The lineup for the Beale Street Music Festival is out, and it’s a typical mix of regional roots acts, assorted big names from the ’70s-’90s, and a few contemporary stars.
For a festival that, two years ago, counted among its headliners Nelly, the Killers, Los Lonely Boys, and the Roots, it’s hard not to notice a diminishing presence of high-profile contemporary acts. This year’s contenders in that regard include neo-soul newbies John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae on Sunday night, hard-rockers Hinder, also on Sunday, and alt-rock bands Wolfmother and Taking Back Sunday on Saturday.
Among the staples of yesteryear, the Allman Brothers Band, Steely Dan, and the Ohio Players will represent the ’70s, while the festival seems to have followed the lead of VH-1, transitioning from the “I Love the ’80s” acts that peppered last year’s lineup (Huey Lewis, Billy Idol) to more I Love the ’90s variety this year (Counting Crows, Barenaked Ladies, Papa Roach).
As for Memphis music, the city is well represented as always, from pioneers such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Bobby “Blue” Bland to soul-era stars Ann Peebles and The Bar-Kays to contemporary staples such as Three 6 Mafia and the North Mississippi Allstars.
This year’s Beale Street Music Festival Lineup:
Friday, May 4: The Allman Brothers Band, Three 6 Mafia, Koko Taylor, Gym Class Heroes, Gov’t Mule, Social Distortion, Richard Johnston, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chevelle, Hubert Sumlin & Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Plain White Ts, The Derek Trucks Band, North Mississippi Allstars, Popa Chubby.
Saturday, May 5: Steely Dan, Godsmack, George Thorogood, Bobby “Blue” Bland, The Bar-Kays, Wolfmother, The Ohio Players, Walter Trout & the Radicals, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Taking Back Sunday, Taj Mahal, Ryan Shaw, Kelley Hunt, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jack’s Mannequin, The John Butler Trio, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Eddie Floyd, Hawthorne Heights, Keller Williams, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, One Less Reason, The Duhks, Daddy Mack Blues Band.
Sunday, May 6: Counting Crows, John Legend, Hinder, Elvin Bishop, Barenaked Ladies, Corinne Bailey Rae, Daughtry, Tab Benoit, Guster, Edwin McCain, Project Pat, Backdoor Slam, Umphrey’s McGee, Ann Peebles, Papa Roach, Watermelon Slim, Billy Lee Riley, Egypt Central, The Lee Boys, James “Super Chikan” Johnson.
For more info, see MemphisinMay.org.
— Chris Herrington
