October 4, 5, and 6 2024 Memphis, TN Words and Photos by Joel Shover @ JoelShoverPhotography
Mempho Music Festival, one of the Southeast’s premier music festivals made its highly anticipated return to “The Bluff City” of Memphis, TN. Mempho Festival, originally created as a fall alternative to the Beale Street extravaganza know as Memphis in May is now in its powerhouse of a sixth year! Mempho Music Festival is no stranger to major acts performing on its stages. They have had Billy Strings, Post Malone, Widespread Panic, Beck, and The Wu-Tang-Clan and more. This weekend was no different from its thoughtfully curated music lineup that had to be the most diverse lineup and perfectly planned festival I have attended outside of the festivals held at The Spirit of Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, FL.
Photos of this whole weekend by Joel Shover are located here.
From the moment I arrived at the Home of The Blues, Memphis, TN, I was welcomed with the southern hospitality that I had missed for so many years, and of course, some good ole Gus’s Fried Chicken! It was off to the Radians Amphitheater at the beautiful Memphis Botanical Gardens to enjoy some more fantastic food and great music, all in perfect weather conditions.
The festival grounds were spread out perfectly to where there was a crowd but there was not a crowd. The bathrooms were kept clean all weekend with few lines. The food selection included protein bowls from The Bowl Joint, personal pizzas from FreeWheelin Pizzeria, bomb ass burritos and loaded fries from festival favorite Cosmic Charlies Grateful Grill, Chaotic Coffee provided the caffeine fix while Mempops kept the crowd cool with delicious handmade gourmet ice pops, and finally for the burger lover there was Bougie Burgers.
More Photos by Joel Shover Photography here
There were plenty of bars scattered throughout providing alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages alike, again with little to no lines because of the expert planning! Lexus provided a first-class VIP experience with pristine viewing areas and top-notch food from the Southeast’s greatest upcoming chefs. I cannot say enough about how professional and courteous every staff member and volunteer were at this festival! If you are new to festivals or a seasoned veteran put Mempho Music Festival on your bucket list right now!
All eyes were on Mempho this year as NUGS.net was there to livestream fifteen shows over the weekend and those shows were not only seen around the world but they can also be viewed again on Nugs.net.
Day one of music started with Memphis’s own Mark Edgar Stuart as he started the sounds on the Shell on Wheels Stage. The crowd was ready, and Mark delivered the grooves. Photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/FXZhFC3zhkUkwQfV/
Orange County, California’s own Robert Jon & The Wreck showcased the sounds at the Bud Light Stage as loyal fans were rocking on the rail!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/NQfY4HmRi9Js5Fap/
Talking to most fans I encountered they had one thing in common, they were here to see GOOSE but were amazed by these other artists and how all the different genres of music were all flowing as one.
Fans made their way back over to the Shell on Wheels Stage for the sweet southern sounds of Blue Mountain for the first of their two fun rocking sets. Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/z9jNxPU5Sn3xtXzV/
Brent Cobb earned some more fans with their killer performance of swanky soulful southern country sounds. Brent shared a story of how he got to play for a beautiful young girl at a children’s hospital and that humbled him and the entire crowd, it was a moment for sure!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/inNdsWwBFXXHn4rB/
Cory Wong put the Light in the Bud Light stage with his most energetic performance and his excellent guitar skills, not to mention those bass bombs being dropped! The way Cory moves about the stage and engages the crowd reminds me of the supreme energy you get from watching The Fitzkee Brothers perform (IYKTYK). Cory invited Rick Mitarotonda and Peter Anspach from GOOSE up on stage for a little jam sesh that took the crowd to the next level as Rick and Cory traded solos while Peter plugged along trading notes with the horn players and Cory and Rick! The crowd was stunned for sure, this also only led to more speculation if Cory might sit in with Goose and would there be horns and would we get a horny Fish in the Sea?
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ThTKCSVwdH9AiZCb/
Marcus King stepped onto the Adams Keegan Stage with his heartfelt soul-filled blues that only his signature voice can make your heart pull at its own strings! Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/9HgCdcpkc14u5THf/
Marcus Kings music reaches directly for your soul.
