Author: Julia Baker

Eve of Great Battle: Full-contact Steel Fighting at Hi Tone

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date August 8, 2019

CREDIT: MAFC

Memphis Armored Fight Club throws down the gauntlet for an eve of great battle Saturday night at the Hi Tone.

A few of their 25 armored men will showcase the sport of full-contact steel fighting by pummeling each other in the heads with blunted weapons, which may or may not include polearms, axes, or swords.

Despite the way it sounds, co-founder Nicholas Homa says the sport is relatively safe.

MAFC

Single combat!

“It’s an extreme sport,” he says. “It’s safe compared to boxing, where you have no equipment preventing injury. But accidents happen sometimes.”

Risk always comes with reward, though, according to Homa, who says there are numerous benefits to armored fighting.

“We have members who range from their early 20s up to their mid-50s, and they’re getting themselves in shape and receiving cardio they’ve never had before,” he says. “They’re also establishing healthy habits, like losing weight and eating better, to better help support themselves in the sport.”

Each set of armor members wear weighs between 40 and 70 pounds, and a lot of strategic research goes into ensuring replicas stay true to medieval times.

“Most of our armor is all from the 14th to 16th centuries,” he says. “Everything we use, we have to be able to document it from an actual source from a museum. So we’ll have to find images of something that we want to have made and put together a complete kit that’s within a 50-year time range.”
Memphis Armored Fight Club, Hi Tone, Saturday, August 10th, 8 p.m., $10.

Tags Hi Tone, Memphis Armored Fight Club

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Memphis Pets of the Week (August 6-August 12)

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date August 7, 2019

Each week, the Flyer will feature adoptable dogs and cats from Memphis Animal Services. All photos are credited to Memphis Pets Alive. More pictures and more information can be found on the Memphis Pets Alive Facebook page.

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Memphis Pets of the Week (July 30-August 5th)

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date August 2, 2019

Tags Memphis Pets of the Week

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Match Point: Play Tennis Family Day

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date August 1, 2019

CREDIT: Alyssa Ivey | Tennis Memphis

In an effort to introduce the public to the game of tennis and to the newly renovated tennis centers throughout the city, local nonprofit youth development organization Tennis Memphis has partnered with the city of Memphis’ Division of Housing and Community Development to host its first annual Play Tennis, Memphis! Family Play Day event.

The five participating tennis centers (Leftwich, Wolbrecht, Raleigh, Eldon Roark, Frayser, and Bellevue), which have received about $1 million in renovations, will host various tennis events.

Alyssa Ivey | Tennis Memphis

Anyone for tennis?

“We’re going to be hosting clinics at all levels, tournaments, skills challenges, cardio workouts, and more for every facet of every age group from tots up to senior citizens,” says Arnold Thompson, Director of Outreach & Community Development for Tennis Memphis and Elite Professional for the United States Professional Tennis Association. “There’s always something for everybody.”

Events are free to attend, and visitors are not required to bring their own equipment.

“Our mission is to build a better community and enhance lives with tennis education,” says Thompson. “To go along with that mission, our motto is ‘tennis is for everyone.’ So we look to equalize to make tennis available to everybody, not just to people who’ve been traditionally afforded. We want to do everything we can to take the financial constraints off people playing tennis.”

While taking breaks between clinics, games, and demonstrations, attendees can also enjoy music and grub from on-site food trucks, including Marble Slab Creamery, Chef TNT BBQ, and Central BBQ.

Play Tennis, Memphis! Family Play Day, various tennis centers, Saturday, August 3rd, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., free to attend. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Visit tennismemphis.org to register.

Tags Play Tennis Memphis, Tennis, We Rec

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Beer Logic Seminar Benefits JDRF

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date August 1, 2019

Joseph Tillman, a bike rider for JDRF Ride to Cure’s West Tennessee Chapter and for Logistics Leaders, is participating in a JDRF ride throughout Death Valley this year. And to help raise funds for the organization, Tillman has partnered with beer history connoisseur Chad Philbeam to host a Beer Logic seminar, with the subject “Everything you ever needed to know, you learned from beer.”

