. So that's what I was thinking about as I was writing that song – where I come from and also where I'm going, and how my journey has been to get to where I'm at now.”
At the same time, Burnside sees himself as an inheritor, not an imitator, of his native region’s blues style. “Big Daddy’s music, Junior’s music, Mister Otha’s music – my music is similar to theirs, but I'm a younger generation,” he says. “Whether we want to or not, we move on, and so my music will automatically sound a little more modern. But even if I tried to sound really modern, that old feel and old sound is just there. You might hear a song and think. ‘Wow, that sounds like it was recorded in 1959.’ I like that, but it's really just me growing up around it and falling in love with that sound.”
To Cedric Burnside, Hill Country Love is a culmination of a career that’s already seen astonishing accomplishments and only keeps growing. What he wanted this time out was a real sense of honesty and integrity. “I compromised a little bit with my albums in the past,” he says, “and I didn't really have to compromise with this one, because I did it by myself. I paid for the engineer, paid for the musicians, I didn't have a record company there. We just went to play music, and how it came out was how it came out – and it came out great.
“I have to be true to where I'm coming from,” he continues. “On this album, the feeling that I had was like, I’m going to write what I feel, I’m going to write what's going on. Life gives you good and life gives you bad and you have to cope with it however you need to cope with it. My way of coping with things is through my music, so I thank the Lord for music. I really do.”
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Flipside Asia | Hot-N-Heavy Dogs | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Lamont Landers (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Born and raised in Alabama, Lamont Landers grew up absorbing the soulful sounds of the South that surrounded him. At the age of 14, he taught himself how to play guitar, and, at the age of 19, began singing. He spent years quietly honing his talents behind his bedroom doors, listening to records by Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Sly & The Family Stone, and Ray Charles on repeat. At the age of 22, a candid video recorded by his sister of Lamont performing the Ray Charles’ classic “Hit the Road Jack” went viral on YouTube and garnered over 400,000 views overnight. In the summer of 2023, history repeated itself with similar enthusiastic fan response propelling five Lamont Landers TikTok videos to over 1,000,000 views each. A feature on the Bobby Bones nationally syndicated radio show and shoutouts from music tastemakers ranging from Snoop Dogg to Questlove soon followed. No longer a secret of North Alabama, Lamont will be touring throughout North America in 2024.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Good Groceries Mobile Diner | Mexico in Memphis | Flipside Asia
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Blvck Hippie (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Blvck Hippie is an Indie Rock Band from Memphis, TN tryna show Black kids they can be weird too.
Blvck Hippie makes VHS-inspired music for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. By melding an emo sensibility with an indie rock aesthetic Blvck Hippie creates tunes for getting unstuck, existing weirdly, and finding togetherness. Raw vocals pair with sticky guitar riffs, heart-wrenching lyrics, and heavy breakdowns to create a live show for all of us raging inside. With their firmly indie attitude, refusal to accept the status quo, and knack for pushing musical boundaries, Blvck Hippie has turned being an outsider into their superpower.
Blvck Hippie released their debut LP, If You Feel Alone At Parties in Fall 2021. Since then they’ve been touring across the US and Europe carving out a place for themselves on festival stages, at basement shows, and everywhere in between. Jasmine Albertson (KEXP) perfectly captures the must-experience nature of a Blvck Hippie show: “While their recorded material is fantastic, seeing the Memphis-based band live is an even more remarkable experience. The pure joy that emanates from every member of the primarily POC band is infectious and an absolute gift, especially considering the pain and hardships that inspired these songs.” In searching for a place to belong, Blvck Hippie is bringing us all along.
RIYL: The Strokes, Car Seat Headrest, Bright Eyes, Blood Orange
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Stick ‘Em | Soi No. 9 | Sips and Sammies
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Magnolias (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Marcella Simien, a Memphis-based singer-songwriter, accordion player, and multi-instrumentalist, and Anne Harris, a Chicago-based fiddle player, and singer-songwriter, are Magnolias—an American Roots and Folk project. Anchored deeply in their unique heritages, their sonic signature is born from a myriad of musical influences. They bring Creole, Soul, Blues, Folk, and other Roots traditions together with power, grace and ease. As two women of color, they weave their ancestral stories deep into the fabric of their music, giving a soulful voice to a perspective that encompasses not only their personal journeys but the universal connection of the human experience.
Their soul-stirring vocals and poignant, thought-provoking lyrics, along with their electrifying stage presence, takes the audience on a spell-binding, revelatory experience.
Artist Socials:
Marcella
Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Website
Anne Harris
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Mexico in Memphis | Pok Chas Eggrolls | Green Beetle
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Talibah Safiya (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Talibah is a multi disciplinary artist with a focus on healing through music, writing and experience curation. Safiya is currently serving as artist in residence at the University of Memphis exploring the power of collaboration while bridging the gap between the original blues and new expressions of it. She released her debut album Love Spells in collaboration with Deepwater Media and the U of M’s Highwater records in March of 2023.
Talibah’s single, Healing Creek was named one of Spotify’s Best Blues Songs of 2020 and her song Animal Kingdom was listed as one of Spotify’s best Jazz tracks of 2021.
She has recently contributed to the soundtrack for shows on both HBO and STARZ and released her second project in collaboration with Deepwater and Highwater records, titled Black Magic in February of 2024.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Soi No. 9 | Mexico in Memphis | Good Groceries Mobile Diner | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Sweet Lizzy Project (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
In just a few years, Cuban-born, Nashville-based quartet Sweet Lizzy Project has gone from its members never having been in an arena, to mesmerizing an audience of 20,000 people when opening for their idols, Heart and Joan Jett. Along the way, the anthemic rock band earned a prime performance broadcast for PBS’s Havana Time Machine, an artist profile on NPR’s “Weekend Edition”, and a cover story in the Miami Herald.
SLP defected to the U.S. from Cuba in late 2017, just as the border doors were set to close once again. Prior to relocating to Music City, Sweet Lizzy Project became the “it band” around Havana City clubs. SLP also won several music prizes, including two nominations for Cuba’s closest equivalent of a Grammy. However, everything changed for the band when they were spotlighted on Havana Time Machine, which also featured traditional Cuban artists and iconic American roots-rockers, The Mavericks. During the making of the documentary, The Mavericks’ founder and lead singer, Raul Malo, became inspired by Sweet Lizzy’s music and story and signed SLP to his band’s record company.
Sweet Lizzy Project plays electrifying big stage pop-rock with a modern sheen and classic rock heart. Diaz is a lightning bolt of a front woman; her lyrics are boldly vulnerable, and her vocals range from seductive soft tones to rafter-rattling high tones. Her creative partner is world class engineer/producer, songwriter, background vocalist, and dazzling lead guitarist Miguel Comas. Diaz and Comas are joined in Sweet Lizzy Project by talented guitarist and bass player, Wilfredo Gatell, and skilled drummer Angel Luis Millet.
SLP has three albums: Heaven (2015), Technicolor (2020) and Pirate Radio / Radio Pirata (2022). The band has performed in the US, coast to coast, and has opened shows for acts such as Heart, Joan Jett, Johnny Swim, The Mavericks, Raul Malo, Jamey Johnson, Buckcherry, Billy Strings, Silvana Estrada and Carlos Varela.
The release of their latest album, Pirate Radio / Radio Pirata, received immediate DSP support, with key playlist adds across New Release, Rock & Latin playlists on Spotify and Apple Music, as well as airplay from multiple terrestrial stations and The Latin Alternative, widely syndicated among NPR affiliates. Their Fall Pirate Radio Tour included concerts in Nashville, Miami, Atlanta, New York, Washington DC, Austin, Houston, and festivals like Live on the Green (Nashville, TN), RiverBend (Chattanooga, TN) and Mile Of Music (Appleton, WI).
“Lisset Díaz, of the Sweet Lizzy Project, was definitely an anomaly in Cuba, land of salsa, timba and son. But when she got her first guitar as a teenager, Díaz said she was drawn to American rock.”-Miami Herald
“Hotstar: Sweet Lizzy Project - American Music By Way Of Cuba... Sweet Lizzy Project sounds like raucous American indie rock. Like The Mavs, SLP positively rocks... The band owes as much to influences such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Florence + The Machine and Alanis Morrisette as it does more traditional Cuban artists they grew up with like Benny Moré or Celia Cruz.” - Pollstar
“Being discovered by Raul Malo — the lead singer and founder of The Mavericks — would be a cool enough launching point for most bands, but Sweet Lizzy Project is not looking to have its story defined by its starting point. The five-piece from Cuba has come stateside and offers a hybrid of classic psychedelic rock and an island roots vibe that should reach a wide base audience that just wants to enjoy upbeat music. There are clear 70s influences but by mixing subtle notes of most all of the last five decades it keeps each track unique. Lead vocalist and writer, Lisset Diaz (a Latinx version of Paramore’s Hayley Williams) is not the stereotypical front woman, as she was at the top of her class in biochemistry, though songwriting and music were always her passion. The band is rounded out with co-writer and bandleader Miguel Comas — who is possibly Cuba’s most respected record producer and rock guitarist — as well as Wilfredo Gatell on bass, and drummer Ángel Luis Millet.” – American Songwriter
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Sips and Sammies | Green Beetle
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Shamarr Allen (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Shamarr Allen is the definition of New Orleans! Hailing from the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, Allen has influences in jazz, hip-hop, rock, funk rhythms, blues and country. He is the lead vocalist and trumpeter of his band “Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs.” In addition to performing with his band, Allen has collaborated with many renowned artists around the world such as Willie Nelson, Patti LaBelle, Galatic, Harrick Connick Jr, and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few. He is a sought after artist for festivals and venues around the world. In addition to displaying his skills on the front-line as a lead performer, Allen is also a music composer, writer, and producer. With a scintillating and unique sound, look, and exemplary talents, Shamarr Allen transcends musical boundaries. He is the True Orleans experience!
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Mexico in Memphis | Hot-N-Heavy Dogs | Green Beetle
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Cowboy Mouth (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Much like gumbo, the famous dish of their hometown, the New Orleans-born Cowboy Mouth uses a potent blend of musical ingredients - rock, blues, punk, funk, country, pop, soul and whatever else feels good – to create their bodacious, kickass tunes. Frontman, drummer, and co-founder Fred LeBlanc has asserted “if The Neville Brothers and The Clash had a baby, it would be Cowboy Mouth." His description not only reflects the group’s amazing diverse sound, but it also conveys the fire and commitment they bring to their music.
Cowboy Mouth has perfected their wonderfully rambunctious style over the band’s three decades together. During that time, they have sold over a half a million albums domestically, performed before more than 10 million people, and played over 3,000 concerts. These relentless road warriors built their reputation and developed their devoted fan base through powerhouse live performances (frequently averaging 250 gigs a year). “With every show, no matter where it is, we try to turn it into New Orleans during the middle of Mardi Gras,” LeBlanc proclaims. “It's like a southern gospel revival without the religion” – unless your religion is rock ‘n’ roll!
Cowboy Mouth formed in 1990, and their festive, free-wheeling style stood in sharp contrast to the then-popular grunge sound. In 1996, the band signed with MCA and their major label debut, Are You With Me?, spawned their biggest hit, “Jenny Says,” which cracked the top 40 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock and Alternative Rock charts. Their tunes have appeared in films ranging from the crime drama The Underneath (which featured them performing on screen) to the family comedy Meet The Robinsons. After doing several more albums on MCA Records and then Atlantic Records, Cowboy Mouth has continued to get their music to the people with a series of well-received independent and self-released albums.
