Even before the epic RiverBeat Music Festival kicked into action, Mempho Presents announced the daily schedule for the Mempho Fest Music Festival, to be held this October 3rd-5th at Radians Amphitheater on the beautiful grounds of the Memphis Botanic Garden. And it will be déjà vu all over again when headliners Widespread Panic take to the Adams Keegan Stage in a two-night residency, as they did in their previous headline slots at both the 2021 and 2022 Mempho Fests. Tyler Childers will also grace that stage, as will the great Mavis Staples, Sierra Farrell, Lukas Nelson, Galactic, and John R. Miller. The Bud Light stage will feature Father John Misty, Flaming Lips, Charley Crockett, The Pharcyde, Lucero, Leftover Salmon, High Fade, and Amy LaVere. Puddles Pity Party and Kevin Kinney Band take over the Shell Stage, as will Annie and the Caldwells, Bloodkin, and the Gia Welch Trio. The full 2025 lineup can be found here.
The folks at Mempho have a knack for presenting an eclectic mix that’s perfectly suited to the Mid-South’s diversity, seemingly inspired by a fan’s true grasp of every artist’s musicality. “This year’s lineup is a stellar mix of Americana roots, soulful legends, and boundary-pushing innovators, complemented by world-renowned DJs. Now in our eighth year, Mempho Fest welcomes fans to experience legendary performers across three dynamic stages for one unforgettable weekend!. From Widespread Panic’s improvisational mastery to The Pharcyde’s hip-hop poetry, and intimate performances by the enigmatic Puddles Pity Party, this celebration represents the true soul of American music in the city where blues and rock were born,” said Jeff Bransford, producer at Mempho Presents.
All that and Mavis Staples? Beyond being one of the most expressive and beloved singers of the ’60s and ’70s, she’s the voice of that generation’s very conscience. Indeed, she’s all of America’s conscience, as that same righteous moral center has continued to mark her entire artistic life, from her support of the American Civil Liberties Union right up through last year’s “Worthy”:
But she won’t be the only one bringing the funk, as The Pharcyde are always on-point with their deep samples, and we’ll also hear from New Orleans groove-meisters Galactic (who started out back in the day as Galactic Prophylactic, and were tearing roofs off even then). And other masters of their genre, or lack thereof, will be there in force, from the ever-epic Lucero to those think-outside-the-box festival masters the Flaming Lips.
And, seeming to lean in to the success of previous Widespread Panic-topped festivals, Mempho Fest is offering the opportunity to buy two-day passes for the first time, in addition to single-day and three-day ticket packages. That aids and abets the considerable fan base that needs to see both shows of any given Panic residency, so unpredictable and inventive are the band’s performances. As such, they bring a general exploratory vibe to the whole festival, an impetus to improvisation (as when Billy Strings joined Panic onstage at 2021’s Mempho Fest), and that can translate into a choose-your-own-adventure kind of weekend for fans.
“This is the first year we’ve announced the lineup this early and we know it’s one of the best yet. We know life plans can get in the way — can’t make all three days? Prefer the lineups Friday and Sunday? We have you covered this year! We’re excited to be able to offer this new two-day plan,” said Mempho Presents producer Mike Smith.
Tier one ticket pricing is now available for purchase online at www.memphofest.com.
