Tag: Music Export Memphis

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Music Music Features

‘Yeah, You’re a Folk Musician!’

Photo: Lucia Lombardo

This year’s Folk Alliance International (FAI) conference and awards show, which just happened in Kansas City last week, was especially meaningful for Rachel Maxann. It was on this, her third visit to the annual gathering of global folkies, that she was first featured as an artist in the conference’s Official Showcase. And that’s causing her to look back in wonder at the musical journey she’s been on since moving to Memphis.

“I think living in Memphis really helped me embrace the folksiness of my music in a way that I hadn’t before,” she reflects now. “Because, as a Black female, I’ve always written songs like this, but I hadn’t really thought of myself as a folk musician. I would just call it ‘indie singer songwriter’ because I hadn’t seen that representation before. Of course, I admired the greats like Tracy Chapman, who’s finally getting her flowers once again.” Indeed, Chapman just garnered a Lifetime Achievement Award at the FAI last week. Yet not long ago, learning of the many other uncategorizable artists beyond Chapman was an epiphany of sorts for Maxann.

“It wasn’t until I moved to Memphis that I heard people like Valerie June, or Amythyst Kiah, or Allison Russell, and all these other amazing like Black female folk artists,” she says. “I really started embracing that. And then of course, the community of Memphis and Music Export Memphis [MEM] were full of people that were like, ‘Yeah, you’re a folk musician!’ And I’m like, ‘You know, I am.’ It was Elizabeth [Cawein of MEM] who reached out to me about signing up for the FAI. Here we are a few years later.”

She’s been busy in that time, having followed up her 2019 debut, Fickle Hellcat, with last year’s Black Fae, and the sonic evolution between the two has been striking. Whereas her debut captured the sound of her band running through a set of her eclectic originals, Black Fae aims for more ambitious production and offers more surprises. It first reveals Maxann’s embrace of her inner folk artist, opening with only her voice and acoustic guitar on “Wait for Me.” But it ranges far and wide from there, often with her well-honed band, but sometimes beyond that. The sweeping synths of “Goddess,” for example, could be one of those ’90s tracks by Brian Eno and John Cale, if they’d had Annie Lennox singing. For Maxann, reaching in these ways is the point, and that’s especially true of her latest single, “The Tides,” slated to drop on March 4th.

“When I release the song, it will be a version with just me and my guitar, singing solo, but there’s also the band version. I’m going to be doing both the versions at Folk Alliance as well. And then there’s also a version with my trio [featuring Tamar Love on cello and Alice Hasen on violin]. There are so many versions of the song! I will also be releasing the trio version as a lyric video. So you know, whatever version of ‘The Tides’ you like the best, it’ll be out there. Choose your own adventure!” she laughs, then adds, “Those are my favorite types of books.”

In the meantime, not overly concerned with genre tags, Maxann will continue to go where her deepest feelings take her, always expressed through her powerful voice, steeped in soul but with the plainspokenness of folk. Some call it the latter, but don’t expect any political anthems: Maxann embraces more of the personal side of folk than the music’s more activist tradition.

“I just take whatever I’m feeling and transform it into a cathartic experience via music,” she explains. “I did an interview a while ago, and one of the questions was, ‘Do you feel the need to write about being Black, or being queer, or being a woman in folk?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, not necessarily. I feel that just by writing the songs that I do, singing my experience, that in itself is singing about being Black, female, queer, or whatever. I feel like I’d be forcing it if I tried to sit down and write a protest song. If it inspires me one day, if it comes to me like that, I totally will. I’m not against it. It just hasn’t ever really hit me like that.’”

Rachel Maxann will appear at Hernando’s Hide-a-way on Friday, March 8th, as part of a songwriters-in-the-round show, and on March 28th, opening for Dale Hollow.

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Music Music Blog

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

The Super Jam from Tambourine Bash 2022 (Credit: Greg Thompson)

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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We Saw You

We Saw You: Hosting a Memphis Music Concert in Your Living Room

I didn't sing, but I enjoyed hearing Amy LaVere and Will Sexton at a Music Export Memphis house concert (Credit: Jonathan Finder)

I think one of the best ways to hear music is to sit in somebody’s living room and be entertained by performers. It seems like that’s almost a thing of the past for many people.

I always liked scenes in old movies, where wealthy people had recitals in their homes. I’m thinking of the funniest movie I’ve ever seen: The Awful Truth. One of the many great scenes in this 1937 movie is when Cary Grant accidentally enters a room where a recital featuring his wife, Irene Dunn, is singing to a group of women. 

