Tag: Levitt Shell

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News The Fly-By

MEMernet: Shell Yeah, Speakerphones, and Funny Cops

Posted to Facebook by the Overton Park Conservancy

Memphis on the internet.

Shell Yeah

Praise thundered across the MEMernet last week with the news that the Overton Park Shell, which changed to the Levitt Shell after some funding, was changed back to the Overton Park Shell after a split with the Levitt Foundation.

Real Talk

The Memphis subreddit tackled the big issue last week: Why do people talk on speaker phone in public? Here are some of the best responses:

“Main character syndrome,” wrote u/lokisilvertongue.

“Why? Because they’re assholes,” wrote u/FrancisFApocalypse.

“They’re called DGAFs,” wrote
u/dgtfnk. “It’s a huge overlap of those who identify with that other four-letter acronym on red hats.”

Pretty funny Cops

Posted to Facebook by the Bartlett Police Department

Giving credit where it’s due, the Bartlett Police Department (BPD) is pretty dang funny on Facebook. They post dank Leo memes (above), photos of their cops in wigs, profiles of BPD employees, and Motorcop Mondays, in which a motorcycle cop ponders things like, “technically, didn’t aliens invade the moon on July 20, 1969?”

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Music Music Blog

Call it the Overton Park Shell: More Than a Name Change

The Overton Park Shell (Credit: Alex Greene)

Casual passers-by in Overton Park may have noted a recent change in its fabled band shell, first built in 1936 at the behest of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Since 2005, when the Levitt Foundation stepped in to renovate and sponsor the iconic Memphis landmark, it’s been known as the Levitt Shell.

But the lettering over the stage has changed this past week, in preparation for a major overhaul in the Shell’s administration that officially begins today. Once again, it will be known as the Overton Park Shell.

This decision was made by the Levitt Shell’s board of directors after months of discussion. With the name change, control of the Shell also passes to a new local nonprofit to be known as The Overton Park Shell. The restructuring will allow the organization more freedom to launch a new outreach strategy into underserved neighborhoods and ZIP codes of Memphis and Shelby County, making the Shell more accessible for all of Memphis.

Overton Park Shell executive director Natalie Wilson says, “We’re grateful for 17 years of partnership with the Levitt Foundation, who helped us save it. Now we can take the stage back to its historic roots and live our mission even more. We as the board made the decision that we could truly lend more sustainability to the community by bringing in more local investment. With local partners supporting us. Families. Foundations. Individuals. Businesses that believe in the work we do. We wanted to build our sustainability locally. Since I came in in 2019, we’ve been working to find local sustainability, and we have now. We’re grateful for it.”

As Wilson notes, while the Levitt Foundation works with several open-air stages across the country, the band shell in Memphis has special needs. “The other venues are all new venues,” she says. “We’re the only historic venue. The other ones were all built in the past 16 years, but we have major deferred maintenance that I have to continue to focus on, on behalf of the citizens of Memphis. There are so few of us that were built by the WPA. The round band shells, there are very few of us.

“We’re owned by the city, by the citizens, so we have a responsibility for the continued preservation of the Shell. So on top of managing it and the mission, I’ve got to renovate it. I’ve got to preserve it. So, that’s how different we were from the others. When you have an old girl like the Shell, sometimes the largest things you can do, you can’t see, like renovation. Also, the city depends on us as a nonprofit for the money to renovate it. We don’t get that support from the city. It’s up to us to make sure it can stand, that it’s safe, and that it will be treasured another 85 years.

“I told Liz Levitt Hirsch, ‘You helped save the Shell. You will always have that legacy. And we’ll always have a special marker on the lawn that speaks to the Levitt era.’ They started with two years of renovation money — a million dollars. And then 15 years of programming support. And that’s why I say they saved the Shell. Because if it wasn’t for their initial support, we wouldn’t be able to create what we do today. It would not be here.”

For her part, Hirsch celebrates the change. “Coming to the Shell for the first time to meet with local community leaders nearly two
decades ago, we knew the magic could, and would, return. Music is a universal language that we all speak and delight in, especially in public spaces where we can celebrate our shared humanity. The Levitt Foundation is incredibly proud to be part of the Shell’s legacy — supporting its rebirth as a cherished gathering place for the entire
community,” said Hirsch, board president of the Levitt Foundation, in a press release. “Levitt Shell Memphis has been a beautiful reflection of the Levitt mission, bringing people together from all walks of life to experience acclaimed artists in a free, open lawn setting. The Shell team has built a strong foundation to continue creating a warm and inclusive environment with accessible arts experiences at its core. We’re excited to watch them soar to new heights.”

Wilson also notes that the local support that started in the Levitt era will continue. “We’re grateful for NexAir, who’s been an integral partner for many years, and will continue to be our venue presenting sponsor. And we’re grateful for others, like the Orion Federal Credit Union, who’s the official music partner of the Shell. They’ve rallied behind our nonprofit from the beginning.”

Ultimately, she says, this is a way of bringing it all back home. “It’s not like it’s a name that people are not familiar with,” she says. “The Overton Park Shell has a history, and that history is amazing. The new Overton Park Shell will be just as incredible.”

Right out of the gate, a schedule of live music at the venue is already taking shape. “Starting this summer, at the end of May, we’ll kick off the season with our Sunset Symphony, which we’re thrilled about bringing back, in partnership with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. And that will be the last Sunday of May. Then through the summer we’ll have Thursday through Saturday night concerts that will be free, and then fall concerts on Friday and Saturday nights. And in between, we’ll have our Shell Yeah! concert series, our ticketed shows.

“We’ll also have other partnership events. The Shell is a home for lots of events in the city, and we want more people to think of the Shell as their home for great community events. Dreamfest will be in May this year. There will be the Tri-State Black Pride event and the Tambourine Bash and nonprofit fundraising events. There’ll be all types of events through the year.”

Overall, Wilson reflects, it’s about balancing such activities with historical preservation. “We believe going back to the Overton Park Shell speaks to a name that’s been treasured for many many years here,” she says. “More than ever, the Shell’s name speaks to being rooted in community. And we want to make sure that with this name change, our mission isn’t going to change. It’s even going to grow even more.”

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Music Music Blog

The Tambourine Bash Creates Hybrid Supergroups Tonight

Louise Page, Boo Mitchell, Talibah Safiya and David Parks rehearse for the Tambourine Bash at Royal Studios (Photo by Brandon Kinder)

Music Export Memphis (MEM) has always featured the cream of the crop when showcasing local artists at its annual Tambourine Bash fundraising galas. But this year, they’re taking it a step further. More artists than ever will be performing at tonight’s Tambourine Bash at the Levitt Shell, but with a unique twist: They’ll be collaborating in one-off ad hoc combos that mix and match artists from disparate groups and genres.

The point of it all is to raise awareness and funds for an organization that has worked wonders for local musical acts who are trying to take things up a notch. In particular, the Tambourine Bash helps support MEM’s Ambassador program, which includes grants to support artist tours, merch sales and industry/conference scholarships. 

In related news, MEM has also reopened applications for relief grants assisting artists who’ve suffered income loss due to Covid-19. Click here for details.

The Memphis Flyer has just received some sneak peeks into yesterday’s rehearsals at Royal Studios for tonight’s one-of-a-kind collaborations. After the small combos play, all the artists involved will play together in a “Super Jam” led by Royal co-owner and producer/engineer Boo Mitchell.

Talibah Safiya and Boo Mitchell prepare for the Tambourine Bash (Photo by Brandon Kinder)

The planned collaborative groups include some of the city’s most accomplished artists, including:

Group #1 Marcella, D’Vonna and David Parks 
Group #2 KadyRoxz, Jordan Occasionally and Talibah Safiya
Group #3 Unapologetic: Slimeroni, C Major, Kid Maestro and AWFM 
Group #4 Wealthy West, Bailey Bigger and Sensational Barnes Bros. 
Group #5 Louise Page, Alicja Trout and Faux Killas 
Group #6 Jody Stephens, Amy Lavere and Steve Selvidge 

Brandon Kinder, Boo Mitchell and others prepare for the Tambourine Bash (Photo by Brandon Kinder)

The Music Export Memphis Tambourine Bash takes place Thursday, October 14, at the Levitt Shell. 7 p.m. $25 General Admission, $100 VIP.