“I was talking to a friend about doing a wine tasting, but we couldn’t figure anything out. I got to talking with Chad Philbeam, and I was like, you know what? Beer’s better,” says Tillman. “Chad’s a beer fanatic who relates everything back to beer and how something like beer has impacted your life.”

(center) Joseph Tillman

Tillman first heard about JDRF when his friend and colleague, Adrian Gonzalez, told him that his daughter, who was struggling with Type 1 Diabetes, had trouble finding spots on her fingers to prick for blood tests. “It was really heart-wrenching for him,” says Tillman. “That’s when he started a ride team for Ride to Cure called Logistics Leaders.” Fueled by that and seeing other loved ones, like his grandmother and neighbor, struggling with the disease, Tillman decided to join the cause.

Anyone interested in helping the cause and attending Beer Logic will receive three beer pints with admission. Attendees can also purchase raffle tickets to earn prizes like a two-night stay at The Park Vista in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Ultimately, Tillman says, “Come out to laugh, learn, drink beer, and help fight Type 1 Diabetes.”

Beer Logic Benefiting JDRF, Memphis Made Brewing Co., Saturday, August 3rd, Two show times at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., $45 in advance ($80 for couples) or $50 day of show ($90 for couples).

Tags beer, Beer Logic, diabetes, JDRF, Memphis Made Brewing Co.

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Omar Higgins’ Legacy Continues with Return of Live Up Fest

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date July 25, 2019

Local reggae fusion band Chinese Connection Dub Embassy (CCDE) recently lost a member and a brother, lead vocalist and bassist Omar Higgins, but his legacy continues.

The band, founded in 2010 by Omar and his brothers Joseph and David, has always been known to be philanthropically spirited, with performances benefiting organizations like Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Chinese Connection Dub Embassy

“It’s always been important to us to remain active in our community,” says Joseph, the band’s keyboardist and vocalist.

For the last six years, the reggae-rooted group has raised funds for Le Bonheur through their annual Live Up Fest, and this year is no different.

In addition to hosting a raffle benefiting the children’s hospital, this year’s Live Up Fest will feature a performance by CCDE and special surprise guests. Others taking the stage include Darius Phatmak Clayton, Johnny Love, and The Irie Lions.

“All of the artists playing have roots in reggae, but each of them have their own unique styles,” says Joseph.

Darius Phatmak Clayton (Memphis) exhibits hip-hop and spoken word styles, Johnny Love (Santa Anna, California) performs elements of Latin music, The Irie Lions (Fayetteville, Arkansas) combine jazz and funk sounds with reggae dub, and Flux (Florence, Alabama) plays experimental jam music.

“Ultimately, the goal of the festival really is just to bring people together, and, at least for a couple of hours, for everyone to forget about all the negativity in the world and have a good time,” Joseph says. “Expect good vibes, and nothing but.”

Live Up Fest, Railgarten, July 27th, 6 p.m.-1 a.m., $10.

Tags Chinese Connection Dub Embassy, Live Up Fest, Omar Higgins, Railgarten, reggae

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Memphis Zine Fest Returns to Crosstown

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date July 18, 2019

CREDIT: Crosstown Arts

Erica Qualy, an artist who dabbles in various forms of visual and performing arts, has been making zines since she was in high school.

“My friend and I were at the library, and we saw a book [Zine Scene: The Do It Yourself Guide to Zines by Francesca Lia Block and Hillary Carlip] about how to make zines,” she says. “A lot of the bands I admired growing up made zines. So, it just hit us. We thought, ‘Wow, this is so awesome.'”

The pair went home and created their first zine, complete with word finds, advice columns, and other quirky content fillers.

Crosstown Arts

Erica Qualy, organizer of Memphis Zine Fest V

Fast forward to 2019, and now Qualy is organizing Memphis Zine Fest V at Crosstown Concourse and working on the fourth issue of her zine — Facts, Advice, & Things to think about! — filled with poetry one-liners.