New Orleans and Louisiana have always been special places for Cowboy Mouth, who are inductees in The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame. Their tune, “Mardi Gras State Of Mind,” featuring another NOLA luminary Big Sam Williams (of Big Sam’s Funky Nation) on trombone, delivers a joy-filled, footloose tribute to the world-famous carnival.
LeBlanc (previously of the punkabilly band Dash Rip Rock) and former Red Rocker guitarist John Thomas Griffith have been guiding Cowboy Mouth from the very beginning. Bassist Brian “Bruiser” Broussard joined the group in 2014, and quickly developed a telepathic groove with drummer LeBlanc (Broussard, by the way, is a beermaster too). The band’s newest member is Frank (aka Frankie G) Grocholski, who has teamed up with Griffith to create a formidable two-man guitar army.
The phrase “Cowboy Mouth” typically is defined as “one with a loud and raucous voice,” and the term fits the band too. This is especially true for their legendary live performances that have been described as celebratory, life-affirming experiences possessing the ability to save souls. The galvanizing connection between band and fans is one reason Cowboy Mouth has stayed strong for so many years. LeBlanc, however, offers another explanation: “bullheaded tenacity and determination, with a pretty healthy dose of faith.”
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Stick ‘Em | Midtown Deli | Good Groceries Mobile Diner
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Stax Music Academy Showcase (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Memphis has given the world some of its most memorable melodies. But whether it’s blues, gospel, rock-and-roll, or R&B, the one thing Memphis music has always had is plenty of is soul.
At Stax Music Academy (SMA), a registered 501 (c) (3), we are helping instill soul in the next generation of Memphis artists. SMA is an after school and summer music institute located adjacent to the home of the legendary ’60s-’70s soul record label Stax Records, now the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Founded in 2000, SMA exists to continue the legacy of Stax by nurturing the musicians of tomorrow.
Stax Music Academy students take classes in music theory, preparing them to read music with proficiency, read and perform all twelve major and minor scales, and apply harmonic analysis to a musical selection. Students are required to participate in moderated juries at the end of each semester that tests both their performance acumen and their western theoretical grasp of music. Students learn the art of storytelling and composition to create their own music plus music business to assure each young artist understands how to make a living in music. Success is defined individually for each student.
Our programs teach more than notes, however. Stax Music Academy helps students enhance their character by teaching skills in leadership, teamwork, and discipline. The end goal is to prepare graduates for post-primary success regardless of path, whether it be attending college or entering the music workforce.
Since its founding, Stax Music Academy has graduated more than 4,000 students. Since 2008, every high school senior has been accepted to a college or university, many on full scholarships. Academy alumni can be heard around the world, teaching, performing, recording, and more at he highest levels of the music industry.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Flipside Asia | Mexico in Memphis | Sips and Sammies
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Mononeon (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
MonoNeon is an American bassist and experimental musician from Memphis, Tennessee. He is known for his presence on YouTube playing bass guitar and being one of the last people to work with Prince. He is a Grammy Award winning artist for his participation on the 2020 Nas album King’s Disease. Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has refered to Mono as “The greatest f***ing electric bass player”.
On November 1, 2022, Fender released the MonoNeon Collection, which included the MonoNeon Jazz Bass V Signature.
MonoNeon has collaborated with artists like Prince, Mavis Staples, George Clinton, Nas, NeYo, Mac Miller, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Pete Rock, and more.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Good Groceries Mobile Diner | Stick ‘Em | Green Beetle | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Memphis Power Pop Presents: Matthew Sweet + THE SONNY WILSONS (Orion Free Concert Series)
Festival Schedule:
5:45pm: The Sonny Wilsons
7:00pm: Matthew Sweet
About Matthew Sweet:
Matthew Sweet moved to Athens, GA at the urging of his pen pal, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe in the early 1980s. Sweet honed his craft in the flourishing alternative rock scene playing with Oh-OK, Lloyd Cole, the Golden Palominos, Buzz of Delight, and recording two critically-acclaimed solo records before emerging in 1991 as the leading figure of the American power pop revival with the release of his watershed album, Girlfriend.
Like his British counterparts Teenage Fanclub, Sweet adhered to traditional songcraft, yet subverted the form by adding noisy post-punk guitar and flourishes of country-rock, resulting in an amalgam of the Beatles, Big Star, R.E.M., and Neil Young. Recorded with guitarists Richard Lloyd and Robert Quine, Girlfriend became a word-of-mouth critical and commercial hit over the course of 1992, with its title track reaching the Top Five on the Modern Rock charts. For the next five years, as alternative rock was the dominant commercial force in rock & roll, Sweet became a very popular concert attraction and solidified his reputation as the premiere alternative pop singer/songwriter. His next two records, Altered Beast (1993) and 100% Fun (1995) were both critically acclaimed and successful albums, with the latter reaching platinum status and making many year-end best-of lists.
Sweet continued to evolve over a string of well-received albums in the early 2000s. In 2006, he joined forces with Bangles frontwoman Susanna Hoffs to record a series of covers from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, Under the Covers, Vol. 1–3. Sweet’s music has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and games, including Austin Powers, Guitar Hero II, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Simpsons, and Scooby-Doo, among many others. Sweet was a lead consultant on Tim Burton’s Margaret Keane biopic Big Eyes in 2014. His 15th studio album, 2021’s Catspaw (Omnivore Recordings) is guitar-driven: 12 songs, lean and consistent, direct, and notably darker than Sweet’s recent song-cycles. Apparent in tracks like “Best of Me” and album-opener “Blown Away,” the inner-turmoil harkens back to the angst of 1993’s Altered Beast. But where Beast was the self-interrogation of an artist in his mid-20s, Catspaw is the confessions of a career artist, mature and assured in his craft and achingly transparent in his confrontations of aging and the search for meaning. “I’m trying to get my head around getting older, I want to let go, I want to tell the ugly truth … I want to do all kinds of different things in my head and they really popped out in these songs.”
Matthew Sweet Socials:
The Sonny Wilsons Socials:
Festival Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Mexico In Memphis | Sips and Sammies | Soi No. 9 | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand | Byway Coffee Company
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Cyrena Wages (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
“The Wages’ were run out of North Carolina for stealing horses and other boorish behavior. We settled in North Mississippi and evolved into three groups: the preachers; the drunks and the outlaws; and then kind of a mid-range group. I came from the mid-range group.”
Cyrena Wages fell in love with music on the country backroads between Millington and Shelby Forest, two small towns just north of Memphis. Her upcoming debut album, Vanity Project, is both an exercise in rebellion against years of conditioning, as well as a way of processing her own struggles, healing, and growth. As much as Memphis shaped her positively, there were aspects of growing up as a woman in the South that didn’t align with who she wanted to become. Cyrena tapped producer Matt Ross-Spang (Charley Crockett, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Margo Price) to helm Vanity Project at Southern Grooves Studio in Memphis.
“It had been a really long time coming. I was getting ready to make this record,” says Cyrena, “and I heard about a music biz guy saying—before ever hearing my song —’Yeah, but she’s kind of a vanity project, right?’”
And just like that, the album had roots and the title track was born. “I just feel ready, when I haven’t felt ready before. Everybody comes to terms with themselves on a different timeline. It took me a second, but now it’s my time.” Find Cyrena’s first two singles from the record on all platforms now.
Vanity Project is slated for release May 24th, 2024.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Mexico in Memphis | Pok Chas Eggrolls
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Will Deupree
HEALY (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Memphis-based Healy lived a double life during his first few years as an active musician, going to med school by day and making music by night. Somewhere between laid-back hip-hop and acoustic singer/songwriter styles, Healy broke through with dreamily catchy singles like “Reckless,” from his 2017 debut album Subluxe, and evolved into more R&B-informed styles on subsequent releases like 2021 album Tungsten, and stand-alone singles like his 2023 Cautious Clay collaboration “Famous Last Words.” Ethan Healy was born in Memphis in 1993. Growing up in Midtown, he soaked up his city’s unique social and musical energy. After finishing high school, he taught himself guitar and even released a few acoustic-leaning tracks online before switching his focus to hip-hop. In 2015, going by Healy, he uploaded his debut EP, A Galaxy with Skin, and it quickly caught on. He was immersed in med school as his music career began taking off, but he found a way to focus on both pursuits for the next several years, releasing singles like 2016′s “Phantoms” and a full-length album, Subluxe, in 2017. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine with a degree in physical therapy in 2018. In 2019 he returned with the melodic new single “Tucson.” Throughout 2020, he teased the release of his next record by slowly releasing new tracks, all of which were collected on the 2021 full-length Tungsten. After the release of this sophomore album, Healy didn’t resurface until June of 2023, when he shared a new song, “2D,” and quickly followed it the next month with “Famous Last Words,” made in collaboration with Cautious Clay.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Stick ‘Em | Good Groceries Mobile Diner | Soi No. 9 | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
MBAA Gospel Night ft. Tennessee Mass Choir (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
The Tennessee Mass Choir, Inc. (TMC) is a nonprofit organization that provides a diverse culture of service opportunities through music, cultural arts, and community partnerships. High-energy vocals performed by a powerfully gifted, versatile and spirited group of individuals, The Tennessee Mass Choir has been recognized as one of the finest, most respected and talented Mass Choirs in the entire country. Under the leadership of award winning, GRAMMY nominated music producer Jason Clark, this choir has shared the stage and/or recorded with notable artists such as Martina McBride, Al Green, Vanessa Amorosi, Fred Hammond, Foreigner, Kirby Lauren, St. Paul and The Broken Bones along with countless others.
Artist Website:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Mexico In Memphis | Sips and Sammies | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Canti Records Showcase (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Event:
The Canti Records Showcase is not just a performance; it's an immersive journey transcending music and culture. At Canti Records, we're more than a collective of artists. We're a diverse family, united by our passion to showcase the rich tapestry of Latin American heritage through music. With flavors from different corners of the world, our musical movement is a voyage that invites exploration and encourages the free flow of creativity.
At its core lies Canti, a visionary collaborator who works closely with artists to craft a sound and vibe that are truly out of this world. Inspired by the idea of exploration and discovery, The Canti Records Show offers a unique experience that transports audiences through intergalactic soundscapes, all while delivering a universally relevant and uplifting message.
With an offering suitable for all ages, The Canti Records Show is more than just entertainment; it's a celebration of diversity, creativity, and human connection. Get ready to embark on a one-of-a-kind journey into the unknown!
Showcase Lineup:
Area 58 Band (Latin)
Area 58 Band is a versatile artist delivering a fusion of Latin vibes. His engaging stage presence and infectious energy promise to captivate audiences, creating an electric atmosphere.
Yanyo DB (Urban Latino)
Yanyo DB is a rising star in the Urban Latino scene, delivering cutting-edge beats and compelling lyrics. His performance is a high-energy blend of urban rhythms, promising an exhilarating experience for the audience.
Mariana Figueredo (Pop Latino)
Mariana Figueredo is a captivating artist in the Pop Latino genre, known for her melodic prowess and stage charisma. Her performance adds a touch of sophistication, creating a harmonious balance within the showcase.
DJ John
DJ John, the esteemed Latin music maestro from the city of Memphis, will weave a seamless tapestry of beats throughout the event. His expertise ensures a continuous flow, enhancing the overall experience for the audience.
Abraham Macario (Pop Rock)
Abraham Macario is a standout artist in the Pop Rock scene, delivering powerful vocals and a distinctive musical style. His performance promises to elevate the energy, providing a perfect climax to the evening.
Event Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Stick ‘Em | Mexico In Memphis | Good Groceries Mobile Diner
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Aaron James (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
With a soul dedicated to music and his own self discovery, Aaron James is an indie/folk artist based in Memphis, Tennessee…exploring the mysteries of the human experience through songs and creation. Aaron released his debut album “Nobody Really Makes Love Anymore” in the fall of 2022 to much critical acclaim, exploring themes of love and meaningful conversation, and he’s toured the country for the past several years while racking up millions of streams across streaming platforms.