That’s all I’m going to say about that. I won’t be a spoiler. You’ve got to see this film if you never have.

But all of this is leading up to a great event I attended recently. Dr. Jonathan and Jana Finder (pronounced “Fender,” like the guitar), held a Music Export Memphis house concert in their living room on June 25th. Amy LaVere and Will Sexton and Church Brothers — Jacob and Ben Church — performed individual sets. 

Ben and Jacob Church of Church Brothers perform at the home of Dr. Jonathan and Jana Finder (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Jana and Dr. Jonathan Finder at a Music Export Memphis house concert in their living room (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Jana made the food. Tons of food, including the best strawberry cake I’ve ever eaten. And it wasn’t even iced.

Jonathan, a pediatric pulmonologist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, learned about Music Export Memphis through his neighbor, Cameron Mann, a member the Music Export Memphis board as well as a veteran musician and a former owner of Young Avenue Sound.

“He’s a great guy,” Jonathan says. “And he actually was the person who said, ‘Hey, you guys like giving house concerts and you’re big supporters of Memphis music. You’d be a natural to house a concert for Music Export Memphis.’ 

“And he was right. We are big supporters of Memphis music, especially the local Midtown music scene. And the majority of our friends are musicians who feel as passionate about music as we do.”

Jonathan chose the musicians he wanted to perform at their house concert. “Amy and Will have a great sound and a cool vibe about their music. And, also, people love them and know about them and I thought they would be a draw. I thought they’d be a great headline act because they’re well known. They travel around the world. And they’re well-respected musicians.”

He also wanted Church Brothers. “I think they’re incredible. I think they don’t get enough recognition and I think they deserve more and I wanted to feature them. Because I think they should be on everybody’s radar.”

Trying to get in the act again. Me with Ben and Jacob Church of Church Brothers at a Music Export Memphis house concert at the home of Jana and Dr. Jonathan Finder (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Jonathan wasn’t kidding about him and Jana being big supporters of Memphis music. It seems like they’re always at a concert or entertaining musicians at their home or at a restaurant. I’m not kidding. Not to mention the big weekend swimming parties, which feature a who’s who of Memphis Midtown performers singing poolside or swimming.

Music Export Memphis is “a non-profit export office for Memphis music,” says board chair Baylee Less, who attended the Finder concert. “Basically, the idea is we create opportunities for our local musicians to showcase outside of the city and help them grow in their careers.”

That includes providing money for them to showcase at events, including Americana Fest, Folk Alliance, and Toronto’s NXNE (North by Northeast).

And, Less adds, “We’ll just provide them with direct tour support. If a musician is going on tour for five or more dates, they’re eligible for grant funding to help them fund their tour.”

Touring, she says, is “one of the best ways for them to grow their careers.”

As for the house concerts, Less says, “It’s one of the ways we raise funds for the organization. We try to do one or two a month. If you’re interested in supporting them and excited about the work, you can have live musicians in your living room. Invite your friends over and have some musicians perform at your house.”

The house concerts are free, but the host sets a fundraising goal as to how much money they plan to raise in donations at the event. “Almost all the hosts hit the goal.”

Music Export Memphis representatives “give an overview of the organization in the middle of the event and ask for donations for the work. And we sell t-shirts and stuff like that.”

Like the Finders, hosts can feature musicians they already know or Music Export Memphis can help select the performers. They also set up all the audio equipment as well as an event page and help manage the RSVP list “to make it really easy to invite people.”

“So, really, the hosts are opening their home and having a few snacks and drinks for people and setting their fundraising goals and saying they support Music Export Memphis. We, really, handle everything else.”

They’ve assisted with everything from  “a pool party with 75 people” to an “indoor Midtown living room” party with 10 people invited, Less says. “It’s how many people can fit in the space.”

If you’re interested in hosting a Music Export Memphis house party, contact the organization’s executive director Elizabeth Cawein at elizabeth@musicexportmemphis.org.

For more information, check out their web page at musicexportmemphis.org.

Cameron Mann, Baylee Less, and Morgan Massey of Music Export Memphis at a house concert at the home of Jana and Dr. Jonathan Finder (Credit: Michael Donahue)

We Saw You
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News News Blog

Arts Recovery Fund Reaches Goal

Stax Music Academy students creating video for Rhythm & Revolution in 2021. (Credit: Billie Worley)

The pandemic dealt a brutal blow to the local arts scene, forcing arts groups and funding organizations to pull together and find ways to survive.

