901Day – Memphis Flyer

It’s the first of September, and you know what that means — it’s 901 Day! And because of that, we’ve rounded up some special events to celebrate your Memphis pride on this very special day.

Events to Check Out

901 Fest

Some of Memphis’ most talented artists are taking the stage for this four-day music festival at Railgarten, featuring Star & Micey, Marcella & Her Lovers, Dead Soldiers, Lucky 7 Brass Band, Lord T & Eloise, Neighborhood Texture Jam, Devil Train, Cedric Burnside, and The Wilkin Sisters. Single-day tickets cost $15-$20. Arrow Creative will also be hosting its Marketplace in Motion at Railgarten, bringing the art shopping to you, September 1-3.

Railgarten, September 1-4

901 Day Celebration

Choose901 will host its first 901 Day Party since the pandemic began, and the party will be poppin’. Memphis Made has brewed up a batch of special beers for the occasion, and Old Dominick Distillery will have cocktail stations. Guests can enjoy tasty bites from TACOnganas, StickEM, Central BBQ, and Mempops. Plus, Stax Music Academy, the Lucky 7 Brass Band, and DJs, Travi$, Breezye, and Shelby will provide live entertainment, and WeTightKnit, Amurica Photobooth, Mane Wilding, RotoBrothersArt, and Neighborhood Print Company will set up shop as vendors.

The Ravine, September 1, 5-11 p.m.

901 Day Grizz Bash

Grizz Nation is invited to FedExForum for an afternoon and evening celebrating the 901, with something for all ages. Throughout the event, attendees can enjoy fare from Dynamic Duo, El Mero, AD’s, and StickEM, plus local brews and more. There’ll be music by 8Ball & MJG, Big Boogie, Duke Deuce, Royal Studios House Band, and DJ Mic Tee; a Jookin’ Battle Championship; a Wrestlin’ Throwdown featuring Mads Krugger, The GunShow, and Dustin Starr; a kids zone complete with inflatables and face painters; and the Sneak Fest, which will have free sneaker cleaning and will give fans the opportunity to buy, sell, or trade for an exclusive pair of sneakers. This event is free.

FedExForum, September 1, 5-8 p.m.

Rockwalk

The Edge District is has announced the launch of Rockwalk, a free event series that highlights local businesses and talents. Catch live performances by Amy LaVere, DJ RMZI, DJ Bizzle BlueBland, DJ Ayo Tunez, and DJ Alpha Whiskey, and check out the new businesses and restaurant specials in the area.

The Edge District, September 1, 5-9 p.m.

901 Day Market

Overton Square will have live performances by 901 bands, including Raneem and Better in Color. Guests can also shop local 901 artisans, including 17Berkshire, Dave’s Bagels, The Tea Bar 901, and more.

Chimes Square, Overton Square, September 1, 6-9 p.m.

Tigers on Tour

Enjoy inflatables, lawn games, food trucks, food and drink specials, and free beer for the first 50 guests. All flights, six-packs, and Arbo’s combos will be $9.01, and there will be yoga at 5:30 p.m. and two free brewery tours at 6 and 7 p.m. Plus, Tigers head football coach Ryan Silverfield will address the crowd at 6 p.m. and will be joined by head women’s basketball coach Katrina Merriweather and head baseball coach Kerrick Jackson. Members of the Memphis men’s basketball program are also scheduled to attend along with additional Memphis head coaches and staff members.

Grind City Brewing Company, September 1, 5-7 p.m.

Taste of Memphis

This free event will feature neighborhood booths, live music and performances, food, children’s activities and entertainment for all, and a friendly competition that will allow 901 neighborhoods to display their greatness. This year’s theme is “Neighborhoods Are Back.”

Tiger Lane, September 1, 5-10 p.m.

K-901 Day

Celebrate K-901 Day with your dog and a few rounds of trivia at Hampline Brewing. There will be free dog treats and bonus prizes for the top teams with dogs.

Hampline Brewing, September 1, 7-8:45 p.m.

Mighty Lights

You won’t want to miss the lights on the M-bridge this 901 as Mighty Lights plans to run Memphis content after sundown, including scrolling Memphis text, Grizz eyes, Tigers stripes, and more.

Riverside Drive, September 1, after sundown

As #901Day becomes more and more established as a Mid-South tradition, it’s increasingly clear that music plays a central role in celebrating what Memphis is about. This year, September 1st falls on a Thursday, making it the perfect kickoff to an entire weekend of touting the Bluff City’s greatness. And if you’re hip to the unique sounds of our local musicians, this weekend is for you.

The most obvious starting point is the proudly Memphis-centric weekend at Railgarten, aka 901 Fest. The second annual staging of the festival, which runs from the 1st to the 4th of September, brings back a few familiar faces from last year, along with some newcomers. Lord T & Eloise, the Dead Soldiers, and the Lucky 7 Brass Band were featured last year. Now, the first two headline again, along with Star & Micey and North Mississippi’s recent Grammy-winner, Cedric Burnside. The Lucky 7 Brass Band, Marcella & Her Lovers, Neighborhood Texture Jam, Devil Train, and the Wilkins Sisters fill out the festival’s lineup.

It’s a powerful reminder of the diversity and eclecticism of the talent that thrives in this region. And the same could be said for the music and beats that will emanate from the Overton Park Shell as it begins its fall seasons of the Orion Free Music Series and the Shell Yeah! Benefit Concerts. While not technically starting on September 1st, the Don Ramon show kicking off the season on the 2nd dovetails neatly with other music reverberating through the weekend. And on Saturday, September 3rd, the past, present, and future vibes of Memphis soul will be in full effect with the WLOK Stone Soul Picnic, created in partnership with the Gilliam Foundation.

The picnic’s lineup highlights groups that often don’t get the attention they deserve: O’Livya Walker, The Spiritual Soldiers, Vincent Tharp & Kenosis, Charisse’, Stevenson Clark, The Mellowtones, MBMC, Annie & the Caldwell Singers, Melodic Truth, Uncle Richard’s Puppets, Roney Strong & the Strong Family, Josh Bracy & Power Anointed, the Sensational Wells Brothers, and Zacardi Cortez.

Finally, with September 4th’s Occupy The Shell event, a festival celebrating Black Memphis artists and creatives, local heroes Al Kapone & Don Trip will headline at the Shell. Of course, there’s no one more “901” than Kapone, whose “Whoop That Trick” is practically the Memphis city anthem, at least during Grizzlies games.

And perhaps Bar DKDC‘s September 3rd birthday bash for Frank McLellan, seen in the Sheiks, the Tennessee Screamers, and Model Zero, will be the most Memphis event of all, bringing that big family vibe to the fore in honor of one of the city’s most prolific musicians. The Obruni Dance Band, specializing in West African highlife music, further ramps up the diversity ante the night before.

And if recorded music is your bag, Memphis has you covered. Shangri-La Records and River City Records will both offer discounts on records by Memphis artists past and present this Thursday. And the Memphis Listening Lab will partner with WYXR 91.7 FM on a record swap and zine fest on September 3rd and 4th. While not necessarily Memphis-focused, there are sure to be some local gems buried in those stacks.

September 1st will clearly be a time to get out there and start vibrating to the local grooves. The sound waves will reverberate throughout the 901 all weekend.