Aaron James is gearing up to release new music and multiple projects in 2024, including a mini-documentary centered around his “Paint What You Feel” demonstrations. Whether it’s through the transparency of his songs, the honesty and overly self-aware nature of his stories, or his internal and external urge for reflection, Aaron continues to strive to be an example of the vulnerability it takes to create meaningful connection.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Stick ‘Em | Soi No. 9 | Green Beetle
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
The Bar-Kays (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Despite unimaginable obstacles, The Bar-Kays have endured as one of the longest-running funk and soul groups of all time. They began in Memphis, Tennessee, as a studio session group, backing major artists at Stax Records like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes.
The bands would go on to have dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 19080s, including “Soul Finger: (US Billboard Hot 100 number 17, R&B number 3) in 1967, “Son of Shaft” (R&B number 10) in 1972, and “Boogie Body Land” (R&B number 7) in 1980.)
The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Rythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015; and have endured as one of the longest-running funk and soul groups ever. In 2024, the band will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Mexico In Memphis | Sips and Sammies | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Opera Memphis (Orion Free Concert Series)
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Mexico In Memphis | Sips and Sammies | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Los Yesterdays (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Founded by producer/drummer Gabriel Rowland and singer/songwriter Victor Benavides in Altadena, CA in 2017, Los Yesterdays remained – literally – a garage band for years, a chance for the duo to create their take on the sweet soul music that enveloped childhood experience as young Chicanos in LA.
In a Billboard article about them and their scene, it was noted - “…there is a generations-long appreciation for sweet soul music among California’s Latino communities. Eastern Los Angeles teens.... helped foster a love of sweet soul in the early ‘60s by covering soulful ballads by artists like James Brown... Those sounds.... were kept alive by record collectors and people who spent evenings cruising along East Los boulevards."
A chance meeting between Rowland and Now-Again’s Egon at a barbecue hosted by Beastie Boys’ producer Mario C got them talking about their favorite sweet soul 45s. Rowland pulled out his phone and played the first Los Yesterdays track he and Benavides created – “Mr. Yesterday” – and Egon immediately offered them an opportunity on his label. This was followed by an offer from Daptone’s Gabe Roth for his Penrose imprint. Now, after a series of singles including an unlikely Tik-Tok hit “Nobody’s Clown” and work with Trish Toledo, Los Yesterdays will issue their debut album, Frozen in Time on Now-Again in late Spring 2024.
Artist Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Stick ‘Em | Mexico In Memphis | Sips and Sammies
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Memphis Harvest Band (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Artist:
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Memphis Harvest was envisioned as a one-time epic performance featuring a large cast of Memphis’s finest singers, songwriters and musicians on one stage performing Neil Young’s classic album Harvest. That first performance drew such overwhelmingly positive reactions from the audience and performers that the vision has evolved into an ongoing project featuring Susan Marshall, Van Duren, Reba Russell, Vicki Loveland, Mark Edgar Stuart, John Whittemore, Robinson Bridgeforth, Adam Holton, and a rotating cast of accompanists. In addition to classic material by Neil Young, this special Overton Park Shell performance will include a handful of original songs written by the band members that were specially selected to sit alongside Young’s songs and utilize the band’s strengths.
Artist Socials:
Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Moss Be Smoke | Pok Cha | Green Beetle
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Country Blues Festival Presents: North Mississippi Allstars and Ruthie Foster(Orion Free Concert Series)
About North Mississippi Allstars:
Nothing runs deeper than family ties. Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters understand one another at the purest level. When families rally around music, they speak this oft-unspoken bond aloud and into existence. After 25 years, twelve albums, four GRAMMY® Award nominations, and sold out shows everywhere, North Mississippi Allstars open up their world once again on their thirteenth album, Set Sail [New West Records], welcoming other family (by blood and by the road) into the fold. As legend has it, Luther and Cody Dickinson started the band in 1996 as a loose collective of like-minded second-generation musicians who shared a local repertoire and regional style. Over the years, the lineup shifted by design, and each subsequent record offered up a different combination of collaborators. This time around, they mined the talents of Jesse Williams on bass and Lamar Williams, JR. on vocals. During the Allman Betts Band Family Revival, the Dickinsons first linked up with Lamar, son of the Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams, Sr., becoming fast friends and collaborators and eventually paving the way for Set Sail.
“The chemistry we have with this lineup is powerful,” observes Luther. “We are all second-generation musicians and share a telepathic, relaxed ease about creating and performing. I believe music is a form of communion with our loved ones and conjuring this vibe with members of musical families can be inspirational. Lamar and I are like-minded. I’ve never had the pleasure of working with a singing partner like Lamar. He has a true-blue quality in his musicality that will pull you in and break your heart. At the same time, Jesse grew up playing music with his brothers and his father—as did we. He plays like a sibling. We recorded the album fresh off the road and captured the energy we had worked up with him. I’m drawn to musical families, regardless of style. Playing with second- or third-generation players allows us an easy unspoken musical dialog. It’s not a big thing; it’s just what we do. We never had to figure out what it means and takes to be a musician. We all inherently know.”
They picked up this wisdom by osmosis. As sons of legendary producer and musician Jim Dickinson, Luther and Cody have been producing records themselves since they were teenagers. Separately, the brothers have produced albums by Samantha Fish, R.L. Boyce, Lucero, Amy Lavere, the Birds of Chicago, Ian Segal, and more. Luther produced two records from Otha Turner, including Everybody Hollerin’ Goat, which was named one of the ten most important blues albums of the nineties. Luther and Cody co-produce North Mississippi Allstars records as the “Dickinson Brothers.”
“We learned an enormous amount from our father,” Luther says, “Cody and I made mistakes, but we’ve always believed in ourselves, and we had to learn for ourselves. Rock ‘n’ roll is self-taught. Each generation has to reinvent itself and shed the skin of the elders. On Set Sail, we feel as if we’ve once again ‘broken the code,’ and know what we want and how to get it.”
Following 2019’s Up and Rolling, which received a GRAMMY® Award nod in the category of “Best Contemporary Blues Album,” Set Sail continues the band’s tradition of creating roots music that displays remarkable variety. Luther and Cody Dickinson dig in with the production and different guitar tones; the record sizzles with hard yet understated groove, grown folk music. Luther’s wide-ranging guitar style features jazz riffs, psychedelic sounds, and soulful slide. Drummer and multi-instrumentalist Cody draws on roots music, rock, jazz, rap, and other styles to create rhythms that propel the band’s sounds and move it forward. Their two aesthetics combine to create the band’s unique style, “Primitive Modernism,” melding the new and the old, traditional, and futuristic, crafted lyrics and improvisational music. Speaking of, the first single and title track “Set Sail Part I” [feat. Lamar Williams, JR.] rides a riff right out of the Southern Delta into the embrace of a horn section as the vocal interplay simmers on the line, “The water may rise again, but we shall set sail.”
The Dickinson brothers have recorded and toured with Mavis Staples, Charlie Musslewhite, John Hiatt, Robert Plant and Patty Griffin, G Love, Jon Spencer, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, and the Black Crowes. Meanwhile, their seminal debut, Shake hands with Shorty (2000), earned the band the first of four GRAMMY® nominations, and changed the Dickinson brothers’ lives forever.
Luther adds, “Quincy says, ‘Music gives back what you put into it.’ We have dedicated our lives to music, and it’s given us a fantastic journey that’s still only beginning.
In 1997, R.L. Burnside hired me and took me on the road. R.L., Kenny Brown, and Cedric Burnside taught me how to tour nationally after years of touring locally. The Shake Hands with Shorty tour in 2000 took Cody and I around the world and changed our lives. We never really slowed down.”
They forge ahead always as a family, first and foremost. “North Mississippi Allstars means family,” Cody concludes. “I get the joy of working with my brother. Our families keep growing too. There’s a sense of history. The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to record this music, so younger kids can hear it. I just want to make sure we pass it on. It’s a huge honor to be a part of this tradition.”
North Mississippi Allstars Socials:
Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
About Ruthie Foster:
Ruthie Foster’s ninth studio album represents a new high water mark for the veteran blues artist—a collection of songs possessing pure power, like a tidal wave of musical generosity. Healing Time finds Foster pushing her boundaries as a singer and songwriter more than ever before, creating a truly live-sounding atmosphere with the help of her band, who sound refreshingly loose and lived-in throughout these 12 songs. We’ve all been in need of some healing in recent times, and Foster’s latest provides a guide for how to move through the world with equal parts compassion and resolve.
Healing Time is the latest jewel in Foster’s accomplished career, which includes multiple Grammy nominations and collaborations with fellow luminaries like Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. For her latest, Foster contributed more to the writing process than she had on any of her previous albums, effectively refining her own songcraft in the process. “With this album, I dug deep and tried to go for the best way to write,” she explains. “This album says a lot about the period we were making it in, and how I wanted to find my way out of it.”
Work on the album began in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as Foster enlisted previous collaborators like Gary Nicholson and Grace Pettis to pitch in during the writing process—as well as every member of her band. “I wanted my band involved in the entire process of this album,” she explains, and they also played a large role in recreating the sound that Foster had become drawn to after spending time with her vinyl collection. “I was aiming to keep these songs sounding like they came from that era, which says a lot about where I am in my life, too.”
Veteran producer Mark Howard (Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams) came in to bring new ideas to Foster’s table as recording began at Studio 71 West in Austin, TX, New Orleans’ famed Esplanade Studios, and Blue Rock Studio in Wimberley, TX. “Mark’s ability to turn a song's arrangement upside down was intriguing and sometimes challenging for me,” she states. “It was a lot to wrap my head around, but he made me think outside of the box I didn’t even know I was in.”
Producer Dan Barrett, who also worked with Foster on 2017’s Joy Comes Back, then took the helm at Black Pumas co-bandleader Adrian Quesada’s famed Electric Deluxe studio in Austin. Along with several Black Pumas members, Barrett brought in a collection of Austin’s finest backing musicians, like Glenn Fukunaga (The Chicks, Shawn Colvin). “With Dan onboard we were able to find the glue to these songs sonically, and he brilliantly melded my familiar Texas blues-Americana sound with what Mark pulled out of me in New Orleans,” Foster says. “This combination gave these songs a breath of fresh air, and it all came together very organically.”
Healing Time’s title—as well as its burst-of-sunshine title track, which features pedal steel legend Robert Randolph—is a reference not only to the trials many have faced over the last several years, but also the necessity of what Foster does as an artist. “I hear fans tell me that the music we make is very spiritually healing,” she says. “The experience of dealing with my own grief after losing a band member a year before the pandemic while navigating around zoom school with my daughter and trying to figure out what to do with myself was tough but necessary. When I look at it as a whole it was all very healing for me which is pretty much how I try to live my life. There’s always time for healing, if you give it time.”
And Healing Time is ultimately a work that explores such extremes as being human often brings to the surface, reminding listeners that even when we feel like we’re at the top, we’re ultimately still finding our way—a beautiful reflection of the essence of living itself.
Ruthie Foster Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Pok Cha’s Egg Rolls | Good Groceries Mobile Diner | Mexico In Memphis | Dynamic Duo Lemonade Stand
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
Shakespeare at the Shell with TN Shakespeare Co. (Orion Free Concert Series)
About the Event:
TSC's offering at the Shell will be our 8th Annual Free Shout-Out Shakespeare Series production of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS -- William Shakespeare's wild commedia of mistaken identities. It will run approximately 90 minutes without intermission.
About the Tennessee Shakespeare Company:
Tennessee Shakespeare Company's FREE Shout-Out Shakespeare Series produces free performances of Shakespeare in non-traditional, outdoor venues throughout the Memphis metro area with a multicultural cast of classical actors.
Tennessee Shakespeare Company is a professional, not-for-profit theatre and education organization in Memphis dedicated to performing live, diverse productions of William Shakespeare’s plays, as well as works of social significance by classical, Southern, and modern writers; and to providing innovative educational and training programming. Founded in 2008 by Producing Artistic Director Dan McCleary, Tennessee Shakespeare Company is Memphis’ first and only professional, classical theatre.
Tennessee Shakespeare Company Socials:
Know Before You Go:
Food Trucks: Sips and Sammies
Picnic baskets, coolers, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in the Autozone Food and Beverage Concourse. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
Sponsored By:
The Tempest presented by Tennessee Shakespeare Company (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
This event begins at 4:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the event:
Tennessee Shakespeare Company presents THE TEMPEST
The final Romance by William Shakespeare | Directed by Dan McCleary
On the mystical isle once ruled by the witch Sycorax, her demi-devil son Caliban and the airy spirit Ariel held sway – until 12 years ago. The betrayed and deposed Duke Prospero of Milan and his infant daughter Miranda were shipwrecked there in a cast-off, rotten boat – given up for dead. Indenturing Ariel and Caliban, raising his daughter, and teaching himself magical arts, Prospero now sets his sights on mortal revenge when his enemies appear on the sea’s horizon. He raises a tempest to shipwreck them, but this will not end in tragedy.
When the royals and clowns arrive, a life-long lesson in redemption and forgiveness unfolds within a musical harmony of the sea. What Miranda will describe as a “brave new world” will be Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage.
Running without intermission for 90 minutes, this production features 13 actors, including Michael Khanlarian as Prospero.
About the Tennessee Shakespeare Company:
Tennessee Shakespeare Company's FREE Shout-Out Shakespeare Series produces free performances of Shakespeare in non-traditional, outdoor venues throughout the Memphis metro area with a multicultural cast of classical actors.
Tennessee Shakespeare Company is a professional, not-for-profit theatre and education organization in Memphis dedicated to performing live, diverse productions of William Shakespeare’s plays, as well as works of social significance by classical, Southern, and modern writers; and to providing innovative educational and training programming. Founded in 2008 by Producing Artistic Director Dan McCleary, Tennessee Shakespeare Company is Memphis’ first and only professional, classical theatre.
The Tennessee Shakespeare Company is generously sponsored by Evans Petree PC in Memphis, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The Shakespeare Fund of Theater League of Kansas City.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
TBA
Sponsored By:
Morgan James (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: Larry Springfield
IT’S A GRIZZ NIGHT! PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT AT 6:50: GRIZZLINE
Don't forget to visit their table at the top of the hill on Grizz Nights-- they'll be giving out cool Grizz swag and a promo code for 2 free tickets to a Grizzlies pre-season game to everyone who stops by!
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Let’s start with the voice, an instrument through which she can communicate anything. A gift bestowed upon her that she has expertly trained, meticulously nurtured, and passionately galvanized into action by an urgency to make real music. Next, the stories, and she has them in spades. They are full of truth and beauty, heartache and thoughtfulness. They reveal colors we weren’t expecting to see. They make us close our eyes and relate. And finally, the soul – the emotional and intellectual energy through which these parts are fueled. That special something that prompted The Wall Street Journal to herald her as "the most promising young vocalist to come along so far this century." That young vocalist is Morgan James. And Morgan James is a soul singer.
Morgan’s latest full album “Memphis Magnetic” is the culmination of a life-long love affair with music. The album was recorded live to analog tape in Memphis Tennessee, and is an original soul album packed with emotion and real musical ingredients. She grew up listening to everyone from Joni Mitchell to Paul Simon to Prince to Aretha Franklin, cultivating an insatiable love for strong songwriters. After graduating from The Juilliard School with a classical music degree, and performing in the original companies of five Broadway productions, James began writing and recording her own music. Meeting her mentor Berry Gordy, Jr. led to a record deal at Epic Records, where she recorded and released her solo album Hunter in 2014. In addition to her three studio albums, James recorded and released a full album cover of Joni Mitchell’s seminal “Blue” as well as The Beatles’ “White Album” in 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Through her unique and varied career, there have been many ups and downs, but James cites her failures as more important than her successes in shaping the artist she is today.
After her tenure with Epic Records, she took charge of her career from the business and musical side. She cultivated a new world of fans with her viral YouTube videos, and while connecting with them on social media and at her live shows, she found the support and strength to go out on her own as an independent artist. With viral sensation postmodern jukebox, and her own channel, Morgan has amassed more than 250 million views on YouTube, (and climbing). Over the last several years, James has built her own empire and established herself as a touring powerhouse, allowing her to raise the funds to create her albums and make every decision from the ground up.
“I feel like I am a part of the lineage of soul music. My guiding force throughout my creative process is ‘What would Aretha say? What would Otis say?’ It’s not a retro or throwback by any means. This music is me: classic elements, timeless melodies, and lyrics from my soul and experience. We need that right now. We need real music now more than ever.”
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Stick ‘Em | Sips and Sammies | Pok Cha
Sponsored By:
Telmary (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: David Holguin
IT’S A GRIZZ NIGHT! PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT AT 6:50: BLUE BUNCH + GRIZZ GRANNIES & GRANDPAS COLLAB
Don't forget to visit their table at the top of the hill on Grizz Nights-- they'll be giving out cool Grizz swag and a promo code for 2 free tickets to a Grizzlies pre-season game to everyone who stops by!
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Through her many years as a progressive music protagonist in Havana, Telmary earned the clout and support necessary to launch her career as a solo artist with the flagship album A Diario. The record was produced by acclaimed Cuban pianist and Interactivo leader Roberto Carcasses. Telmary has graced stages all over Europe, South America, and Japan at some of the world’s most renowned jazz and popular music festivals. After seven years in Toronto, Canada, she returned to Havana where she formed her band Habana Sana. Her CD Libre was awarded the 2014 Cubadisco Prize for best Hip Hop recording. While performing with HabanaSana in Havana, Telmary continues to collaborate with a flurry of Cuban and international artists including Interactivo with whom she toured the U.S. in 2016, Pedrito Martinez and Doctor John. As a rapper, Telmary set out to proclaim a positive, empowering message to contrast the genre’s confrontational, divisive, and commercial norm.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mexico in Memphis | Good Groceries | Eat Urban Greens Salads
Sponsored By:
Spree Wilson (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: Sari
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Spree Wilson’s approach to music has always been driven by his boundless creativity and vision. The singer-songwriter began his musical journey at home; with a father who sang and toured in a doo-wop group called The Blue Shirts, and a mother who kept artists like Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, Minnie Ripperton, and Whitney Houston in constant rotation. Those early influences would become his musical foundation, the bedrock for a career that would lead to him meeting and working with two giants of popular music: his mentor Dallas Austin and legendary rapper/producer Q-Tip.
While attending Clark University in Atlanta, Georgia, Spree met Austin, who was immediately impressed by the young man’s guitar skills and offered him an internship at his famous studio, Dart. Spree’s hard work and dedication to learning the music industry served notice that there was more to the multi-talented young artist than just raw talent—there was the focus and drive to maximize his potential and realize his ambitions. Austin would soon offer him a recording contract, which Spree turned down in order to pursue his career in New York City.
After selling his car and purchasing a one-way ticket to the City of Lights, Spree arrived in NYC with just his suitcase and guitar; and he found himself homeless and living in Penn Station for several weeks. A mutual friend eventually introduced him to Q-Tip, who was impressed by Spree’s songwriting. Q-tip would ultimately help land the upstart a major label deal with Jive Records. During his time with Jive, Spree began working on his album--writing songs constantly and ultimately landing a publishing deal with Universal Music Group.
Since then, Spree has co-written Afrojack’s single “The Spark,” which he is also featured on as an artist. “The Spark” has been A-listed on BBC’s radio 1. In addition, he has co-written “Sin City” on Good Music compilation album Cruel Summer with Teyana Taylor. The album went #1 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums, US Top Rap Albums and #2 on US Billboard 200. He has collaborated with noteworthy producers such as Q-Tip, Novel, No ID, Jim Jonsin, Infamous, Malay, Robin Hannibal (of Rhye), Frequency and Mark Maxwell.
Even with his successes, Spree remains as creatively progressive as ever, and has never limited himself to one specific style or genre of music. His upbringing in Nashville exposed him to everything from George Jones to George Harrison to George Benson; he’s as much hip-hop as he is pop—a rock star rebel with the spirit of a b-boy. This love of all musical styles is what drives Spree’s ever-broadening sound, musicianship, songwriting and style.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Deli Midtown | Sips and Sammies
Sponsored By:
Memphis Country Blues Festival (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 5:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the Festival:
North Mississippi Allstars & Alvin Youngblood Hart’s Muscle Theory
The annual Country Blues festival is returning to Overton Park Shell this year with some additional programming. Join us on the lawn as we start the evening with the sounds of Alvin Youngblood Hart followed by the official presentation of the Shell’s blues marker. Then stick around because the night will only grow in energy as the North Mississippi Allstars make their way to the stage to honor the history of this Shell event.
About North Mississippi Allstars:
Nothing runs deeper than family ties. Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters understand one another at the purest level. When families rally around music, they speak this oft-unspoken bond aloud and into existence. After 25 years, twelve albums, four GRAMMY® Award nominations, and sold out shows everywhere, North Mississippi Allstars open up their world once again on their thirteenth album, Set Sail [New West Records], welcoming other family (by blood and by the road) into the fold. As legend has it, Luther and Cody Dickinson started the band in 1996 as a loose collective of like-minded second-generation musicians who shared a local repertoire and regional style. Over the years, the lineup shifted by design, and each subsequent record offered up a different combination of collaborators. This time around, they mined the talents of Jesse Williams on bass and Lamar Williams JR. on vocals. During the Allman Betts Band Family Revival, the Dickinsons first linked up with Lamar, son of the Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams Sr., becoming fast friends and collaborators and eventually paving the way for Set Sail.
“The chemistry we have with this lineup is powerful, ”observes Luther.“ We are all second-generation musicians and share a telepathic, relaxed ease about creating and performing. I believe music is a form of communion with our loved ones and conjuring this vibe with members of musical families can be inspirational. Lamar and I are like-minded. I’ve never had the pleasure of working with a singing partner like Lamar. He has a true-blue quality in his musicality that will pull you in and break your heart. At the same time, Jesse grew up playing music with his brothers and his father—as did we. He plays like a sibling. We recorded the album fresh off the road and captured the energy we had worked up with him. I’m drawn to musical families, regardless of style. Playing with second-or third-generation players allows us an easy unspoken musical dialog. It’s not a big thing; it’s just what we do. We never had to figure out what it means and takes to be a musician. We all inherently know.”
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About Alvin Youngblood Hart:
The cosmic American love child of Howlin Wolf and Link Wray...
Known as a “musician’s musician,” Alvin Youngblood Hart’s praises have been sung by everyone from Bob Dylan to guitar gods Gary Moore & Mick Taylor.
“Alvin Youngblood Hart’s (version of Nelly Was A Lady) is as good a version as you’ll ever hear. Alvin sings the song in it’s pure form. The guitar turn-arounds are a slow cakewalk between heartbroken verses, loss shared on the front porch. The tune will stay in your head long after you have forgotten the story and every time you hum it a tear will roll down your cheek.” ~ BOB DYLAN 2022 from his book The Philosophy of Modern Song.
“He’s the Real Deal” ~ Mike Campbell, 2022 External Combustion Support Tour.