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Music Music Features

Music to Soothe the Soul: Cameron Bethany Performs at the Levitt Shell

Cameron Bethany (Credit: Darnell Allen)

Most Memphians might recognize artist Cameron Bethany as the son of a Southern preacher with an extraordinary voice — but Bethany’s unique musical and life experiences have deeply shaped who he is today. His music, his lyrics, his style, his personality, and his passion for the arts have all been influenced by his ever-changing life journey. “It’s hard to measure who I was back then and who I am today,” says Bethany. “My life is always changing, and often, as people, we don’t even realize when we’re in those changes.”

The Covid-19 pandemic is a concrete example of one of those major life changes. “I released any idea of a plan because if there’s one thing 2020 has taught me, it’s that we don’t have control over what’s going to happen,” Bethany says. The pandemic has put many live-music events on hold, and after three years, Bethany returns to give Memphians a captivating and nerve-calming experience at the Levitt Shell on Friday, October 15th, at 7 p.m.

The secular artist’s love for music began at church and only bloomed from there. Born into a religious family, church was more than just a Sunday service for Bethany; it was a lifestyle. “We were in church two or three times a week. Choir, bible study, Thursday service, Saturday choir rehearsal, and then Sunday — church. I was literally there … all day,” he says.

Although gospel music was the main soundtrack to Bethany’s life, his naturally free-spirited nature led him to venture out into other music genres. But it wasn’t easy. Around the age of 20, Bethany experienced an internal struggle when he began performing and doing gigs outside of church. “I would do the gigs and hurry up out of town,” Bethany remembers. “I was afraid that someone would tell my parents that they saw me performing music that wasn’t gospel.” Worried by the idea that secular music was somehow “wrong,” Bethany was taken by surprise when he discovered that his mother was actually enthusiastic and supportive.

While Bethany continued to do music part-time, a traumatic experience pushed him to leave the typical 9-5 job behind. “I experienced a murder where a resident took his sister’s and girlfriend’s life and then took his own life. It was that year that I said, ‘Enough is enough,’” Bethany says. “I don’t think I fully recovered from the shock of that.” After this experience, Bethany took some time to heal, tap deeper into himself, and think about his truest desires.

In 2017, Bethany’s music career continued to take off with the release of his album YouMakeMeNervous. The album paints a picture of his transformative journey of healing and self-discovery. “I was going through some rough things in life,” he says. “I was trying to find my way as an adult, and the album incorporates my journey of navigating love, my identity, my sexuality, trials I faced with the world — period.”

Bethany hopes that audiences will feel the rawness of his personality and expression through his performance. “I want it to be a nerve-calming experience. I want my audience to feel enchanted when they hear my music,” says Bethany. “I want them to feel my vulnerability.”

In addition to performing new original music and covers from his favorite songs and artists, Bethany has other projects currently in the works. The multifaceted artist is honing his craft in digital and graphic art, which will be sold at the Levitt Shell through Unapologetic. He is also hoping to create an animated television show inspired by the different zodiac signs.

“Ultimately, I want to make great music, great sounds, great art and put that out into the world,” Bethany says. “This is something that I’ve been yearning for. This is something I was called to do.”

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Music Music Features

I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: Bobby Rush, Scribe of the Blues

Bobby Rush (Photo: Justin Fox Burks)

UPDATE: Bobby Rush to play Levitt Shell on July 2nd

The blues is all about perspective. Think of how many classic songs of the genre urge you to take a step back and reflect, either on what’s plaguing you or on your good fortune. “The blues ain’t nothing but a botheration of your mind,” Blues Hall of Famer and Grammy Award winner Bobby Rush sings in “What Is the Blues?” — and just by saying it, he’s inviting us to contemplate. “I think, therefore I’m blue,” he seems to say, and every witticism, wry observation, and double entendre in his catalogue seems to confirm it.

