The Beale Street Music Fest Line Up Is Out!

The Beale Street Music Fest line up has been announced and it's got a lot of great names on it. For the full line up go to the link below.

Some of the bigger names include: Sheryl Crow, The Roots, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (okay they're not a big name but they are to my kids!), Santana, Blind Mississippi Morris, Buddy Guy (BUDDY GUY!), Arrested Development, Al Kapone, preston Shannon, The Black Crowes, Aretha Franklin (who grew up in the Soulsville neighborhood before her parents moved to Detriot), Michael MacDonald, Finger Eleven, Gavin DeGraw and Jerry Lee Lewis.

One act that you might not heard of that you should check out is Lord T & Eloise. Lord T and Eloise is a two man act of two seriously upper class white dudes who went to MUS. Don't sound that interesting yet does it? The two guys dress up in French Victorian (think powder wigs and white makeup) costumnes and rap. As shocking as this all sounds, they're really good. I think they might be the next group that makes it out of Memphis to a regional or national appeal.

Beale Street Music Fest has been around since 1977. Like it's name suggests it started out on Beale Street. I can remember in the early 1980s that the festival was held on Beale Street and up and down Main Street. I remember seeing Survivor play in front of One Commerce Square and sitting on the steps there. I don't know when it moved to Tom Lee Park, but it had to because it just got too big.

There are several big music festivals now. Jazz Fest in New Orleans is huge and a lot of fun. Bonaroo over in Middle Tennessee is certainly a huge festival now and is also a lot of fun. I'm not taking anything away from either of those festivals. The fact is though that no other festival will have the variety of music that you can here at the Beale Street Festival. Just look at the acts. They cover the spectrum of musical styles. The crowds are a lot of fun as well because you'll get the Al Kapone fans mixing with fans of other generes. Now some will tell you that's why they don't like the festival. If you don't like variety, we may not be for you. if you like the chance to see different kinds of music, being able to hit Beale Street before or after you go to the festival and just appreciate good music, then Beale Street Music Fest is for you.

The dates this year are May 2 - 4. You can buy one days tickets or three day passes. The festival has sold out several times over the last few years. If nothing else, buy a Sunday ticket and go check out the gospel tent. The sounds coming from there will lift your soul and you'll absolutely see the connection between rock and gospel!

Beale Street Music Fest and the great music that we have here in Memphis are just a few of the reasons its great to live here.