Mr. Hart was born in Oakland CA in 1963 to a family of post WWII Mississippi transplants. After a couple false starts, he began to play the guitar, in earnest, in 1977.
“By that time, it had become obsessive competition among us teenage boys. The guitar was the video game of our day,” Hart says.
The Hart family was never one to stay put. Spending his formative years on the West Coast, in the Midwest and the Mid-South surely influenced Alvin’s wide ranging musical perspective.
“It really taught me to appreciate MUSIC for what it was... not because it was this or that genre. I have a great disdain for genre segregation. I try to avoid that practice”.
Along with his 40 years of playing comes a nuts and bolts passion for the hardware of the trade.
“I’ve been a guitar tinker since day one. I can recall my parents buying me a new guitar, and I would have every screw out of it by bedtime”.
Hart is also an electronics technician, a talent he picked up after 7 years active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard. His knack for quick thinking repairs on the road has earned him nicknames such as, The Garage Guerrilla or The Rock N Roll MacGyver from fellow musicians.
After two decades on the road, Alvin continues to delight audiences worldwide, whether as a solo performer or with the eternally rockin’ Alvin Youngblood Hart’s Muscle Theory... The multi award winner always delivers.
“When I was a 15 year old kid in my room, I would never believe that I would someday play legendary venues like the Hollywood Bowl or Royal Albert Hall. You couldn’t have told me that I’d be in the studio with Taj Mahal, or play onstage with the Allman Bros. Band and members of Thin Lizzy. Some days, it’s a dream job...”
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Sips and Sammies | Soi #9 | Moss Be Smoke | Mexico in Memphis
Sponsored By:
Jeremie Albino (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: Rozelle Creative and Performing Arts Optional School
IT’S GRIZZ NIGHT! PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT AT 6:50: GRIZZLINE
Don't forget to visit their table at the top of the hill on where they'll be giving out swag and a promo code for 2 free tickets to a pre-season game to everyone who stops by!
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Jeremie Albino’s grainy ballads are inflected with a joyous tenor that has found him a distinct space in the world of Americana, folk, blues, and country. Reimagining the image of the lonesome wanderer, his music is rooted in the instant when everyone in a room experiences the same moment in a multitude of different ways—embodying solitude and connection all at once. Starting out playing late night gig slots, Jeremie’s rigour has landed him a blossoming touring career. Garnering attention from the community and press alike, he’s heralded as “a true resurgence of the most authentic blues brought to life through the eyes of a modern and young, but old-soul artist ” (American Songwriter) and “the next in line of emotive band leaders that project soul and directness atop a head turning sound” (Glide Magazine).
His forthcoming album, Tears You Hide (2023), produced by Jeremie’s long time collaborator and manager Crispin Day, is a memento to family, resilience, and the road ahead. Three years in the making, the rickety footstomping, and lilting stories inherent to Albino’s sound remains, yet the narrative has shifted slightly. Tears You Hide troubles the romanticization of the past by cherishing the present, stringing a narrative where connection, resolve, and vulnerability are distilled in an unfiltered amount of gratitude.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Stick ‘Em | Pok Cha’s Eggrolls
Sponsored By:
Al Kapone (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: Ayan Alexiss
IT’S GRIZZ NIGHT! PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT AT 6:50: BLUE BUNCH
Don't forget to visit their table at the top of the hill on where they'll be giving out swag and a promo code for 2 free tickets to a pre-season game to everyone who stops by!
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Born and raised in a city rich in music history, Memphis native AL KAPONE found himself along with other peers following in their forefathers Stax, Hi Records, etc. footsteps developing a new southern hip hop sound that would later become the southern rap standard. Outside of groups like Three Six Mafia, Eightball & MJG, and Yo Gotti most Memphis artists along with Kapone would go unnoticed to the rest of the country until Craig Brewer and John Singleton’s cult classic film Hustle and Flow which would thrust AL KAPONE in the global spotlight. Kapone wrote and produced three songs for the film and soundtrack, the Oscar winning music would earn AL KAPONE a Critic’s Choice Award for “It Ain’t Over” the Hustle and Flow theme song and “Whoop That Trick” would become one of the most memorable crunk songs of all time and would be the Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis unofficial fan chant at Memphis home games. This led Kapone to write and produce music for other films such as #1 box office movie Stomp The Yard feat. platinum artist Ne-Yo and Chris Brown, Cadillac Records feat. multi platinum megastar Beyonce. Kapone would also go on to co-write top 10 Billboard hits “Snap Yo Fingaz” ( Lil Jon) and “U and Dat” (E40 feat. T-Pain) both songs reached platinum sales making Kapone a multi-platinum songwriter.
AL KAPONE never stopped developing his own music career as an artist/performer, performing shows with a live band and currently working on his fusion of blues and Memphis rap. AL KAPONE has been a trailblazer from the beginning and today is no exception, as the first hip hop artist to become president of the Memphis Chapter of the Grammys. Kapone is also an associate producer and featured artist on the film documentary “Take Me To The River” as well as the music executive producer of Memphis refugee film JACIR. Kapone travels and reps Memphis music globally but one of his biggest passions is mentoring students from elementary to college and all grades in between.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Pok Cha | Trap Fusion | Green Beetle
Sponsored By:
Dirty Streets (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: Memphis Black Arts Alliance
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Scan the press on soul-groove outfit Dirty Streets and you’ll see numerous references to rock, soul, and dirty-blooze touchstones like the Faces, Humble Pie, Otis Redding, CCR, and more. Spin Dirty Streets’ records and you’ll hear all of those echoes, plus others—some jazz timing, some acoustic balladry. But by and large, what you’ll hear is a raw, rowdy blend of Motown, Stax, and rock—the pure American blood-beat moving through the heart of Memphis groove.
Austin-born Justin Toland (guitar/vocals) found his own musical food early through his father, a classic-rock aficionado who turned Justin on to the Stones, Creedence, soul music and the Stax sound. At 17 Toland moved to Memphis and met Thomas Storz (bass), a native of the city, through mutual friends; the pair found common musical ground and began playing groove-grounded rock with a series of temporary drummers. Andrew Denham (drums), a Shreveport-born drummer and British hard-rock fan, joined up with Storz and Toland in 2007.
The trio began demoing using a basic setup: a single cassette recorder, no tracks, no real separation, just mics on the bass/drums and guitar and vocals live in the room. Without the option to isolate, tweak, or sweeten after the fact, Dirty Streets became accustomed to running through a take 40 or 50 times as they worked to get it right, all the way through. By the time they began gigging live, that level of discipline had honed Dirty Streets into an instinctual, responsive outfit. Bootleg recordings of their shows in and around Memphis helped to generate buzz, and established Dirty Streets’ rep as a band whose timing was as sharp as their sound was ragged.
Albums followed—Portrait of a Man (2009), Movements (2011), Blades of Grass (2013), White Horse (2015), Distractions (2018), and the live Rough and Tumble (2020), drawn from an in-house performance for the DittyTV streaming music service—all steeped in the raw rock-soul groove that serves as the band’s taproot, the musical core from which all of its explorations still proceed. And within that core, too, is the element that gives their music, the music they love and play, its unique character.
“Soul and blues music is about testifying,” says Toland. “To me, that’s great songwriting. When it’s good, it’s good because it’s true, because it’s authentic.”
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mexico in Memphis | Stick ‘Em | Sips and Sammies
Sponsored By:
Black Joe Lewis (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: Ursulla Green
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
When Covid sidelined his touring, he started laying concrete to help support his baby mama and his kid. Now that’s real! When Joe and his band, the Honeybears, popped onto the national stage over a decade ago, many critics embraced him but still, there were some that maintained that they hadn’t paid their dues. Joe’s still here. Still going. Still cashing checks and snapping necks. The dues of hard work; the delirious heights of the industry as well as the disappointments and low hanging fruit. Through this all, Joe’s only honed his mastery over gut bucket blues guitar and his true voice. It’s a vital and distinctly American voice that never anticipated the attention he wound up receiving, never went looking for it either. It just started happening. The garage, the blues, the propulsive and synergistic live performances that inhabit the spaces of James Brown, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and the MC5...those things happened naturally from the very beginning and could only be accurately communicated in the live experience, not a press release or a slick brand campaign.
Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin Malcolm, The Dirtbombs, Detroit Cobras, the Strange Boys; these are some of the artists that Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears shared countless bills with; almost a roll call of the most influential soul and garage bands of the last twenty five years. Has the soul blues garage explosion from that era been commodified or worked into the overall template of pop rock? Sure. But the ground floor was a vital space for people that like guitars and grease and at this point Black Joe Lewis is one of the last standing that was there. Last of a dying breed. Or maybe a missing link. Does this make him a throwback? A throwback to a throwback? It’d be tempting and easy for Joe to go along with that but nah, we don’t think so. We know that Joe Lewis is genuinely doing his thing and that he’d do it regardless of what’s coming down the pipe. A stone cold original and a veteran at that. If you like whistling in your music and some floppy hat, quaky kneed dudes cloyingly singing at you, then you might not “get it” but whatever...there are enough intrepid, degenerate weirdos that do. Those are the folks Joe cares about. Not the glad handing set. Not the fair-weather friend set getting down with the flavor of the month. Like the title of his last album says, “the difference between me and you” is Joe defining for himself that there’s the belabored wannabes and then there’s dudes that actually “HAVE the blues”...whatever the heck THAT is! Joe’s concrete pouring boss is gonna miss him.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Stick ‘Em | Smokin’ Hot BBQ | Green Beetle
Sponsored By:
Thee Sinseers (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: Cequita Monique
IT’S GRIZZ NIGHT! PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT AT 6:50: GRIZZLIES GRANNIES + GRANDPAS
Don't forget to visit their table at the top of the hill on where they'll be giving out swag and a promo code for 2 free tickets to a pre-season game to everyone who stops by!
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Thee Sinseers are a powerhouse of soul and R&B; evocative of their hometown of East L.A.'s Friday evening cruises, Saturday night backyard boogies, and Sunday afternoon barbecues that helped shape a resurgence and interest in this modern wave of soul music. Led by multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter Joseph Quiñones, Thee Sinseers features a full band that includes a 3 piece horn section (Eric Johnson [Tenor Sax] Steve Surman [Baritone Sax] and Joseluis Jimenez [Trombone]), sweet vocal harmonies (Adriana Flores, Bryan Ponce, Luis Carpio), and a tight rhythm section (Christopher Manjarrez [bass], Francisco Flores [guitar], Bryan Ponce [guitar], and Luis Carpio [drums]). Thee Sinseers worked with Colemine Records in 2019 to release a 7" single (It Was Only a Dream/I Don't Mind) and are currently working with the label on a full length LP, expected in 2023. The band also released a 7" single of their viral hit "Seems Like'' with the renowned Brooklyn based label, Daptone records, under their Penrose Records imprint. The single was later included on the "Penrose Records Vol. 1" compilation released in early 2022.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mexico in Memphis | Deli Midtown | Dynamic Duo
Sponsored By:
Barktender Happy Hour
Calling our Furry Friends!
On September 8th, meet us at The Shell for Bark'tender Happy Hour, brought to you by Hollywood Feed, for a night of music and fun! Featuring incredible, free music with the band Thee Sinseers, join us at The Shell's Puppy Bar for fun with your frrriends while enjoying treats, freebies and games and to enjoy music under the stars! Remember, please keep your human on leash!
THE BASEBALL PROJECT (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 5:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
IT’S A GRIZZ NIGHT! PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT AT 6:50: GRIZZ GIRLS
Don't forget to visit their table at the top of the hill on Grizz Nights-- they'll be giving out cool Grizz swag and a promo code for 2 free tickets to a Grizzlies pre-season game to everyone who stops by!
