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Tambourine Bash Showcases “How Deep Our Bench Is” in Music

Once again, it’s time to expect the unexpected. When Music Export Memphis (MEM) stages its annual fundraiser, The Tambourine Bash, it’s more than just a celebration of local artists in all their diversity. Rather, MEM throws together those diverse players in one-of-a-kind combos that might represent two or three bands at once, all collaborating on unique sets that lead to some intriguing cross-pollinations.

That time is upon us once more, with the event happening at the Overton Park Shell this Thursday, October 12, at 7 p.m. All ticket sales benefit MEM, the equally one-of-a-kind organization that gives Memphis bands a boost as no other nonprofit can.

To see what’s in store this year, I spoke with Elizabeth Cawein, MEM’s founder and executive director. With a Grammy winner headlining, and at least 17 different bands or artists represented, her enthusiasm was palpable.

Memphis Flyer: It seems the Tambourine Bash really came into its own when the Overton Park Shell started hosting the event.

Elizabeth Cawein: This is our third year at the Shell, so it’s our third year to really execute our vision of collaboration at this scale. And it’s really exciting and kind of satisfying to me that we typically put about 30 musicians on this stage, and I haven’t repeated any of those acts yet. You know, I have no doubt that I wouldn’t have a problem doing the same thing next year. You know, not everyone knows how deep our bench is, even Memphians. and so it feels good to be able to prove that year after year with this event. And what they come up with is just magical every time.

Do you personally curate the collaborations, selecting who will be in the ad hoc groups?

Yeah, I’ve put together all of the collaborative groups and it’s something that I definitely enjoy doing. In fact, I already have a note on my phone for Tambourine Bash 2024, where I’m jotting down ideas, and that’s pretty typical. I put them together and then we give them a few instructions like, “Here are some things you might consider. You could work up new arrangements of each other’s music, you could cover Memphis classics, or you could write a new song together.” I know for sure that one of this year’s collaborative groups has written a new song. Typically every year we have at least one or two that do, but every set is completely different in terms of how they’ve decided to embrace it, so we won’t know until tomorrow night.

Thursday’s headliner is Grammy-winner Cedric Burnside. Who will he be collaborating with?

It’s going to be the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band! So, of course, they’re no strangers to the Shell stage. And what I love about it is that both Cedric and the Rising Stars have headlined our AmericanaFest showcase that we do every year in Nashville. Cedric headlined it in 2018, and Shardé Thomas and Rising Stars headlined in 2019. So it’s kind of cool to have them now together doing some cool collaboration.

Will Boo Mitchell lead all the artists in a large group performance at the end, as in years past?

Yes, that is an every-year thing. It’s our finale that we call the Super Jam, and rehearsals for that happened at Royal Studios on Sunday. And the songs are always a secret. So you not do not want to leave your seat, because at the end you will definitely see every performer come on stage. The stage is totally full of people, and it’s just a really good time. Boo is gracious enough to produce that for us every year.

Have all the artists who are collaborating Thursday worked with Music Export Memphis?

Almost every single one I can think of. Maybe one or two haven’t specifically gotten a grant from us yet. But almost every single one has, and I will tell you that most all of them, or many of them, received support from us during the pandemic. And most of them have also received tour grants or merch grants, or they’ve been on festival showcases with us. So we certainly consider all of them to be Music Export Memphis ambassadors in one way or another.

How does MEM compare to nonprofits in other cities that support musicians and bands?

People should know that there’s not another organization in any other city doing this type of work. You know, we’re really unique nationally. And I think that should be a great point of pride and hope for us. I hope that people who want to support the Memphis music scene will get behind our work, because MEM is this unique thing we have that sets us apart from other cities, just like our music itself. And you know, when you support an event like this, it means that funding is going into musicians pockets. It’s going to grants, but it’s also going to things like the advocacy work we do, where we’re really trying to improve working musician’s lives in our city.

The featured artists in this year’s Tambourine Bash are:
Cedric Burnside + Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band
Cory Branan + Brennan Villines + Alice Hasen
Qemist + Telisu + Raneem
Dirty Streets + Alexis Grace + Deonna Sirod
Chris Milam + Alexis Jade + Mighty Souls Brass Band
Mak Ro + Ariel Reign + Tangela

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Music Music Blog

Memphis Tourism Rolls Out New Music Hub Website

Memphis is a music city’s music city, as people who live here know very well. The challenge is reminding others of the embarrassment of riches we have. While many foundations have come and gone to do just that, locals, especially musicians whose livelihood depends on a hopping night life, have hoped for a more concerted promotional effort to help build profile. As of yesterday, we’ve taken a major step in the right direction.

Memphis Tourism, aka The Memphis Tourism Educational Foundation, has recently been taking a more pro-active role in promoting the city, and now they can boast a full fledged web presence promoting the city’s music. Their website at www.memphistravel.com took on a whole new dimension yesterday with the unveiling of its Music Hub pages.