So it’s been clear to anyone paying attention that Rush was a doctor of philosophy long before he received an honorary doctorate from Rhodes College in May. Now, with the publication of his autobiography, I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story, written with historian and composer Herb Powell (Hachette Books), it’s clearer than ever that Rush is a thinking person’s bluesman.

The title itself suggests a kind of meta-awareness. If you ain’t studdin’ someone, you’re not “studying” their hogwash. You’re not letting anyone’s claptrap worry you. In high-falutin’ terms, you’re not letting them frame the situation with whatever catastrophe (or gossip) they’ve cooked up.

It’s worth spelling out in a literal way because, as you read Rush’s book, you have to connect the dots yourself. He shows meanings by example. “I started lying about my age when I was 12, becoming 15 overnight — and I ain’t never looked back,” he writes on page one. “If you can’t give me a pass on that, then I ain’t studdin’ ya.”

It’s playful, heady stuff, and it captures Rush’s manner of speaking. Co-writer Powell wisely steps back and lets Rush’s voice unfold in true storytelling mode. And nearly every word reveals his poet’s eye for detail, the eye of the songwriter who’s wryly observed human behavior for decades.

“The sugarcane stalks were just starting to turn yellow in late September,” the book begins. “I looked at the back of Daddy’s hands as he massaged the stalk. The contrast of his boot-black skin against the greenish-yellow leaf looked like the stark colors that I only saw on the shelves of the general store.” With such vivid language, Rush is especially eloquent on the subject of his parents, and it’s clear that his father, a preacher and “a true bookworm,” played a large role in Rush’s philosophical bent.

The philosophy includes many hard-won lessons on the deadly absurdities of race in America — “White Devils, Green Money,” as one chapter puts it. Rush doesn’t paper over the injustices of growing up in the South; nor does he let such prejudices define him. He clearly ain’t studdin’ ’em; rather, like his father, he carries an indomitable dignity that has helped him weather the good times and the bad.

Yet, the man who emerges from these pages is a man of great faith and hope. Yes, his faith is of the Baptist variety, deeply informed by his father, but it’s also a secular faith in the more progressive side of the American Dream, a faith that justice is worth pursuing.

As it happens, and with impeccable timing, his more secular faith as a citizen is about to get some extra play, just a week after his book’s release. As a capstone to his many years as a visiting scholar in the arts at Rhodes’ Mike Curb Institute for Music and on the eve of his July 2nd show in the Shell Yeah! Benefit Concert Series at the Levitt Shell (originally scheduled for July 1st), Rush is releasing the single “America the Beautiful,” by Bobby Rush and the Curb Collective, featuring Eddie Cotton. The funky redo of the patriotic classic is a collaboration between the artist and students from the Curb Institute at Rhodes College that “pays tribute to our musical roots and celebrates our collective sounds as a nation.” Watch for Rush and his students to perform it live at his Levitt Shell show.

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We Recommend We Recommend

Vintage901’s Grand Tasting at the Levitt Shell to benefit ArtsMemphis

Vintage901 brings wine, food, and music to the Shell. (Photo by Paul Burns, Courtesy of Levitt Shell)

There’s something intoxicating about the clinking and tinkling of wine glasses. There is something exhilarating about the arts and community. Put them together and you have Vintage901.

Founder Stephanie Ferreira says, “The best things happen over wine and food. Wine, food, and music are the catalyst. The big-picture piece is all the people who come to the experience. Bringing people together. Community.”

In its fifth year, Vintage901’s Grand Tasting will look a little different. This year, it will be held at the Levitt Shell with safety in mind, using open pods so that the community feels connected.

“The Levitt Shell was built during the depression to build morale,” says Natalie Wilson, the Shell’s executive director. “We want to go back to our roots and build community in these uncertain times.”

This concept is a direct result of the pandemic.

“It’s going to be a space for more uses, for more people to experience the magic,” Wilson says. “We are so happy to have Vintage901 here at the Shell this year.”

There will be an afternoon session from noon to 3 p.m. and an evening session from 6 to 9 p.m. The sessions will be different so that participants can enjoy both.