One of the significant efforts was a partnership among ArtsMemphis, the Memphis Music Initiative, and Music Export Memphis that resulted in the recent completion of a $1.8 million Arts Recovery Fund. The focus of the fund was — and still is — to support individual artists and arts organizations, particularly those that had fewer opportunities for government relief funding due to capacity or revenue.

About $845,000 has been distributed to various groups and individuals. The remaining funds will be given out over the next year or so.

As stated by organizers, the fund aims to “accelerate recovery and support a resilient arts ecosystem by providing an immediate and targeted infusion of investment into the people, processes and programming that will make our arts community stronger and more accessible.”

The money given out so far includes:

  • $250,000 to the Black Arts Fund, a holistic and comprehensive capacity-building effort with Memphis Music Initiative serving 15 Black- and Brown-led local organizations with annual revenue under $500,000.
  • $145,000 of direct artist support that continues the Artist Emergency Fund that helped artists of varying disciplines in 2020 and 2021. The funding was designed to initially support artists immediately impacted by the widespread shut-downs, and is now aiming to support artist recovery.
  • $450,000 for unrestricted operating support sub-grants. These went to 36 of ArtsMemphis’ operating support grantees with smaller budgets.

Over the next year to year-and-a-half, the Arts Recovery Fund will distribute additional monies to individual artists and art organizations for short-term needs and long-term planning. Those include $375,000 for individual artist support, and $640,000 for arts organization support.

Funding has come from a variety of sources, including AutoZone, Belz Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis’ Midsouth COVID Regional Response Fund, FedEx, First Horizon Foundation, Hyde Foundation, Kresge Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and individual contributors.

Elizabeth Rouse, president and CEO of ArtsMemphis, said, “Memphis was just one of 22 communities across the country to get $500,000 from the American Rescue Plan through the NEA to distribute. That was part of the recovery fund that we’ve already distributed.”

She said, “The good thing is we’re able to be flexible and for this to evolve as the needs change. In the last several months, thankfully, the state of Tennessee, through the American Rescue Plan, invested a significant amount of money in mostly large arts organizations. So through this recovery fund, we’re going to be able to prioritize some of those smaller groups that haven’t had as much access to those government funds.”

Putting all this together required an unprecedented effort at collaboration and partnerships.

“In March of 2020, arts organizations of all sizes and of all artistic disciplines started coming together to meet every other week,” Rouse said, “basically about how they were shutting down and how they were navigating Human Resources issues and Paycheck Protection Program [PPP] loans.”

As terrible as the pandemic became, there were beneficial results from the efforts of groups and individuals to deal with the widespread shut-downs.

“Arts leaders who didn’t know each other at all were all of a sudden going through the same things together,” Rouse said. “So, in a lot of ways, I think the arts community is more connected and working together more closely. The other amazing thing, and to me one of the most exciting things that’s happened, is all the creativity that has come over the last two or three years as artists had to change the way they were creating content. I think we’ll continue to see new partnerships and different artistic disciplines working together. In a lot of ways, the arts are almost more accessible now than they were before because arts organizations are changing how they deliver those opportunities.”

She pointed to some of the collaborations that have recently flourished, such as Ballet Memphis and the Stax Music Academy performing together at Crosstown, and the Carpenter Art Garden teaming up with the Iris Orchestra. “Their art forms complement each other and make for a more enhanced experience, but also it’s a way to reach audiences that a single group couldn’t reach on their own.”

Meanwhile, funders had to also think and act creatively and quickly to make an impact.

The Kresge Foundation, for example, provided support to the Recovery Fund early in the pandemic, with some of it “specific to the capacity-building program that Memphis Music Initiative is running for small organizations,” Rouse said. “These organizations expanded their work and are now creating structures to be able to sustain it and to grow.”

Local funders also provided crucial support “above what they normally do to support the art sector, and we’ve been grateful for that.”

When things settle down and get into the groove of the “new normal,” Rouse hopes arts organizations can take the next several years and use some of this recovery funding to plan for a new future. “That new future is not necessarily going to be anything like the past,” she says. “You know, we’re never going to go back to a time when earned revenue looks the same for these organizations. My hope is that they really use these next couple of years to collaboratively plan for what the new future looks like, what new business models look like.”

She mentions that pre-pandemic, only about half of arts groups had a reserve or endowment. “I hope in the next couple of years, that organizations will have created structures that help them to be in a better situation should something happen.”

