Memphis, the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and home to the soul-stirring sounds of the blues, is about to get a fresh wave of rhythm with the inaugural Riverbeat Music Festival this May 3rd-5th.
Here's everything you need to know:
THE LINEUP
Riverbeat History
While this is the first year of Riverbeat festival, the organization behind it, Mempho Presents, has become a key player of the overall musical experiences here in Memphis. Mempho Presents is an organization rooted in the “rich musical heritage of Memphis”.
Since their start with Mempho Fest in 2017 at Shelby Farms park, Mempho Presents has been responsible for bringing major artists to the 901 like Post Malone and Anderson .Paak.
Created by Diego Winegardner, a Memphis native, Mempho Presents has grown to produce many shows across Memphis in addition to the continued Mempho Fest, which is now located at Botanical Gardens.
They are now looking to bring another great addition to the festival experience in the Memphis community partnering with Memphis River Parks Partnership for Riverbeat which will be located at Tom Lee Park.
Lineup
With the lineup being announced today, and the organization being rooted in Memphis, it comes as no surprise, the connection between Memphis and some of these artists.
Riverbeat has not shied away from home at all, featuring pioneering hip hop artists from Memphis like Al Kapone and 8Ball & MJG, home-grown bands like The Band CAMINO, Southern Avenue, and Marcella and Her Lovers, as well as upcoming voices like Talibah Saifya.
Killer Mike, a featured performer on the lineup, has a whole playlist on his spotify called Memphis Slaps (which is linked below and definitely slaps).
Even Big Boi, has a connection to Memphis that is undeniably felt in his solo music, from production to even collaborators. Artists like Black Pumas, Tobe Nwigwe, Jessie Murph, bring a spirit and soul to the lineup that connects to Memphis and those who are going to be attending the festival.
Jeff Bransford from Forward Momentum, the promoter of RiverBeat Festival states that, “Riverbeat will bring the community together to celebrate an exciting new chapter in the rich musical history of Memphis by creating an immersive fan experience across a wide range of musical genres.”
Headliners!
Jelly Roll
The Fugees
Odesza
With this being the inaugural festival, Riverbeat has brought together some heavy hitters across a span of genres to headline the festival.
Dropping hints on their Instagram on March 2nd, fans all over Memphis were going crazy in the comments over whom it may be. Three different image hints were posted featuring ideas about the artists’ backgrounds and how they were started — from where they got their names to where they were formed — and guesses seemed to be pretty well thoughtout by those in the comments. And a couple of commenters were actually on point!
With that, we truly understand how Memphis is currently going into a frenzy. Headliners are one of the most on-fire artists right now: Jelly Roll, electronic powerhouse duo ODESZA, and the legendary rap trio, The Fugees.
Hints worked perfectly with each artist as The Fugees are originally from New Jersey, ODESZA met and formed at Western Washington University, and Jelly Roll was given his stage name by his mom.
These three headliners alone could have sold the festival but them on top of an already stacked lineup is sure to bring not only Memphis out but also fans across the country.
The Riverbeat Music Festival will take place in Tom Lee Park, along the Memphis Riverfront, from May 3rd-5th!
schedule
- Gates open at 5PM on Friday and 1PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets:
- 3-Day GA and VIP Passes are available for purchase. P.S. The longer you wait to buy, the more expensive they become. Single-Day tickets are available for purchase too.
- GA tickets will be sold at the gate if available.
- Make sure to print out your tickets to help avoid long lines!
what to bring/what not to bring
- Paid parking is available on the corner of Southern and Hollywood and on the corner of Central and Hollywood.
- If you plan to bike, bring a lock and lock up with All About Bikes at the entrance to the festival.
Memphis–Artist Connections
8Ball & MJG – A pioneering Southern hip-hop duo from Memphis.
Al Kapone – A Memphis-based rapper known for his contributions to the “Hustle & Flow” soundtrack.
Don Bryant – A soul singer-songwriter from Memphis with connections to the historic Hi Records.
The Band CAMINO – An indie-rock band that formed in Memphis.
Southern Avenue – A band named after a street in Memphis, embodying the city’s soul, blues, and gospel sounds.
Marcella and Her Lovers – A band led by Marcella Simien, daughter of Memphis musician Terrance Simien.
Don Lifted – A Memphis-based artist whose work spans across various genres.
Dirty Streets – A Memphis band known for their classic rock and blues sound.
Lucky 7 Brass Band – A brass band with that quintessential Memphis sound.
Bobby “Blue” Bland – A renowned blues singer who was a longtime Memphis resident and a significant figure in the Memphis blues scene.
Talibah Saifya – Local Memphis artist who does contemporary blues/R&B.
From the list of artists, additional connections to Memphis might include:
Jelly Roll – While not from Memphis, his genre-blending style connects well with Memphis’ musical diversity.
Robert Randolph & The Family Band – Their blues and soul sound resonate with the rich blues heritage of Memphis.
Ben Harper – Has collaborated with Memphis’ own Charlie Musselwhite, showcasing a deep appreciation for blues which is quintessential to Memphis.
Durand Jones & The Indications – The group’s soul sound has ties to the classic Memphis sound.
here's everything you'll want to know
- Free and open to the public, the “Blues Stage on Beale” will return to Handy Park to showcase a powerhouse line-up of top national and regional Blues artist throughout the weekend.
- The limit on Pronto Pups does not exist.
- The same can be said for Funnel Cakes.
- Hula Hoops are allowed, so we wanna see hoopin!
- There will be sunscreen stations set up so, protect your skin
- Nothing comes in handy like a hand fan on a hot day.
- Portable chargers are the GOAT. Bring your own or get one when you rent a locker to keep your belongings safe and your hands free.
- Dress up. Dress Down. Do you. But maybe check the weather to determine which you you wanna be ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- You can commemorate the occasion with an official festival poster for purchase.