The musical lineup includes Memphis Youth Symphony, Opera Memphis, Memphis Jazz Workshop, Hope Clayburn and the Soul Scrimmage, and a presentation by Memphis Black Arts Alliance. Chefs will include Chef Tamra “Chef Tam” Patterson, Chef Jimmy Gentry, and Chef Aaron Winters. Wine experts Michael Whaley and Rick Farwell return this year, along with Kym Clark, who will emcee for this one-day outdoor event. Proceeds will benefit ArtsMemphis.

Vintage901, Levitt Shell, 1928 Poplar, Saturday, May 15, noon-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., $100.

Categories
Art Feature

First Horizon Foundation Grants $450,000 to 18 Local Arts Organizations

Collage Dance Collective was a beneficiary of the ArtsFirst grant. (photo courtesy ArtsMemphis)

The local arts are getting another boost, this time to the tune of a cool $450,000.

Eighteen local organizations are set to benefit from the investment thanks to a partnership between ArtsMemphis — the primary arts funder for Memphis and Shelby County — and First Horizon Foundation.

“Arts organizations have persevered during this pandemic and, as a result, have uncovered new, innovative ways to engage audiences and create works we can all appreciate,” said Bo Allen, regional president for First Horizon. “We’re proud to partner with the arts community to help bring their programs and productions to life.”

The grant is part of ArtsMemphis’ ArtsFirst program, which aims to promote excellence and enrichment in the arts throughout Memphis and Shelby County. Since the program was founded in 2012, it has raised more than $4 million for 43 local arts organizations.

“Our city and county’s vibrancy in the arts would not be possible without corporate generosity,” said Elizabeth Rouse, president and CEO of ArtsMemphis. “First Horizon Foundation’s leadership and support of ArtsMemphis and arts organizations has been transformative. We are honored to celebrate 10 years of the ArtsFirst program and grateful for their investment to enable a powerful return of the arts this year. It’s an honor to work alongside their team to administer this unique grant program.”

Grant recipients pose on the lawn outside the Levitt Shell (photo courtesy ArtsMemphis)

Read the full list of ArtsFirst grant recipients and accompanying programs below:

  • Arrow Creative | Youth Summer Camp Scholarships
  • Ballet Memphis | Ballet Memphis Midtown Campaign
  • Carpenter Art Garden | Mosaic Program
  • Collage Dance Collective | Breaking Through Campaign
  • Creative Aging Memphis | Operating Support
  • Crosstown Arts | Crosstown Theater
  • Dixon Gallery and Gardens | Black Artists in America: 1929-1954
  • GPAC | The Grove at GPAC
  • Hattiloo Theatre | Sensory Friendly Shows
  • Levitt Shell | Operating Support
  • New Ballet Ensemble & School |Springloaded Gala 2021
  • Opera Memphis | Company Artists Sponsorships
  • Orpheum Theatre Group | Annual Auction
  • Soulsville Foundation | Stax Music Academy’s Music Career Fair and Spring Showcase
  • Tennessee Shakespeare Company | Season Sponsorship
  • The CLTV |Juneteenth Gala
  • Theatre Memphis | Season Sponsorship
  • UrbanArt Commission | Revisiting and Responding Project

Categories
Intermission Impossible Theater

Ballet Memphis Live and in Person (At Last)

Ballet Memphis rehearsal. Photo by Ziggy Mack.

Ballet Memphis’ first in-person program in a little over a year is “Paquita in the Park,” a program of three diverse works that will be done on the stage of the Levitt Shell this weekend.

“The dancers are so excited to perform in front of a live audience,” said Steven McMahon, artistic director of Ballet Memphis. “‘Paquita in the Park’ is outdoors, and the audience will be socially distanced, so it is not quite a return to ‘normal,’ but it feels like we are working our way towards it.”

The program will include:

Water of the Flowery Mill, choreographed by Matthew Neenan. The ballet was inspired by the Arshile Gorky painting of the same name, and is set to music by Tchaikovsky.

Being Here With Other People, choreographed by McMahon, is set to music by Beethoven.

Paquita, the ballet classic, is being staged by Julie Marie Niekrasz and McMahon after the choreography of Marius Petipa.