Rouse said that “there are tons of offerings as organizations have launched their new seasons and after-school programs get restarted. It’s an exciting August and September time. And it’s good for these organizations that are continuing to have to make changes and evolve and be flexible.”

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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 Blog

The Flow: Live-Streamed Music Events This Week, August 27-September 2

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Justin Fox Burks

Unapologetic

Bands have continued to favor live-streamed shows over in-person concerts out of concern for the health of themselves and others. This is doubly so when they lend their talents to a fundraiser for those who have lost so many work opportunities lately. Case in point: the Unapologetic collective’s show this Saturday for the Music Export Memphis COVID-19 Relief Fund. Expect more from this series, dubbed Hold On, We’re Coming, in the near future.

REMINDER: The Memphis Flyer supports social distancing in these uncertain times. Please live-stream responsibly. We remind all players that even a small gathering could recklessly spread the coronavirus and endanger others. If you must gather as a band, please keep all players six feet apart, preferably outside, and remind viewers to do the same.

ALL TIMES CDT

Thursday, August 27
Noon
Live DJ – Downtown Memphis Virtual Carry Out Concert
Facebook

7 p.m.
The Rusty Pieces
Facebook

8 p.m.
Devil Train – at B-Side
Facebook

Friday, August 28
8 p.m.
Jordan Occasionally – Ixora Sessions
Facebook

Saturday, August 29
8 p.m.
Blvck Hippie – Memphis Made Brewing Co. at Growlers
Facebook

8 p.m.
Unapologetic – Live at Dirty Socks, for Music Export Memphis Covid-19 Relief
Facebook    Tickets

Sunday, August 30
3 p.m.
Dale Watson – Chicken $#!+ Bingo
Facebook

4 p.m.
Bill Shipper – For Kids (every Sunday)
Facebook

8 p.m.
8Ball & MJG – Minglewood Hall
Facebook  Tickets

Monday, August 31
8 p.m.
John Paul Keith (every Monday)
YouTube

Tuesday, September 1
7 p.m.
Bill Shipper (every Tuesday)
Facebook

8 p.m.
Mario Monterosso (every Tuesday)
Facebook

Wednesday, September 2
7 p.m.
Amy LaVere & Will Sexton
Facebook

8 p.m.
Richard Wilson (every Wednesday)
Facebook

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Music Music Blog

The Flow: Live-Streamed Music Events This Week, August 13-19

CREDIT: courtesy Music Export Memphis

courtesy Music Export Memphis

Ben Nichols

This week, the live-streamed shows are back in force, including that rarity, a ticketed live-stream event. But it’s for a good cause: as part of Music Export Memphis’ Hold On We’re Coming: A Concert Series for COVID Relief, Ben Nichols will perform live at the Hi-Tone. Other stalwarts continue to fill the internet with musical vibrations. Check them out, and don’t forget to tip the players generously.

REMINDER: The Memphis Flyer supports social distancing in these uncertain times. Please live-stream responsibly. We remind all players that even a small gathering could recklessly spread the coronavirus and endanger others. If you must gather as a band, please keep all players six feet apart, preferably outside, and remind viewers to do the same.

ALL TIMES CDT

Thursday, August 13
Noon
Amy LaVere & Will Sexton
Facebook

Noon
Live DJ – Downtown Memphis Virtual Carry Out Concert
Facebook

7 p.m.
The Rusty Pieces
Facebook

8 p.m.
Devil Train – at B-Side
Facebook

Friday, August 14
Noon
DJ DanceAlone – Virtual Fridays in HSP
Facebook

8 p.m.
Ben Nichols – Music Export Memphis COVID-19 Benefit
Facebook  Eventbrite

8 p.m.
Archaeas – Live on Goner TV
Twitch TV

Saturday, August 15
1:30 p.m.
Michael Graber – Microdose
Facebook

3 p.m.
Drum AmalgaNation
Facebook

Sunday, August 16
3 p.m.
Dale Watson – Chicken $#!+ Bingo
Facebook

4 p.m.
Bill Shipper – For Kids (every Sunday)
Facebook

Monday, August 17
8 p.m.
John Paul Keith (every Monday)
YouTube

Tuesday, August 18
7 p.m.
Bill Shipper (every Tuesday)
Facebook

8 p.m.
Mario Monterosso (every Tuesday)
Facebook

Wednesday, August 19
8 p.m.
Richard Wilson (every Wednesday)
Facebook

8 p.m.
Turnstyles – at B-Side Bar
Facebook

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Music Music Blog

The Flow: Live-Streamed Music Events This Week, July 30-August 5

Lipstick Stains

This week, we not only have an extra show from the live-stream stalwarts at B-Side Bar, there’s an award show dedicated to the great country music of Arkansas. All of this, plus the regular performers who keep the live-stream flames burning, make for another great week of Memphis music.