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the Festival:
An evening of Power Pop returns to Overton Park Shell this year brought to you by the organizers of the Memphis Powerpop Festival and the Shell. The Sonny Wilsons will kick off the evening at 5:30pm with the headliner The Baseball Project taking the stage at 7PM. Join us for a great night of energetic music, delicious food trucks, community on the lawn, and entertainment for all.
Socials:
About The Baseball Project:
In 2008 they busted out of the box and easily reached first with their Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails. The Baseball Project was on base and immediately posed a threat to go further. In 2011, they moved on to second with some wildness aptly called High andInside. They were halfway home. Three years later in 2014, the quintet of Big Stars moved on down the line to the aptly titled 3 rd , an epic double dip delight of craftsmanship and savvy.
And there they stayed. For 9 long years at the hot corner, but we’re happy to say that The Baseball Project is finally coming home, scoring big and touching ‘em all with their fourth album Grand Salami Time. The scoreboard is lighting up and the fireworks are illuminating the sky
Speaking of reaching home, this album is a homecoming of sorts, as the band recorded and produced the album with none other than the legendary Mitch Easter. BBP members Peter Buck and Mike Mills’ made their first albums with Mitch back in the early 80s with a swingin’ little combo called R.E.M.
Scott McCaughey and Steve Wynn kept busy themselves, busting out new tunes with the Minus 5/Young Fresh Fellows (Scott) and The Dream Syndicate (Steve), while stockpiling a passel of penned poetics about the national pastime, many co-written with Peter. Mike adds a new classic of his own about doctored baseballs called “Stuff.”
Linda Pitmon, who along with Peter and Scott has been part of a steady rhythmic nucleus, bashing out epic rock platters with Filthy Friends, Alejandro Escovedo, Luke Haines & Peter Buck, is back driving the ship from behind her mighty drum machine.
All in all, a fancy pedigree but, as Wynn points out, “this is our only band that plays stadiums” -- true story as The Baseball Project has performed full sets along with the National Anthem and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at major league parks in Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and more minor league and spring training fields, as well as having thrown out some exceptional first pitches (nothing but strikes!) as well.
It’s all part of an unusual arc and fun story of a band whose first gig was an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman followed by a festival in a medieval Spanish city. For a quintet that has seemingly done everything over the years with their other bands, The Baseball Project always offers new and uncharted experiences.
The album was recorded at Mitch Easter’s fabled Fidelitorium Studios in Kernersville, North Carolina, with the entire band performing live together in the same room, a joyous experience that seemed impossible to imagine only one year before. Mitch adds guitar on a few tracks and the record also features appearances by Stephen McCarthy (Long Ryders) and Steve Berlin (Los Lobos).
Socials:
About The Sonny Wilsons:
The Sonny Wilsons is the power pop project of Adam Yancey (Solo artist, Afterglow, The Chain Hopsons, The Becky’s) and Allen Couch (East Link).
Adam Yancey, who gigged his way through flight school is, and this is a direct quote, “The only idiot in the world that got into the music business for the money. And the only idiot, in the history of idiots, which is a long list, who had to fall back on a music career to become an airline pilot!”
Multi-instrumentalist Allen Couch's love of music began when he stumbled upon, and subsequently appropriated, his parent's 8-track copy of Abbey Road. Yep, he's that old…. Thus began a lifelong appreciation for a well structured pop harmony.
They are joined by singer-songwriter-guitarist Danny McGreger (Lately David), guitarist Chris Swenson (El Dorado Del Ray, Black Oak Arkansas, studio engineer) and bassist Johnny Norris (Crash Into June, Your Academy).
The Sonny Wilsons’ first album, recorded at Ardent and High/Low studios with Jon Auer (Posies, Big Star) producing, will be released late summer of 2023.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mr. Frazier’s Fish Fry | Stix Express | Trap Fusion
Sponsored By:
Los Rakas featuring Yanyo DB, Mariana Figueredo, & C Major (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:00PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
MBAA PRE-SHOW - 5:45pm: Alvin KcKinney
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
With Featured Local Artists:
About the artist:
Los Rakas is comprised of cousins Raka Rich and Raka Dun, pioneering Panamanians by way of the Bay Area on the frontier of a new Latin urban sound. Known for their fresh mix of hip-hop, plena, reggae, and dancehall music; the Grammy-nominated duo represents the cutting edge of Pan-American flows. Taking their name from the Panamanian word “Rakataka,” a negative slur used to describe someone from the ghetto, Los Rakas have set out to inspire fellow “Rakas” by empowering them to become successful despite their circumstances.
In 2012, Los Rakas released their EP, Raka Love, touring nationally and internationally. Their debut album on Universal Music Latino, El Negrito Dun Dun y Ricardo, released in 2014. In 2016, Los Rakas released their self-titled, second album earning them a Grammy nomination for “Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album”. Their 2019 album Manes De Negocio is best described by Remezcla as a “socially conscious trap soiree”. Los Rakas has performed with artists like Dave Chappelle, Snoop Dogg, Berner, JBalvin, Kehlani, Zion & LennoxCypress Hill, E40, Ice Cube, Kali Uchis, Shaggy, and Nina Sky to name a few. They have also collaborated with artists such as Blondie, Amara La Negra, Carmack, Kafu Banton, Kat Dahlia, D-Smoke, Goapele, P-Lo and in 2022 their hit single Uno2Tres will be featured in the FIFA 22 soundtrack.
As KQED states, Los Rakas are “positioning themselves as the heirs of pioneering Black Panamanian reggaetoneros such as El General and Renato.” Los Rakas are turning the current Latin hip-hop world on its head.
901 Day provided the opportunity for Los Rakas to collaborate with some of their friends in Memphis. Producer C Major (part of the Unapologetic collective) has collaborated with Los Rakas in the past and was a perfect fit. Memphis’ very own Canti records agreed to step in and help curate some guest artists: Yanyo DB and Mariana Figueredo. Also, the concert will feature the Latin Grammy nominated rhythm section from a band that played Overton Park Shell in 2022 (maybe you can guess that band?).
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Pok Cha | Stick ‘Em | Good Groceries
Sponsored By:
PREAUXX w/ UNAPOLOGETIC. (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About Preauxx:
PreauXX (pronounced “pro”) is one of the foremost artists of our time and a rising name in the hip-hop scene. Born in New Orleans, LA and raised in Memphis, PreauXX’s charming charisma and aggressive wordplay gained him a local notoriety that exploded after enrolling in the University of Memphis in 2008.
With a positive message aimed at inspiring listeners to seek the most out of life, PreauXX’s music began opening doors at a rapid pace at the university and locally throughout Memphis. After teaming with producers Alexander Odell and IMAKEMADBEATS and releasing two mixtapes (2010’s To Kill A Mockingbird and 2011’s Love Jones), PreauXX dropped out of college to pursue his career in music.
He was granted the honor of performing at Elvis Presley's house in Memphis, TN. This made him the first hip hop artist to ever perform in the Presley Estate. His blend of melody and motivational lyricism forged a unique sonic quality to his artistry and has lead to him being featured in a number of publications like Nice Kicks, Memphis Flyer, and Jam in the Van.
Preauxx made waves with his undeniable ability to blend singing and rapping seamlessly, drawing comparisons to artists like Drake and Smino. His malleable style fits over any track with songs like “Slide,” “Shake Junt,” and “Lemon Sugar” showcasing his versatile skill set.
Preauxx’s charismatic personality extends far beyond just the world of music, the multitalented artist also serves as a model and brand ambassador for a multitude of brands thanks to his magnetic energy.
About Unapologetic:
Unapologetic. is a brand based in inspiring others to be boldly, daringly, and unapologetically themselves. We aim to disrupt. We aim to ease. We also aim to build discomfort when necessary, through art. Our art is our voices, sounds, illustrations, perspectives, event, and experiences. It is unapologetically our lives.
While most known for its music & record label portions, Unapologetic. is an art & culture ecosystem consisting of visual artists, musicians, clothing designers, event coordinators, and strategists. The idea is simple: the idea of traditional “labels” has expired and we believe in the culture of artistic synergy. Founded by artist/producer IMAKEMADBEATS in 2015 in Memphis, TN, the talented team tours the globe throwing experience based events and has been featured in major publications, from Garden & Gun to Huffpost to Thrasher and beyond. Our artists release whatever they create, as we believe our genre of art is simply Vulnerability and Sincerity. We currently sign musicians and visual artists to an artist-first platform and are preparing for our book publishing division to launch summer 2021. Unapologetic. has changed the landscape of Memphis art & culture and after securing a partnership with Red Bull the conglomerate is now expanding into international territory. We are comprised of four teams: Unapologetic. Sound, Unapologetic. Visual, Unapologetic. Garments, and The Unapologetic World App.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mexico in Memphis | Trap Fusion | Eat Green Urban Salads
Sponsored By:
Buffalo Nichols (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Since his earliest infatuations with guitar, Buffalo Nichols has asked himself the same question: How can I bring the blues of the past into the future? After cutting his teeth between a Baptist church and bars in Milwaukee, it was a globetrotting trip through West Africa and Europe during a creative down period that began to reveal the answer. “Part of my intent, making myself more comfortable with this release, is putting more Black stories into the genres of folk and blues,” guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist Carl “Buffalo” Nichols explains. “Listening to this record, I want more Black people to hear themselves in this music that is truly theirs.” That desire is embodied in his self-titled debut album —Fat Possum’s first solo blues signing in nearly 20 years—composed largely of demos and studio sessions recorded between Wisconsin and Texas.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Pok Cha | Sips and Sammies | Moss Be Smoke
Sponsored By:
Jenny & The Mexicats (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Due to unfortunate travel circumstances, A FEW of the band members are delayed abroad due to nature induced flight delays. However; Jenny and her percussionist will be here in full force, bringing their captivating blend of jazz, flamenco, and cumbia to transport us into their unique world of vibrant rhythms and catchy melodies!
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
A jazz kit played with sticks and mano, an upright bass tattooed with comely women, jaunty Caribbean-influenced acoustic guitar and a beautiful blonde siren with, yes, a trumpet. Do you wanna dance yet? Jenny will lure you in with her bluesy no nonsense voice. She doesn’t want to work, just to dance. This relationship is torture. It’s just plain better in Buenos Aires. And always her case is compelling, the music a perfect dance in and of itself, pieced together like good jazz—every player counts. Jenny’s from Britain but her Spanish is impeccable, the drummer is from Spain and the strings are from Mexico, but this group is original, like Manu Chau without the political agenda or a killer ska combo minus the kitsch. They are independents and the sum of their parts is from a land of heart and strong, quick rhythm.
“What they’ve done with their influences is create this really impressive mix of rockabilly, cumbia, jazz, flamenco, and they perform it in both English and in Spanish – very cool sound.” – Felix Contreras host of NPR’s Alt Latino on Jenny and the Mexicats
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Deli Midtown | Soi #9 | New Wing Order
Sponsored By:
Stax Music Academy (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Memphis has given the world some of its most memorable melodies. But whether it’s blues, gospel, rock-and-roll, or R&B, the one thing Memphis music has always had is plenty of soul.
At Stax Music Academy (SMA), a registered 501 (c) (3), we are helping instill soul in the next generation of Memphis artists. SMA is an after school and summer music institute located adjacent to the home of the legendary ’60s-’70s soul record label Stax Records, now the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Founded in 2000, SMA exists to continue the legacy of Stax by nurturing the musicians of tomorrow.
Stax Music Academy students take classes in music theory, preparing them to read music with proficiency, read and perform all twelve major and minor scales, and apply harmonic analysis to a musical selection. Students are required to participate in moderated juries at the end of each semester that tests both their performance acumen and their western theoretical grasp of music. Students learn the art of storytelling and composition to create their own music plus music business to assure each young artist understands how to make a living in music. Success is defined individually for each student.