“We are optimistic about the future and hope that we will be able to present a regular season later this year,” McMahon said. “Until then, we are thrilled to be able to share our work in this capacity.”

The performance is an hour and a half and will include two short intermissions.

Attendees can bring lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets, or get food from food trucks that will sell only prepackaged food.

There is a reduced capacity of 400 tickets per show per Health Department guidelines, and masks are required.

Performances are 7 p.m. on Friday, April 9th and Saturday, April 10th. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 on the Ballet Memphis website.

Categories
Music Music Blog Music Features

Levitt Shell Announces First Shows of 2021

As the weather turns balmy, casual conversation has lately turned to the topic of the Levitt Shell, and how it may respond to this new era of widespread vaccinations. Wonder no more, music lovers. Today the Levitt Shell released a schedule of its first six shows of the year, two limited-capacity, ticketed concerts a month for May, June, and July.

(photo courtesy Levitt Shell)

While names of the performing artists involved are only being released one month at a time, we do know that May will feature the North Mississippi All-Stars (May 6th) and Tank & the Bangas (May 20th).

The Levitt Shell’s annual ticketed Orion Shell Yeah! Benefit Concert Series is typically limited to one or two per year. But now the Roosevelt-era venue is reintroducing the series as a celebration of the return to live music and outdoor conviviality. In partnership with chef Kelly English and a team of other Memphis chefs, the Levitt Shell will curate a unique, picnic style dinner dubbed “Tasty Compositions” for each concert.

Presented by Roadshow BMW, the series will be limited capacity with socially distanced pod experiences on the Shell lawn. Dates for the series are May 6th and 20th, June 3rd and 17th, and July 1st and 15th.

And an announcement of free shows is not far off, as Executive Director Natalie Wilson notes, “This vital series powers the continued preservation of the Shell and the return to free, live music from our historic stage in the fall.” The upcoming ticketed Shell Yeah series “allows us the opportunity to gift Memphis with a rich diversity of music from all over world.”

For his part, Chef Kelly English is excited. “The Shell is one of the places in Memphis that has always been an epicenter of authentic moments and organic experiences for me,” he said. “I am proud to be a part of its story and to work with a truly diverse group of restaurants to bring it back from slumber.” 

Participating chefs in the series include:

Kelly English: Iris/Second Line/Fino’s 

Bala Tounkara: Bala’s Bistro

Jimmy Gentry: Paradox Catering

Ryan Trimm: Sweetgrass/117 Prime/Sunrise

Karen Carrier: Beauty Shop/Hazel’s Delicatessen

Philip Ashley Rix: Philip Ashley Chocolates 

Ben Smith: Tsunami

Eli Townsend: Townsend Food Services

Nuha Abuduhair: 17 Berkshire 

Jason Severs: Bari

For more information about the Orion Shell Yeah! Benefit Concert Series, visit www.levittshell.org. Tickets will be on sale online at Ticketmaster.com starting April 9th.

Categories
News The Fly-By

MEMernet: WTF? on Ebay, AlGreens, and Shell Shock

WTF? for sale

Now you can own a piece of Flyer history. Our 2016 election issue with the “WTF?” headline can be yours on eBay for the low, low price of $100. It was free four years ago. But weren’t we all?

Its condition? Used, but in good shape. Where is it? Olive Branch.

Posted to eBay by butlernation2019

AlGreens

Don’t even care if this wasn’t in Memphis. Still Memphis AF.

Posted by u/productiveslacker73

Shell Shock

You weren’t a citizen of the MEMernet last week if you didn’t read about/see pictures of the grafitti at the Levitt Shell. Graceland and the I Love Memphis mural on Cooper were hit, too. But the Shell’s Facebook post about the graffiti was somehow the sparkiest spark on social.

People raged at the Shell and those upset by the graffiti, accusing them of caring more about “free music” than the lives of Black people. Facebooker Sarah Rushakoff pored over the Shell’s leadership lineup, finding its diversity lacking.

The day after the post, the Shell said on Facebook it had “multiple conversations” and “we appreciate your honesty and willingness to be vocal.”