R.L. Boyce
The Beale Street Music Festival lineup usually has some pleasant surprises in store, and this year is no exception. Just released today, the scheduled acts run the gamut of styles and decades. Among the highlights are such luminaries as Grammy nominee R.L. Boyce, the Love Light Orchestra, Star & Micey, Tav Falco, the Chinese Connection Dub Embassy, Al Kapone, Juicy J, Zeke Johnson, Blind Mississippi Morris, and Earl “The Pearl” Banks.
Queens of the Stone Age
What’s that you say? There are also acts without roots in Memphis? Okay, we’ll tip our hat to them as well. Although Queens Of The Stone Age, Alanis Morissette, Tyler The Creator, Kaleo, and Dashboard Confessional are not from Memphis, let’s give them a chance. Some have ties to the Bluff City by way of their recording history and professional associations, such as Jack White, an erstwhile Oblivians fan whose work at the old Easley-McCain studios won much acclaim, or Margo Price, who has done well recording with Matt Ross-Spang in recent years.
As usual, the mix is unpredictable and not beholden to current trends. It’s notable that several acts made a name for themselves in the 1990s or even the 1980s:
David Byrne
David Byrne, Cake, Erykah Badu, The Flaming Lips, and Third Eye Blind clearly have proven their staying power over the decades, even as they’ve continued to evolve and explore.
Erykah Badu
Reaching back even further, the festival will host Delbert McClinton, who, because he played harmonica on Bruce Channel’s “Hey! Baby” and toured England on the strength of that hit, ended up teaching John Lennon a thing or two about blues harp technique. Of course, he went on to build a career on his own records, such as “Giving It Up for Your Love.”
Delbert McClinton
Finally, more Memphis in May events will follow the festival proper, with additional musical fare evoking this year’s honored country, the Czech Republic.
2018 Memphis in May International Festival Dates:
Beale Street Music Festival: May 4-6, 2018
International Week: May 7-13, 2018
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest: May 16-19, 2018
Great American River Run: May 26, 2018
901Fest: May 26, 2018
Full Schedule of the Beale Street Music Festival
Friday, May 4th
Queens Of The Stone Age
Alanis Morissette
Tyler, The Creator
Kaleo
Cake
Third Eye Blind
Dashboard Confessional
Clutch
Margo Price
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Wilderado
Star & Micey
Ghost Town Blues Band
Zac Harmon
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Terry “Big T” Williams
Zeke Johnson
Saturday, May 5th
Jack White
Logic
Incubus
David Byrne
Ludacris
Vance Joy
Gov’t Mule
Chevelle
Action Bronson
Franz Ferdinand
All Time Low
Calexico
Al Kapone
Dan Barta & Illustratosphere
Marcia Ball
Tav Falco And The Panther Burns
Amasa Hines
Chinese Connection Dub Embassy
Tommy Castro And The Painkillers
Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
Blind Mississippi Morris
Joanna Connor
Earl “The Pearl” Banks
Sam Joyner
Washboard Shorty & Reverend Robert Rev
Sunday, May 6th
Post Malone
Odesza
Erykah Badu
The Flaming Lips
Juicy J
Luke Combs
D.R.A.M.
Oh Wonder
Young Dolph
Delbert McClinton
Andrew W.K.
Misterwives
Tank And The Bangas
Love Light Orchestra
R.L. Boyce
Flor
Reba Russell
Biscuit Miller And The Mix
Butch Mudbone
Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