Our programs teach more than notes, however. Stax Music Academy helps students enhance their character by teaching skills in leadership, teamwork, and discipline. The end goal is to prepare graduates for post-primary success regardless of path, whether it be attending college or entering the music workforce.
Since its founding, Stax Music Academy has graduated more than 4,000 students. Since 2008, every high school senior has been accepted to a college or university, many on full scholarships. Academy alumni can be heard around the world, teaching, performing, recording, and more at the highest levels of the music industry.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Soi #9 | Stick Em | Happy Glazed Donuts
Sponsored By:
Jimmi Kinard presents Muzaic (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
Pre-Show: National Jookin League at 6:30pm
About the artist:
Muzaic’s story is simple…
Each member of the band has crossed paths with the other in various musical scenarios and in various performance environments. They would develop meaningful relationships through the vehicle of music. In these relationships, they discovered common ground in their passion and ideologies for the art of music.
In sharing similar philosophies about music AND life, and how it’s all connected, they decided to come together and create a new entity with a foundation based on their common belief in music as an art form first and not only a way to make a living.
The creation of Muzaic is a vision that has come to fruition, inspired by the dream of putting together a band that can re-manifest music performance in a way that brings back memories of the way super bands performed back in the day.
So just sit back and relax... on second thought… Get up and party with MUZAIC!!!
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Fuel | Soi #9 | Green Beetle
Sponsored By:
AvevA (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Aveva Dese, an Ethiopian-Israeli singer-songwriter who fuses traditional Ethiopian sounds & groove with her soul-pop melodies, producing a unique style with universal appeal. As a first generation to immigrants from Ethiopia, AvevA brings a fascinating life story into her music. She sings about society, freedom, and love, creating an inspiring and empowering experience. AvevA’s 2nd album – “In My Thoughts”, was released in March 2019 and has received great reviews in the Israeli music scene. AvevA brings her own unique cultural flare to the table with her own style: a mix of powerful texts (in both English and Amharic) and traditional Ethiopian sounds. Originally discovered on the Israeli version of The Voice, AvevA has displayed her universal appeal on tours with Idan Raichel and with her original music at festivals across Israel, Europe and North America.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mexico in Memphis | Diamond Dave’s | New Wing Order
Sponsored By:
The Rumble ft: Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
Pre-Show: Music Box at 6:00pm
About the artist:
On Mardi Gras morning, your eyes may feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you'll hear when they make their way toward you is the back line, known as "the rumble". Featuring six Grammy-nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band—it's an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture. Composed of Second Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Golden Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, keyboardist Andriu Yanovski, and drummer Trenton O’Neal, the group fuses iconic New Orleans funk in the vein of The Meters and The Neville Brothers—but updated, modern and vibrant befitting the next generation—with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendor of the Black Masking carnival tradition.
Their live show is a symphony of rich color and propulsive sound, with each member sharing vocal duties and engaging the audience in the classic Mardi Gras Indian-style call-and-response chanting. The group pays homage to trailblazers like Wild Magnolias and Golden Eagles, both of which featured the vocal stylings of Boudreaux’s father, Monk Boudreaux. The Rumble continues the fight to preserve the legacies and traditions of the community for the next generation while bringing new layers of depth to their live performance. The Rumble provides audiences with not only a top-tier musical event, but a chance to participate in a culture that, while deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition, is thriving and evolving through the active work of this next generation of bold and passionate culture-bearers.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Pok Cha | Fuel | Dynamic Duo
Sponsored By:
CANCELED DUE TO RAIN - Star & Micey | Dead Soldiers (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Weather Update - Shell fans, we regret to inform you that tonight's concert featuring Star & Micey and Dead Soldiers has been cancelled in accordance with the guidance of our partner, National Weather Service—Memphis.
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About Star & Micey:
“One of Memphis’ most inventive and enduring bands. Formed in 2009, Star and Micey has toured the US and Canada to play for a select crowd of die hard fans. Called “Tennessee’s Number One Band” by Paste Magazine in 2016 the group has continued to stay humble and live life on their terms. Having never broken up even once, their relationship onstage is just as genuine offstage.”
Socials:
About Dead Soldiers:
Dead Soldiers is an eight-piece band from Memphis, Tennessee, whose eclectic compositions feature a rock’n’roll core that lifts five-part vocal harmonies, horns and strings to create a wall of sound. Building on the musical traditions of the Delta and the melting pot aesthetic that first made Memphis the home of rock and roll, their music is at once irreverent and uniquely American. While firmly rooted in the modern urban south, they draw heavily from the inspiration of a range of artists: Tom Waits to The Band, John Prine and Bob Dylan to Frank Zappa and Randy Newman. Like Dead Soldiers, they’re all artists who refuse to be easily classified. With humor, cynicism and an underlying foundation of humanity, Dead Soldiers’ songs root for the underdog while skewering the hypocrisy of our post-modern media landscape.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Sips and Sammies | Diamond Dave’s | Good Groceries
Sponsored By:
The Heavy Heavy (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
The Heavy Heavy create the kind of unfettered rock-and-roll that warps time and place, immediately pulling the audience into a euphoric fugue state with its own sun-soaked atmosphere. Led by lifelong musicians Will Turner and Georgie Fuller, the Brighton, UK-based band began with a shared ambition of “making records that sound like our favorite records ever,” and soon arrived at a reverb-drenched collision of psychedelia and blues, acid rock and sunshine pop. As revealed on their gloriously hazy debut EP Life and Life Only, The Heavy Heavy breathe an incandescent new energy into sounds from decades ago, transcending eras with a hypnotic ease.
In dreaming up Life and Life Only, The Heavy Heavy tapped into many of the musical touchstones that Turner describes as “deeply entrenched in our psyche”: Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, British Invasion pop acts like the Hollies, folk-blues duo Delaney & Bonnie, to name just a few. Pushing past the confines of reverential pastiche, the band imbues their output with a strangely charmed quality and heady authenticity undeniably tied to their status as artists on the fringe, both philosophically and geographically. To that end, Turner hails from the remote town of Malvern, an enchanted stretch of the English countryside once frequented by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Kate Bush.
“It’s famous for the healing qualities of its water, and there are ancient trees where the Druids used to worship—there’s a sort of magical-hippie aspect to it,” he notes. Fuller, meanwhile, elevates every track with her spellbinding vocals and magnetic yet wholly unaffected presence, building upon a kaleidoscopic career that’s included performing at Montreux Jazz Festival as a teenager as well as acting in the London theater.
Rooted in their effusive harmonies and fuzzed-out guitar work, Life and Life Only contains the first track Turner and Fuller ever recorded as The Heavy Heavy, a lilting piece of psych-pop titled “Go Down River.” “I’d had this song a while and couldn’t quite finish it, but then once Georgie added her vocals it all came together,” Turner recalls. “The male-female harmonies gave it this whole new sound; it just felt like lying in the green grass on a hot sunny day.” Self-produced in a London flat, the six-track project also brings that transportive power to songs like “Miles and Miles” (a bright and jangly number whose whirlwind velocity calls to mind late-’60s/early-’70s road dramas like Easy Rider and Vanishing Point), “Man of the Hills” (a groove-heavy homage to Turner’s otherworldly hometown), and “Sleeping on Grassy Ground” (a sweetly languid epic featuring a near-operatic vocal performance from Fuller, a classically trained singer).
With their full-length debut due out in 2023, The Heavy Heavy recently expanded their lineup to five members, allowing for an even more vast and bombastic sound now touched with heavenly four-part harmonies. A massively prolific outfit who’ve written and recorded hundreds of songs in the last two years alone, the band feels perpetually inspired by the pursuit of making music that provides a rarefied pleasure. “The driving force behind all our songwriting is to feel good, and to make other people feel good too,” Fuller points out. And thanks to their uncanny grace as sonic alchemists, The Heavy Heavy ultimately perform a certain magic with their music: eliciting a sublime daze that goes far beyond pure escapism.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mexico in Memphis | Deli Midtown
Sponsored By:
Tianna Esperanza (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, tonight’s concert has been canceled.
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
Pre-Show: National Jookin League at 6:30pm
About the artist:
Some of the most beautiful and intimate art is birthed from the rawest of emotions. For singer/songwriter Tianna Esperanza, it’s the heart of their music’s universe, a place where they freely tells their story in a way that can resonate with anyone. The depths of that expression are not only vital to their messaging, but it’s woven into their DNA. As the 21-year-old rising star unveils their debut masterpiece Terror, Tianna is geared to create a movement fueled by honest and authentic music that will stand the test of time.
Growing up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts Tianna was hardly surrounded by diversity. As a multiracial child in an affluent, predominantly white beach town, they navigated as best as they could, knowing they was wired differently for a myriad of reasons. They were one of a handful of Black students in their school, yet also the only Black person in their family. That too set them apart, bringing them into their own little world, where they sought solace through writing poetry. While enamored by the soulful greats like Nina Simone, Tianna was also drawn to the brutally honest lyricism of raw rappers like Eminem. Both would inevitably be their compass as they made their own music. “I learned to own my vulnerability through Hip-Hop,” they state.
While they could sing and play instruments at a young age, Tianna wasn’t sure where music would take them, but they knew in a way that it was their birthright. Their grandmother is Palmolive (Paloma McLardy), drummer and founder of the legendary UK Punk band, The Slits. Understanding their grandmother’s legacy in music, Tianna sought to forge their own path, though their life’s journey wasn’t smooth. Experiencing othering and colorism was felt on both a micro and a macro level for Tianna as they grew up, but they also suffered the loss of their younger brother, while later surviving sexual assault.
There are layers to those levels of trauma, though their survivor’s instinct and therapeutic creativity fuel their debut album Terror, a project that is not only a composite of all they have endured, but also a means to find themselves within the music. Terror’s first release was the heartfelt “Lewis,” birthed from a documentary they saw in school about the Black bookseller Lewis H. Michaux. The track delves into Michaux’s activism, as he was known for dissecting constructs surrounding race and self-identity.
On the project’s title track, Tianna sings in great detail about so much of what they have experienced, with all of the peaks and valleys. From the grief of losing their sibling to the tragedy of sexual assault, they go the distance with their art—something that many are too hesitant to accomplish. “In some ways ‘Terror’ is just scratching the surface, but in other ways it’s letting it all out,” they admit of the track. “It’s scary starting your career like this, and I feel like I’ll be talking about that song for a very long time.”
Other tracks like “Princess Slit and the Raincoat Prince” showcase Tianna’s knack for slick songwriting, even while tongue in cheek, as they display their own vocal versatility. The title and punk-leaning production are an homage to their grandmother as part of The Slits and their mentors in another legendary Punk band, The Raincoats. “I wanted to do a little bit of a tribute to my grandmother’s music and her legacy,” they explain, “but also something that felt like my own.” Tianna carries that momentum into “Three Straight Bitches From Hell,” where their storytelling remains front and center. With a soulful edge and a Punk attitude, the project is full of personality and self-actualization, from an artist who knows exactly who they are, while still evolving into whom they will become.
“I wanted to honor every part of me,” Tianna says of Terror. “I knew that I had a story, and for a lot of artists their debut album can be autobiographical.” Terror is a cathartic balance of both darkness and light, where Tianna Esperanza sings about their lowest moments, yet ends with an unbridled hope. It’s through their masterful wordplay, their range of vocals, and carefully selected production, that their introduction is geared to be strong and impactful—and they are just getting warmed up. “There’s so much more that I haven’t spoken about,” they hint. “I’m saving that for my sophomore album and everything else to come.”