The foundation’s music specialist, Jayne Ellen White, seemed undeniably proud of this new web portal and its various features. “The About Memphis Music section, and the Memphis Music Resources pages are my favorite sections to explore and see all of the assets the Memphis music industry has to offer including Memphis labels, studios, music venues, and more–– but the “What Is Your Memphis Music Vibe?” quiz is really fun too.”

On a more pragmatic level, prospective visitors and music fans can find a diverse, up-to-date guide to the many events and venues where music can be found. There’s even a link to inquire about booking Memphis artists. What’s not to love?

This follows on the heels of some major on-the-ground success stories that the foundation has had on the music front of late. They’ve had a hand in some very high-profile events, including the recent Jam in the Van series, the Liverpool & Memphis exchange program, and the Memphis Masters, a limited video series celebrating various albums from the iconic Stax Records label.

If you make a virtual visit to their page, give yourself some time. It’s easy to get lost in the many layers of images, information, and music, especially once you discover their AllMemphisMusic (AMM) Radio

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Music Music Blog

The Tambourine Bash: Showing Music Export Memphis Some Love

Talibah Safiya

Ah, the embarrassment of riches in a music city like Memphis. To see artists of the caliber of Nick Black, Marcella Simien, Talibah Safiya, Daz Rinko, the Unapologetic Crew and Future Everything, on two stages, is a stunning night out. The line up represents many of the latest contenders for carrying this city’s torch of genre-bending, groundbreaking music. And they’re just a sample of local artists who have benefited from the efforts of the relatively new nonprofit, Music Export Memphis, whose annual fund-raiser tonight features such artists and more.

Since last July, over two dozen bands or performers have received tour support and other funds from Music Export Memphis  to up their profiles. The nonprofit tallies that as 60 individual musicians from the heart of the city’s scene, all thankful for gaining a little more momentum in a precarious life on the road. As one of MEM’s beneficiaries (full disclosure), I should know. Having toured with the Ultrasounds, I can well appreciate the words of my boss, James Godwin, who was named one of MEM’s Ambassadors last year. (All told, MEM Ambassadors have played more than 140 shows in more than 100 U.S. cities, plus 10 countries in Europe and Asia).
Richard Schut

James & the Ultrasounds in Liverpool, 2018.

“Touring is very stressful on a person’s overall well-being,” says Godwin. “So just knowing that we had a decent place to stay after the gig rather than sleeping on someone’s floor or in a seedy motel provides a good deal of comfort and assurance. We couldn’t have done the tour without the grant. We could’ve, I suppose, but we would’ve more than likely frozen to death somewhere between London and Norwich.”

So tonight’s fund-raiser for the nonprofit feels more like a celebration of what they’ve already done. Sure, they would like music fans to stoke the fires for future work by attending their event, but this is also a good time for everyone to just give the nonprofit a hand.

When the Flyer first profiled organization founder Elizabeth Cawein’s vision in 2017, little did we anticipate the group’s success rate on the ground less than two years later. Beyond tour support, the organization is stepping up and speaking out in other markets far and wide. As their own information sheet touts:

  • MEM’s third annual showcase at AmericanaFest in Nashville, The Pure Memphis Happy Hour, drew 250 music industry attendees to see five Memphis bands and landed Talibah Safiya in NPR Music’s Best of AmericanaFest coverage. It also paid out $2,500 to Memphis artists and featured Memphis brands and culture bearers like MemPops, Old Dominick Distillery, Memphis Made Brewing, and IndieMemphis film festival.

  • For the first time, we attended A3C hip hop festival in Atlanta, where we produced a showcase featuring an all-Memphis line-up and supported three artists and one producer to attend the affiliated music industry conference, totaling more than $6,000 in support for travel, lodging and conference access.

  • In 2019, MEM will produce surprise pop-up events in key markets (including St. Louis, this Saturday, April 20) in addition to our beloved Memphis showcases at industry festivals

  • In 2018, MEM launched its Export Bank, expanding opportunities for Memphis musicians through strategic partnerships and ensuring that wherever the Memphis story is being told, music is at the center. MEM has already committed to more than $1,500 in artist payments for Export Bank partners this year.

Ultimately, no endorsements or numbers can say it quite as directly as Memphis’ own John Paul Keith, who’s just completed a massive tour of Europe to great acclaim. “For years people have been trying to figure out how to help Memphis music,” says Keith. “But this is a real, tangible, and welcome help. I can breathe a little easier about the economics of this tour now.”

The Tambourine Bash benefiting MEM, Thursday, April 18, 7-10 pm, at the Century House, 151 Vance Avenue. $50 ticket includes food from The Majestic Grille, cocktails featuring The Spirit of Memphis Music by Old Dominick Distillery, a rock star photo booth, and a silent auction featuring Memphis music items, from private house concerts to signed rare vinyl and more.