On Saturday, it’s the debut of the 901Fest, which replaces the Sunset Symphony as Memphis in May’s season capper.
Susan Elliott, Memphis in May’s director of programming, says that after weeks of celebrating the honored country, the festival will bring the focus back on Memphis.
“We want to bring the world to Memphis, and Memphis to the world,” she says. As such, the festival will be all Memphis, from food to music to vendors.
Another goal was to get millennials involved, so they partnered with Choose901 in an open vote for bands they thought should perform at the festival. Many of those bands can be seen on the FanBank stage, one of four stages at the festival.
Among those set to perform are Zigadoo Moneyclips, the North Mississippi Allstars, Al Kapone, Opera Memphis, School of Rock, Frayser Boy, the Iris Orchestra, New Ballet Ensemble, and more.
Muddy’s, Wiseacre, El Mero, Reverb, Delta Blues Winery, Central BBQ, and many others will be serving up food.
The event will be preceded by the Great American River Run, which has attracted 2,000 runners from 33 states and three countries. Olympic bobsledder Sable Otey will lead the run stretching, there will be entertainment along the course and yoga for non-runners, and there may be an Elvis sighting or two.
The day will close in the best way possible: a Memphis-themed fireworks show.
“We’re excited,” Elliott says. “This is what the city said they want.”