REMINDER: The Memphis Flyer supports social distancing in these uncertain times. Please live-stream responsibly. We remind all players that even a small gathering could recklessly spread the coronavirus and endanger others. If you must gather as a band, please keep all players six feet apart, preferably outside, and remind viewers to do the same.

ALL TIMES CDT

Thursday, July 30
Noon
Amy LaVere & Will Sexton
Facebook

Noon
Live DJ – Downtown Memphis Virtual Carry Out Concert
Facebook

7 p.m.
The Rusty Pieces
Facebook

8 p.m.
Lipstick Stains – Ixora Sessions
Facebook

8 p.m.
Devil Train – at B-Side
Facebook

Friday, July 31
Noon
Alex Walls – Virtual Fridays in HSP
Facebook

8 p.m.
The City Champs – Music Export Memphis COVID Relief Fund Benefit at B-Side
Facebook

Saturday, August 1
1:30 p.m.
Michael Graber – Microdose
Facebook

8 p.m.
Sheiks & Toy Trucks –  at B-Side
Facebook

Sunday, August 2
3 p.m.
Dale Watson – Chicken $#!+ Bingo
Facebook

4 p.m.
Bill Shipper – For Kids (every Sunday)
Facebook

Monday, August 3
8 p.m.
Arkansas Country Music Awards
Facebook     Arkansas Music

8 p.m.
John Paul Keith (every Monday)
Facebook

Tuesday, August 4
7 p.m.
Bill Shipper (every Tuesday)
Facebook

8 p.m.
Mario Monterosso (every Tuesday)
Facebook

Wednesday, August 5
8 p.m.
Richard Wilson (every Wednesday)
Facebook

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Music Music Blog

The Sweet Solace of Safe @ Home

Just about everyone is working from home these days — even musicians. Today marks the release of Safe @ Home, an album made by two musicians sheltering in place in separate locations. Multi-instrumentalists Jeff Hulett and Jacob Church recorded the songs — in pieces — from their respective Midtown homes, and all proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit Music Export Memphis (MEM) and their COVID-19 Fund for musicians.

Jacob Edwards

“We made this album all in quarantine over the past six weeks,” Hulett says. He used GarageBand and his smartphone to record acoustic guitar, vocals, drums, and keyboard sounds. Hulett then sent his tracks to Church, who used Pro Tools to record electric guitar, bass, drums and percussion, vocals, and more. Church mixed and mastered the album — with the exception of “N. Belvedere,” which was recorded and mixed by Andrew McCalla.

“This was a great opportunity to get to know Jacob Church more and try something completely different,” Hulett says. “His musicianship is top notch. I’m more of a rough-around-the-edges-type musician, so that pairing worked quite nicely. I’ve known Jacob for several years peripherally as he’s mixed and mastered some solo stuff and Me & Leah stuff. Then in February we did an in the round at DKDC with Graham Winchester. Little did we know then we’d be releasing an album together on May 1st. Strange how things come together sometimes, I guess.”

Samilia Colar

Safe @ Home is suffused with a longing that speaks to the loneliness of life under lockdown. It’s a loneliness cut with sweetness, though — these are songs about friendship and love. Their sweetness and the wonderfully lo-fi pop production call to mind youthful friendships and long summer days when hours stretched, thick as honeysuckle-scented August air. In some ways the album feels like being grounded on a summer day in middle school — it’s the frustration of FOMO mingled with the satisfying certainty that, when this is over, the reunions will be twice as sweet. “Watch Out,” the album closer, is a stand-out track on an album that, except for the immediacy of the emotional content of the songs, does not feel as though it were only six weeks in the making. 

Amanda McKnight

Andrew Costen

Further underlining the themes of collaboration and togetherness in spite of separation, each track on the seven-song album has a corresponding piece of art by a Memphis-based or formerly Memphis-based visual artist. “I’m an extrovert by nature so I’m always eager to collaborate and be in community with people,” Hulett says. “The biggest honor for me on this album was bringing as many people together as possible. From artists, to musicians to graphic designers to videographers this thing — all done in isolation — has brought so many people together.”


