Reunited hip-hop icons the Fugees, Grammy-nominated electronic duo Odesza and country chart-topper Jelly Roll are among the 50-plus acts that will appear as part of the inaugural RiverBeat Music Festival at Tom Lee Park in May.
On Wednesday, promoters Mempho Presents announced the artist lineup for RiverBeat, which will take place May 3-5 at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis. RiverBeat will essentially replace the long-running Beale Street Music Festival, which was paused by Memphis in May last fall following years of financial losses and dwindling attendance.
The newly established RiverBeat festival will look to reinvigorate a live music festival on the Mississippi riverfront. In addition to the Fugees, Odesza and Jelly Roll, the lineup will include Tennessee rockers The Band Camino, Philadelphia indie outfit Mt. Joy, