Mamma Mia
Orpheum Theatre
Through Sunday, July 28
You can dance; you can jive; you’ll have the time of your life at Mamma Mia, the ultimate feel-good show told through the timeless hits of ABBA. Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets ($34-$125) can be purchased here. (Oh, and our writer Michael Donahue got to interview one of the cast members. So cool, right? Read that piece here.)
An Evening of Ghost Stories
Memphis Made Brewing Co. (at the Ravine)
Friday, July 26, 6 p.m.
When there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? Bill Murray? Nah. Can’t get ahold of the guy. Try Stephen Guenther, professional ghost hunter right here in Memphis. He’ll be telling ghost stories at Memphis Made with Toby Sells, some guy who works at some paper called the Memphis Flyer who wrote some book called Haint Blues. Who are we kidding? Toby wrote a book (read more about it here)! We know Toby! And Toby knows a real-life ghost hunter! Can he get any cooler?
SHITFEST: The Room 4D Experience
Black Lodge
Friday, July 26, 6:30 p.m.
Any time I get to write the word “shit” in a professional capacity, I have to capitalize on it because I never had a phase as a preteen where I cursed for the sake of cursing and now I must avenge my preteen, Catholic-guilt-ridden self. So here goes: SHITFEST is happening. (And, yes, the ALL CAPS are necessary because that’s part of SHITFEST’s branding.) SHITFEST, for those of you who don’t know shit, is an interactive viewing of a shitty movie, this time around The Room. Spoons will fly, footballs will be thrown, TVs will be ceremoniously destructed, audience games will envelop you, and the full-scale riffs and callbacks will be constant. See how bad a movie can get and how much fun it can be to shit on it with others. And, shit, it’s free to attend.
Soulin’ on the River ft. Zsa Davis
Fourth Bluff Park
Friday, July 26, 7-10 p.m.
And we’re soulin’, soulin’ on the river. Do do do do do do … And you don’t have to worry, if you got no money, people on the river are happy to give … By people we mean the Memphis Slim Collaboratory in partnership with Overton Shell & Memphis River Parks Partnership, and they’re ready to give four free concerts this summer. First one is this weekend with Zsa Davis. Here’s what you need to know: Gates open at 7 p.m.; music starts at 8 p.m. The whole family is welcome, and so are lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets, and coolers. Food trucks and a full bar will be available on site. More info here. Up next: KJ Willis (August 9), Deonna Sirod (August 23), and Cameron Bethany (September 6).
Laser Live: Blvck Hippie
Museum of Science & History
Saturday, July 27, 6-8 p.m.
The Museum of Science & History’s Laser Live features live bands in the AutoZone Sharpe Planetarium, accompanied by a laser light show. This edition of the one-of-a-kind concert series will star Blvck Hippie, who make VHS-inspired music for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. With their firmly DIY attitude, refusal to accept the status quo, and knack for pushing musical boundaries, Blvck Hippie has turned being an outsider into their superpower. There will be drinks available to purchase from Crosstown Brewery, and a DJ from WYXR to host and kick off the event with a pre-show set. Purchase tickets ($20) here.
Summerween
Black Lodge
Saturday, July 27, 8 p.m.
Can’t wait for Halloween? Settle for Summerween, Black Lodge’s annual creepytime, summertime party. Break out your creepiest outfits and cosplay and get ready for some tricks & treats. Start the night with special live performances by Macrophonics and Joybomb. Then at midnight, dance the night away with DJ sets by Scotty B, Cozmo, and Selector Jack. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 18+.
Uncle Kracker
Lafayette’s Music Room
Wednesday, July 31, 7 p.m.
Turns out I know four Uncle Kracker songs: “Follow Me,” “Smile,” “When the Sun Goes Down” (a duet with Kenny Chesney), and “Drift Away” (technically a cover, but I associate it with Uncle Kracker), and you probably know the songs, too. I know nothing else about the guy, but he’s playing Lafayette’s on Wednesday. Tickets are $40.55 and can be purchased here.
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
Minglewood Hall
Thursday, August 1, 8 p.m.
For self-proclaimed old souls, hipsters, jazz and swing lovers, and so on, Postmodern Jukebox has arrived — well not yet, but they’re coming to Minglewood, bringing all the pop hits and reworking them into something old-timey-sounding because why the heck not? Tickets start at $39 and can be purchased here.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.