Between them, Church and Hulett have played with a multitude of noteworthy Memphis bands (think Snowglobe, The Ammunition, Me & Leah, and more), and the Memphis connections show. There are shades of Snowglobe, Chris Bell, and, at least to this listener’s ears, Shannon McNally’s pitch-perfect cover of Jim Dickinson’s “The Outlaw” from The Wandering. In all, Safe @ Home is an album that embraces both the bittersweet sadness of separation and the comfort of connection. 


Jeff Hulett and Jacob Church’s Safe @ Home is available via Bandcamp. All proceeds benefit Music Export Memphis.

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News The Fly-By

Week That Was: Data, Abortion, and Domestic Violence

Clockwise from top left: abortion, domestic violence, art fund, Gov. Bill Lee, transmission rates, Mid-South Food Bank, shop local


New Data

Tennessee’s coronavirus transmission rate fell over the past week, according to new data from researchers at Vanderbilt University, though the virus situation here remains “delicate and uncertain.”

Virus models from the Nashville university pushed the state’s peak of the virus from mid-April, according to one national model, to mid-May or mid-June, depending on new restrictions on social distancing.

Protecting Abortion

The Center for Reproductive Rights, along with two other organizations, is challenging an order by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee that essentially bans abortion procedures in the state.

Earlier this month, in an executive order responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee moved to limit “non-emergency healthcare procedures” until at least the end of the month. The order does not specifically cite abortion services, but instead reads in part, “All healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities in the state of Tennessee shall postpone surgical and invasive procedures that are elective and non-urgent.”

The Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the ACLU of Tennessee filed an emergency lawsuit last week to challenge the order.

The lawsuit argues that the governor’s order effectively bans abortion in the sate, violating Roe v. Wade, as well as women’s rights to liberty and autonomy under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Domestic Violence

As the pandemic continues and stay-at-home orders remain in place, one advocate said it is “common sense” that domestic violence will heighten.

Deborah Clubb, executive director of the Memphis Area Women’s Council, said most in her field are “very worried” for those in abusive or violent domestic relationships.

The biggest concern during this time, “as people are locked in together day after day, week after week,” Clubb said, is a rise in domestic violence homicides. However, there are resources to help those in dangerous situations at home.

Clubb said how one seeks help and relief from domestic violence depends largely on each individual’s circumstance. See a list of agencies and their phone numbers below.

Schools Closed

Governor Bill Lee said last week that he wants all Tennessee schools to remain closed throughout the remainder of the school year.

In a tweet after the announcement, Lee said he’s working with the Tennessee Department of Education to “ensure there is flexibility for districts to complete critical year-end activities.”

The tweet garnered dozens of responses within the first hour after it was published. Many of them from students, were like this:

Week That Was: Data, Abortion, and Domestic Violence

Food Bank Needs

Reports and photos are emerging from across the country showing cars, lined by the hundreds, with people waiting to receive food packages from food banks.

Cathy Pope, president of the Mid-South Food Bank, said as the agency has nearly doubled the amount of food it distributes, it is beginning to see long lines form at a few of its mobile food pantries.

Pope said the key to avoiding the long lines and turning individuals away is having enough dedicated distribution sites located throughout the city. That means securing partners who are willing to set up mobile food pantries.

The best way to ensure the agency has enough food to meet the need, Pope said, is to donate. Find more information on how to do that here.

Model Revised

Tennessee’s coronavirus peak and fatality numbers got another downgrade last week from the widely used epidemic model from the University of Washington.

The numbers from the university’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) have been used by the White House and state and local governments across the country. It has long predicted a virus peak here in mid-to-late April.

But the model has been recently diminished as too optimistic after a Tennessee-specific model was developed by health-care officials from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. That new model holds that the state’s peak won’t come until mid-May or mid-June under different scenarios. Numbers from the Vanderbilt model are not publicly updated.

Art Funds

ArtsMemphis and Music Export Memphis are distributing $77,190 to 159 artists in Shelby County. The funds come from the Artist Emergency Fund, which became public April 1st and supports artists of all types across music, visual art, film and media arts, literary art, theater, and dance.

Shopping Local

With the newly added stresses caused by COVID-19, some of us need a little shopping therapy. Luckily, while we can no longer step inside most shops, local retailers still have us in mind with online and phone ordering for shipping, same-day delivery, and curbside pickup. We’ve amassed an online and curbside shopping guide, featuring products and offerings from our advertisers. View the guide here