GOOSE graced the Bud Light Stage, and the band opened with “Big Modern!” then right into “Love & the Lazy Poet”, both songs played very tight featuring signature jams from Mitarotonda and the boys. Lead Up was next from the catalog. It was time to unleash the Animal and who better to perform with the band but the animal himself Cory Wong! I told you before this guy has it all! Mitarotonda slowed the tempo down a notch with a cover of Prince’s “I Would Die for You”
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/6PF8LceUdbL54kJG/
They had nothing but fire in store for Memphis tonight and showed no signs of letting up as Trevor showed his bass skills with the fan favorite “Thatch.” This took us into my all-time favorite GOOSE song “Silver Rising” and on such a perfect night!
“Hungersite” closed out the short but sweet set!
Cody Jinks brought his outlaw country sounds to the main stage. Cody came swinging through those saloon doors onto the stage and laid down some clean and dirty country tracks that all of Memphis was partying to!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2JZyzyhLjd36aiw8/
Now that I have seen him perform, I know why country music stars Tyler-James Kelly and Mickey Lamantia have recommended his music to me many times. I am glad I finally got to witness Cody Jinks’ stage mastery matched with his great catalog of hit songs!
DAY 2
Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons started off Saturday with one of three sets of southern style rock and roll jams. Touring nationwide. Check them out when you get a chance, you already know them if you’re into Widespread Panic for sure!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/PmHrVd14PZyhbWtW/
I Finally I got to see the great Karina Rykman perform as her fame is growing faster than ever. You could hear teases from RUSH, Pink Floyd, Earth Wind and Fire, all within her distinct Progressive Funk sound she delivered and was a highlight to the weekend for sure!
Karina gave mad respect to the great Mary J Blidge while getting the early crowd completely crunk. Karina had us all open and floatin’ with her rendition of Family Affair!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/WTVcxtCDczb5i9Xm/
There was a silent auction held by Positive Legacy that all proceeds went to the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital https://www.lebonheur.org/ and The Soulsville Foundation of Memphis, TN https://soulsvillefoundation.org/ that included some nice autographed merchandise of all the bands who were eager to participate. check out Positive Legacy here: https://www.positivelegacy.com/
Digable Planets took the Adams Keegan Stage right around the 4:20 mark of the day and boy did they deliver!! They were calm and cool like that and had the old crowd feeling young again and the young crowd feeling new again. Digable Planets was a fantastic addition to this festival. Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wS5Dht3PTxJUG6Z5/
I had the pleasure of seeing Warren Haynes play with The Allman Brothers, The Dead, and now with his band and I would be lying if I said I did not have tears in my eyes every time he plays “Soulshine” he just delivers that song straight to you soul! Warren Jammed for over an hour and seemed to be at home on the stage even though his hometown of Ashville, NC is still in peril from Hurricane Helene.
Setlist:
Tear Me Down (Gov’t Mule cover) (Preceded by intro jam)
Banks of the Deep End (Gov’t Mule cover)
That’s What Love Will Make You Do (Little Milton cover)
Man in Motion (Warren Haynes song)
You Ain’t Above Me (Warren Haynes song)
Sick of My Shadow (Warren Haynes song)
This Life As We Know It (Warren Haynes song)
Invisible (Warren Haynes song)
Encore:
Soulshine (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qMjRKAJTuxyumsDn/
Charles Wesley Godwin was up next, and they came out rocking the country vibes and paid respect to the great Tyler Childers with a killer version of Whitehouse Road that had the whole Mempho crowd singing along.
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/sDZqWU9paH4Ry9G3/
The diversity within this weekend’s lineup is what makes this festival so awesome! Good music and great food will always bring people together anywhere, anytime, and that time was this weekend for sure as it was all about to come around full circle as The Roots made their way onto the Bud-Light stage and the last time I saw Questlove was with John Mayer at Madison Square Garden when he came to save the day!
To see Questlove in his own element was beyond satisfying as Black Thought sang the songs of the night the band took us through the most diverse set of the weekend with hip-hop, rock, funk, and blues they covered it all and has the packed crowd moving and grooving with mashups that included Kool & The Gang, Led Zeppelin, and Curtis Mayfield just to name a few. The crowd wanted more and if the time frame allowed The Roots would have played all night long for sure!! GO SEE THE ROOTS!!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/DzTBwqC26NLGsejd/
It was 18 years ago since Trey played Memphis solo and 25 Years ago that Trey played Memphis with PHISH and he acknowledged that with his set for sure as the only original Trey Anastasio Band song played was “Hey Stranger” and all the rest were PHISH Originals! Very well played Trey Anastasio, well played, and Happy Belated Birthday as well! The fans were transformed from the moment Trey hit the stage with his band. Anastasio’s improvisational jams are like no other that you can imagine as he becomes one with his signature Languedoc guitar and takes you on magical musical journey once you surrender to the flow. TAB always delivers and tonight was above expectations!! Thank you, Trey!
