In a landscape crowded with so many engaging watering holes featuring live music, one space devoted wholeheartedly to the art of song is sometimes neglected. Yet South Main Sounds, a self-described “haven for songwriters,” just may be a sleeper success in the ongoing Downtown revival. This spring, the little listening room nestled near the train station is turning things up a notch.
Mark Parsell, who’s been managing and booking the space since its inception in 2015, took a moment to speak about the upcoming season, past luminaries, and what makes South Main Sounds unique.
Memphis Flyer: South Main Sounds has always cultivated a real listening experience. There’s not much chatter and no televisions playing sports.
Mark Parsell: I feel for people that have to play in an environment with televisions showing ball games and things like that. It’s really tough. We do try to make a listening experience in here. It’s not so much about the party and the sports, it’s about listening to what these people have to say. They’re doing it for their soul, to make a statement, and when people don’t pay attention, it’s kind of frustrating. So I’ve got a Quiet Please sign from a golf tournament. [laughs]
You’ve hosted plenty of group songwriter nights, but now you’re scheduling ticketed shows by out of town artists more, no?
What’s different now is, in addition to our regular songwriter shows, we’re mixing it up a lot more. So tonight we’ve got Lauren Moscato with nine of her music students playing. Then we’ve got Kevin Galloway from Uncle Lucius coming on the 13th of May. And I think that’s what people want. They’re willing to pay for something they want. The live performance scene is becoming more robust than it has been for a couple years.
How new is it for South Main Sounds to host out of town artists?
Well, our kind of space has always been needed by a certain level of artist who are passing through. They’ve always contacted us. But what’s different is the level of artists. It started years ago with Ashley McBryde, but that was before she made it big. And now we get people like Shannon McNally, who played here last April before she recorded her album of Waylon Jennings covers. And we had Erin Enderlin come in last month, who’s written hits for just about everybody in Nashville. It’s interesting that these folks will come and play a 45-person capacity room. It’s excellent for everybody.
Tell me about Sunday’s show, featuring songwriters from Austin.
Yeah, the “Glass Half Full Tour” with Paige Renee Berry, Creekbed Carter Hogan, and McKain Lakey. They’re friends of Will Sexton and Amy LaVere, and they’re going to do a yard show at Will and Amy’s on Monday. Like a lot of folks, they’re looking for a place to play on an odd day. Sunday’s are not typical for us, but these folks are really good. Paige, the headliner, is in a band called Half Dream. It’s all Americana-driven music, with a little alt tinge to it.
Meanwhile, you’ll still be a haven for local songwriters?
Yeah! A lot of the folks that we’ve had play in here have gone on to be quite successful. I like to have out-of-towners play here and meet our people, because we’ve fostered a lot of co-writing and collaboration that way. It’s neat to see what comes out of that.
Upcoming Shows at South Main Sounds:
Friday, April 22. Moscato Music Productions and nine students will perform two songs each. 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 24. South Main Sounds and Will Sexton present the “Glass Half Full Tour” with Austin’s Paige Renee Berry of “Half-Dream,” Creekbed Carter Hogan and McKain Lakey. 6 p.m. $15 donation at door or online.
Friday, April 29. the Trolley Night Show: Shara Layne Matlock, Chandler Smithers, Alice Hasen, Walt Busby, Denver Massey, and Chris York. 7 p.m.
Friday, May 6. Lydia Warren, Terry Bell, Travis Roberson, and Memphis Songwriters Association Top 8 finalist Bri Marie Krueger. 7 p.m.
Friday, May 13. Kevin Galloway from Uncle Lucius (“Keep The Wolves Away”). Ticketed.
Tickets are available at southmainsounds.com/shows