“When I first moved here from Minneapolis to go to Memphis College of Art, I realized there wasn’t really a zine scene here, or, if there was one, I didn’t know where it was,” she says. “So, I wanted to help provide a space where zinesters could come out and share their wares. Mary Jo Karimnia, a fellow Memphis artist, listened to my ideas for this event, and she helped me bring the event to life via Story Booth and Crosstown Arts.”

This year’s Zine Fest will feature the works of several zine makers, including various established zine makers and new makers who attended last week’s Youth Zine-Making Workshop.

Memphis Zine Fest V, Crosstown Concourse – Central Atrium, Friday, July 19th, 5-8 p.m., Free.

Tags Crosstown Arts, Crosstown Concourse, Erica Qualy, Zine Fest

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“Feeling” Music: Funky Fridays with Kameron Whalum

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date July 18, 2019

CREDIT: Kevin Evans

“I play what I like to call ‘feeling’ music,” says Kameron Whalum, a successful trombonist from Memphis. “Basically, it’s a mixture of soul, hip-hop, jazz, gospel, and funk.”

Whalum, who’s due to go back on tour with Bruno Mars and the Hooligans in September, has been keeping busy during his time off, sitting in on his uncle’s Kafé Kirk series with brother Kortland, writing and recording solo music, and conducting artist talks at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

“I credit being a student at Stax Music Academy for my love of the soul music that has come out of there,” he says. “That’s why I keep coming back to work with them because I remember what it did for me, and it helped me take a little more pride in that kind of music.”

Kevin Evans

Kameron Whalum

This month, Whalum leads and covers various discussion topics at the museum’s Funky Fridays series. During this Friday’s session, entitled “Take This for A Sample: Memphis Music = It’s A Vibe,” he and producer C Major will discuss the history of sampling music and how the technique is used in hip-hop music. The pair will go over sampling basics and make a beat together for the audience.

“Somebody referred to it as a TED Talk,” he jokes.

Last week, dancers from L.Y.E. Academy joined him in a seminar about Stax’s impact on dance, and next week, he will get together with special guests, including Boo Mitchell and James Alexander, to discuss the difference between music then and now.

Funky Fridays with Kameron Whalum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Friday, July 19th, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Free with museum admission.

Tags Kameron Whalum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Stax Music Academy

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Women’s Theatre Festival of Memphis Returns

Post author By Julia Baker
Post date July 11, 2019

For more than a decade, Ruby O’Gray, executive producer and co-founder of the Women’s Theatre Festival of Memphis (WTFM) and an established Memphis playwright, dreamed of honoring women in theater.

“Sixty-three percent of theater audiences are made up of women,” says O’Gray. “So, to me, it was a no-brainer to create a theater festival centered around women.”

She approached longtime friend and director/event planner Karen Moore about starting a festival, and by 2012, WTFM was born. The inaugural festival took place at The Circuit Playhouse, Playhouse on the Square, and TheatreWorks and honored Memphis women involved in theater.

The Women’s Theatre Festival focuses on the theater-loving ladies of Memphis.

Now, seven years later, the festival has grown to cover more ground, with additional sites at Hattiloo Theatre, Theatre South, and Christian Brothers University Theater.

“I have worked to show the evolution and revolution of women,” says O’Gray.

This year, several theatrical works will be showcased, including O’Gray’s The Liberal: Mrs. Price and Making Folk Happy, as well as Natalie Parker-Lawrence’s Planting Firewood.

The festival will culminate in a Gyneka Awards Gala on Sunday featuring the 2019 honorees: Janie Paris, Precious Morris, and Natalie Parker-Lawrence.

Anyone interested in purchasing tickets for individual festival events may link to the Eventbrite page from womenstfmemphis.org.

Women’s Theatre Festival, Various locations, July 11th-14th.

Tags theater, Women's Theatre Festival