Setlist:
Back on the Train (Phish cover)
The Moma Dance (Phish cover)
Sand (Phish cover)
Hey Stranger (Trey Anastasio song)
46 Days (Phish cover)
Wolfman’s Brother (Phish cover)
No Men in No Man’s Land (Phish cover)
What’s Going Through Your Mind
Gotta Jibboo (Phish cover)
Everything’s Right (Phish cover)
Blaze On (Phish cover)
Ghost (Phish cover)
Encore:
First Tube (Phish cover)
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/NqqTGhyX48kiX1KP/
DAY 3
U of M Blue Tom Revue started the day off on the Shell Stage. Every musician in the revue is a student at The University of Memphis and no doubt are cultivating some exceptionally good talent in their program!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/e5ocrEAZzQzCY5rQ/
From a quaint town in Co. Cork, Ireland Darren Kiely had all eyes, Irish or not, working properly with his unique blend of traditional Irish folk blended Pop sounds that have some comparing him to Noah Kahan and The Lumineers. Kiely had the crowds last heartstrings that remained after the Marcus King set the other night. Once you hear Darrens beautiful voice ther is no going back, give him a listen now!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wu4HD4kkiKM5g84Y/
Never miss a Sunday show and that is just what the The Legendary Jubilee Hummingbirds had in mind with their two glorious sets of Gospel filled soul grooves that took the Mempho crowd to musical church once again while clapping and singing along.
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Ta9c9XkrbcMfwey4/
All Them Witches tested the db levels of the sound systems for sure with their heavy bass driven southern rock sounds that had the crowd energized and rocking! These guys have toured with The Colonel himself Les Claypool and his band Primus in addition to touring with GHOST and Mastodon.
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qMn2FfVoxnLrAwxe/
Memphis is a melting pot of super talented musicians and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors are boiling over with their quick rise to fame with their hit single “Find Your People.” Drew took the Mempho crowd into a singalong of “All the Money” and show his vocal and guitar talents while just having a good ole time with the hometown crowd! Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors are a terrific addition to any festival!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/NF7tiNrgjNbxtgtT/
English American rock duo The Kills took to the main stage and had the crowd mesmerized from the very first note formed by American singer Alison “VV” Mosshart and English guitarist Jamie “Hotel” Hince. They rocked several indie/garage rock hits including the appropriate “103” as I am sure it felt hotter than that on the stage for them! Check out the Kills!
Setlist:
Kissy Kissy
U.R.A. Fever
Love and Tenderness
103
Going to Heaven
Baby Says
New York
Wasterpiece
Black Balloon
Last Day of Magic
Better Days
LA Hex
My Girls My Girls
DNA
Doing It to Death
Future Starts Slow
Sour Cherry
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/pAUQ42Kb88FFWNpK/
The festival was winding down and Sublime with Rome took the Bud stage and lit it up with their smoking hits like “California Radio,” “What I Got,” “Santeria,” and of course “Smoke Two Joints!” Sublime with Rome delivered harder than expected and was a powerful addition to this festival as well!
Band after band and song after song looking at every attendee having a good time smiling and interacting with everyone around them, not just their cliques was proof that you can have a completely diverse festival and have it be all about love and light and of course music!
Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/82qsmTZ7v9PSY7pD/
Jack White closed out the festival like no other!
SETLIST:
Old Scratch Blues
That’s How I’m Feeling
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (The White Stripes song)
It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking)
Hotel Yorba (The White Stripes song)
Cannon (The White Stripes song)
Goin’ Back to Memphis (Soledad Brothers cover)
I Cut Like a Buffalo (The Dead Weather song)
I Think I Smell a Rat (The White Stripes song)
That Black Bat Licorice
Fell in Love With a Girl (The White Stripes song)
What’s the Rumpus?
Steady, as She Goes (The Raconteurs song)
Lazaretto
Icky Thump (The White Stripes song)
Ball and Biscuit (The White Stripes song)
Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes song)
Mempho Music Festival took place in the second most dangerous city in the United States next to Detroit Michigan. You would not have known that one bit from all the kindness I witnessed at this festival and beyond during my brief stay in the Bluff City! Visit Memphis and come to Mempho Music Festival next year, you never know who you might see. Https://memphofest.com/
Go See Live Music……
Till the next show…Joel
Recap vid: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/vRAicKj6zUpZPKvL/
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