Socials:
Food Trucks:
TacoNGanas | Fuel
Sponsored By:
Anand Wilder (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Anand Wilder, founding member of Yeasayer, just released, "I Don't Know My Words" via Last Gang Records! With “I Don’t Know My Words,” Wilder torques his multi-instrumentality away from electronica and global genre-hopping and makes it a lonely lockdown challenge. Aside from ambient documentary noise of family life and New York’s mysteriously pervasive rash of fireworks, he played every sound on the album, from a plucked cello on “Get More Than My Share” to the bowed acoustic guitars heard in “Sick Hotel,” which simulate a string section.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mexico in Memphis | Soi #9 | Good Groceries
Sponsored By:
Tré Burt (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
When Tré Burt was signed to John Prine’s Oh Boy Records in 2019, he was one of only two artists – including label mate Kelsey Waldon, to join the label in the past 15 years. Caught It From The Rye, Tré Burt’s debut album was re-released on Oh Boy in Jan 2020. The album showcases Burt’s literary songwriting and lo-fi, rootsy aesthetic, which he honed busking on the streets of San Francisco and traveling the world in search of inspiration. Like label mate and songwriting hero John Prine, Burt has a poet’s eye for detail, a surgeon’s sense of narrative precision and a folk singer’s natural knack for a timeless melody. Caught It From The Rye is an urgent missive from an important new voice in songwriting.
For a songwriter who thoughtfully documents what he sees in the world, 2020, while challenging, was rich with inspiration. The year birthed the single, Under The Devil’s Knee, a song that continues the tradition of outspoken political folk songwriters of yore. It is an incredibly moving protest song tracing the lives of George Floyd, Eric Garner, and Breonna Taylor; recorded remotely featuring Allison Russell, Sunny War and Leyla McCalla.
“Humanity feels like it’s slipping away from us, as a country. I wanted to reinstate the humanity of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner and so many other brothers and sisters slain by police in the way I know how. I wanted to immortalize their dignity and make the work easy for future historians and remind the present that no matter what side of the aisle you’re on, this is about actual pain and real human suffering caused by a system of governance that is morally bankrupt. This, I felt was my duty as an American songwriter to do. Music is a powerful force, especially when you put it through a protest song. It makes the fight more tangible. Reframes perspective. None of which entered my mind when writing this, at all. That was out of anger. I wrote this song out of anger. They should all be alive.” – Tré Burt
Tré’s sophomore album, You, Yeah, You builds on his previous work as “he grows ever more sophisticated, empathetic and razor sharp as a storyteller and musical philosopher” – NPR. Recorded in North Carolina with producer Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Waxahatchee, Nathaniel Rateliff) the album reads like twelve rounds in a ring, summoning the will to fight the unknown rather than surrender to fear and fatigue. You, Yeah, You is a cohesive body of work that clearly illustrates the ever expanding space in which Tré Burt’s voice belongs.
Tré toured in summer 2021 with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats and Shakey Graves as well as making his Newport Folk Festival debut performance.
“Tré Burt blazes his own troubadour path, a powerful and moving debut from a singer poised to become a folk festival mainstay for years to come” – Rolling Stone
Following a support tour with Watchhouse, a performance at the venerable LUCK Reunion on Willie Nelson’s ranch, and the 2022 release of the EP Know Your Demons, Burt heads out on his long awaited debut headline tour in the US and Europe and summer festival touring to include Under The Big Sky, Hinterland and numerous other festivals.
“Burt’s music expresses an ache for harmony, justice and solidarity. “You, Yeah, You” tells a story about the Sweet Misery and grief that defines our time” – NPR
“Burt’s stories, be them freewheeling tales about watching time pass by or hyper-focused political screed, represent a breath of fresh air in the Americana genre” – Paste Magazine
“Burt’s album possesses a raw, heart-rending sound, one that will thoroughly absorb you. Prine would be proud.” Folk Radio
“Tré is just a master storyteller... I plan to follow him for a good long time” – Ann Power
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Pok Cha | Deli Midtown | Moss Be Smoke
Sponsored By:
MAGIC! (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
Drawing heavy influences from artists such as The Police, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley, MAGIC! was formed in 2012 by Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producer Nasri (lead vocals), Mark Pelli (guitar), Ben Spivak (bass), and Alex Tanas (drums). MAGIC!’s meteoric rise came shortly after the release of their debut single, “Rude” in 2013. Co-written and produced by Grammy Award-winner Adam Messinger, “Rude” held the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for six weeks, while dominating charts globally, hitting #1 in 41 countries. Recently, the track surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. MAGIC! has released three studio albums, toured with Maroon 5 and headlined shows worldwide. They have received two JUNO Awards and nominations for American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Teen Choice Awards and more. Following the release of their third studio album, Expectations in 2018 and five years of continuous touring, the members of MAGIC! decided to take a break and focus on solo projects. Nasri and longtime collaborator Adam Messinger have since written and produced for some of music’s biggest names including Justin Bieber, Shakira, Pitbull, Lana Del Ray, Christina Aguilera, Chris Brown, and more.
During a band dinner in the summer of 2021, MAGIC! (now Nasri, Spivak and Pelli) came to a realization; that the world was in need of some happy music. Beginning in September of 2022, the band began rolling out their first new music in four years. “Ain’t Got Nothin’ Figured Out”, a cheery and upbeat homage to the beauty of not having everything figured out, has garnered over 11 million views on Tik Tok. “Inner Love Energy”, a rock anthem about finding love within yourself, has gained support from over 40 editorial playlists. There is much more music to come as MAGIC! gears up to release their fourth studio album.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Soi #9 | Deli Midtown
Sponsored By:
Barktender Happy Hour
Calling our Furry Friends!
On June 3rd, meet us at The Shell for Bark'tender Happy Hour, brought to you by Hollywood Feed, for a night of music and fun! Featuring incredible, free music with the band Magic!, join us at The Shell's Puppy Bar for fun with your frrriends while enjoying treats, freebies and games and to enjoy music under the stars! Remember, please keep your human on leash!
The Collection (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
"Entropy / ˈentrəpē/ noun. 'lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.'
On the surface, the name of NC band The Collection's new album, 'Entropy,' may seem deceptive. Over the four years since the release of their chamber pop, 25-piece ensemble debut, 'Ars Moriendi,' the band shed enough weight to become an efficient touring band, garnered praise from NPR and American Songwriter, toured nationally with bands like The Oh Hellos and Lowland Hum, and performed dynamic sets at CMJ and New Music Seminar as an official "Top 100 Artists On The Verge."
The trimming-of-the-excess was soon mirrored in vocalist David Wimbish's spirituality, resulting in the band's 2017 follow-up, 'Listen To The River,' The Collection's first member-arranged group of songs. Inspired by Herman Hesse's 'Siddhartha,' and the poetry of Rumi, the album took a step off of the fence walked between faith and doubt on Ars Moriendi, landing distinctly on the side of doubt. The constitutive single, Sing Of The Moon, received over 3 million streams between Youtube and Spotify, the release tour brought hundreds of people to venues across the country, and The Collection was featured at Wild Goose Festival and Switchpoint Conference alongside PRI's Marco Werman.
Even Entropy's debut single Beautiful Life, which PopMatters called, "symphonic, poetic wonderment," seems to be about finding order by watching the natural world. Beneath the surface of all of this, however, is another story.
During the recording of Listen To The River, then-married band-members David and Mira Joy ended their marriage. Though committed to finishing the project peacefully together, the next months were a chaotic chain of events that left them with a totaled car, no house, no work, few friends, and the dwindling commitment of some bandmates.
Starting over alone in a new city, Wimbish began to write for a new solo project, freed from the assumed expectations of fans and band-members. The result was the most focused, honest, and intimate batch of songs the 27-year-old songwriter had written, lyrically and musically. As the writing progressed, and the band had to stare its impending death in the eyes, a solid and enduring core emerged. Members Hayden Cooke (Bass), Joshua Ling (Harmonium/Guitar/Vocals), and Graham Dickey (Horns/Bells) lent their performances to David Wimbish's (Vocals/Guitar/Keys/Strings) fleshed-out songs, birthing The Collection's 3rd full-length record from the ashes of the unfinished solo project. With the addition of husband-and-wife Joshua Linhart (Drums) and Sarah McCoy (Keys/Synth/Vocals), the band finally found its firm footing.
And that is where the story of Entropy is revealed: Though meant to document David's life's gradual decline into, and subsequent recovery from, disorder, the album became a living testimony to The Collection's own experience of entropy. Now, with the wisdom of hindsight, the band is back and focused, with a passion for sharing what they've learned: that on the other side of disorder lies a new sense of beauty.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Deli Midtown | Diamond Dave’s | New Wing Order
Sponsored By:
Orion Free Concert Series Welcomes The Sunset Symphony, in partnership with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra!
Concert begins at 7:30PM sharp.
2023 Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell. Picnic baskets, beverages, blankets, and lawn chairs are always welcome. We also offer food and beverage for sale in our ShellEats community area. Dogs on a leash are welcome in designated areas. Overton Park Shell is a nonsmoking facility.
*A live interpreter will be available in partnership with DeafConnect of the Mid-South.
About the artist:
The Memphis Symphony Orchestra returns for this annual community tradition featuring the sensational MSO Big Band. Bring your blanket and picnic basket for an unforgettable evening of music under the stars.
The MSO Big Band was founded in 2010 to highlight the virtuosic range and talent of the MSO musicians. Led by Principal Trumpet Scott Moore, the MSO Big Band performs timeless classics and new arrangements in styles from dance band to big band, samba, and many more.
The MSO Big Band also holds and preserves the historical musical archive of the Peabody Hotel Skyway Ballroom Big Band, which was one of the select locations of nation-wide syndicated Big Band radio broadcasts in the early part of the 20th century. A young Sam Phillips was one of the broadcasters for these “Big Band Remotes” before going on to found Sun Studios.
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Mexico in Memphis | Pok Cha | Soi #9 | Green Beetle
Sponsored By:
DreamFest Weekend 12 (ORION FREE CONCERT SERIES)
About the artist:
CLE Events will host DreamFest Weekend 12 on May 19th-21st at the historic Overton Park Shell in Memphis, TN. DreamFest Weekend is a weekend of events dedicated to promoting Memphis Music and artist collaboration. This 3-day event spotlights an impressive array of artists coming together in pursuit of a common goal: the promotion of unity, collaboration and community.
FRIDAY LINEUP:
Bizzle Line 1
Burial Boyz
Dmercy A.K.A. Big Mercy
Fullersbad
Gerald Morgan Jr.
G Nerd
Indigo
J LOUD
Krisiz Jay
OhGeeLee
SirCollis
SMOOV
Vincesoul
Yung CTV
DJ - DJ NyceLyfe
Host - Mak of Memphis
SATURDAY LINEUP
A.J. Haynes
CherryMoon
222D'vonna Taylor
Edna Nicole
Ethel Tamaraiam
Bree-Ze
Jay Chanel
La Chat
NeNe Washington
Phee
Poetic Flo
Raneem Imam
Sondra Love
Taresha G
Xelus Star
DJ - DJ Avious
Host - Toy Danielle
SUNDAY LINEUP
ACE
Bird Williams
Cinooo
Emellio
Gerald Richardson
God's Son
Inner City South
Jonte Mayon
Legendary Yella P
Quinn
Ricache
Rolynne
Stefanie Bolton
DJ - Mante Carlo
Host - P.A. Bomani
Socials:
Food Trucks:
Fri - Trap Fusion | Cordero Carnes | Frazier's Fish Fry
Sat/Sun - Trap Fusion | Quesadilla Lady | TBA
Sponsored By: