- Mitch Easter
Shangri-La founder Sherman Willmott’s annual Memphis Pops! Festival is tonight. This year, the event has been folded into the ongoing Downtown Alley Jams series and is free.
The headliner is alt-rock heavyweight Mitch Easter, whose rich varied career — from fronting indie cult band Let’s Active to helming classic R.E.M. albums — is profiled in this week’s paper by Andrew Earles. Setting the stage for Easter are a couple of local notables: The New Mary Jane pairs former Grifters partners Dave Shouse and Scott Taylor in a new form. And another signature early ’90s Memphis band, The Simple Ones, lead by Shangri-La Records owner Jared McStay, will also perform.
Memphis Pops starts at 6 p.m. and has been moved indoors due to our never-ending rain. It’ll now take place in the back room at Earnestine & Hazel’s, at 531 S. Main.
After being victim to the rain a few weeks ago, the Goner Records installment of the Downtown Alley Jams series has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, November 4th, in the Barbaro Alley near Main and Peabody. The show begins at 5:30 p.m. and will feature a packed triple bill of Mouserocket, Magic Kids, and Harlan T. Bobo.
