The lineup for the 2024 Orion Free Concert Series at the Overton Park Shell was announced today, and it’s in perfect keeping with the series’ steady evolution towards ever-greater diversity. Running May 17th through October 12th, the Series will showcase 34 free entertainment experiences, including more funk, soul, hip hop, and house music than ever before, not to mention country, Americana, blues, indie rock, and whatever MonoNeon is.
“This year, we are crossing all genres and creative programming to give access to The Shell’s mission boldly and without barriers, with special emphasis on Memphis artists,” Overton Park Shell Executive Director Natalie Wilson said in a statement. “We are truly honored to be a safe, joyous place for all walks of life in Memphis and Shelby County as we celebrate the incredible talent of our Memphis arts and music scene.”
Familiar local partnerships with the likes of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the Memphis Country Blues Festival, the Stax Music
Academy, the PowerPop Festival, Shakespeare at the Shell with Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Opera Memphis, and DreamFest Weekend will all make a return, along with this year’s notable additions, the Memphis Black Arts Alliance Gospel Night, featuring the Tennessee Mass Choir, and BODYWERK, the Shell’s first electronic dance event.
Some performances will resonate with Memphis’ rich music history, as when the iconic Bar-Kays, who have appeared at the Shell
numerous times since their band’s beginnings, celebrate their 60th
anniversary this September. And they’re just one example of the many local and regional groups that will take the stage this year. Lukah with Hope Clayburn & The Fire Salamander, Cedric Burnside, Black Hippie, Talibah Safiyah with MadameFraankie, MonoNeon, Cyrena Wages, Healy, Aaron James, the Memphis Harvest Band, and the North Mississippi Allstars will all make appearances, the latter with the great Ruthie Foster at the Country Blues Festival in October.
See the full lineup below, also available with more details here.
SUMMER SCHEDULE:
All shows start at 7:30 p.m.
Friday May 17th-Sunday, May 19th: Dreamfest Weekend
Friday, May 24th: Lukah with Hope Clayburn & The Fire Salamander
Sunday, May 26th: Sunset Symphony
Thursday, May 30th: Black Opry
Friday, May 31st: BODYWERK with Takuya Nakamura
Saturday, June 1st: Laura Denisse
Thursday, June 6th: Sister Hazel
Friday, June 7th: King & Associates
Saturday, June 8th: Perpetual Groove
Thursday, June 13th: Cedric Burnside
Friday, June 14th: Lamont Landers
Saturday, June 15th: Black Hippie
Thursday, June 20th: Magnolias
Friday, June 21st: Talibah Safiyah with MadameFraankie
Saturday, June 22nd: Sweet Lizzy Project
Thursday, June 27th: Shemarr Allen
Friday, June 28th: Cowboy Mouth
Saturday, June 29th: Annual Stax Academy Summer Showcase
FALL SCHEDULE:
All shows start at 7 p.m.
Friday, August 30th: MonoNeon
Saturday, August 31st: Power Pop Festival: Matthew Sweet
Saturday, September 7th: Cyrena Wages
Friday, September 13th: Healy
Saturday, September 14th: MBAA Gospel Night: Tennessee Mass Choir
Friday, September 20th: Canti Records
Friday, September 27th: Aaron James (Unapologetic)
Saturday, September 28th: The Bar-Kays
Sunday, September 29th: Opera Memphis: Opera Goes to Broadway
Friday, October 4th: Stax Museum Presents: Los Yesterdays
Saturday, October 5th: Memphis Harvest Band
Saturday, October 12th: Memphis Country Blues Festival
Sunday, October 20th: Shakespeare at The Shell: Comedy of Errors
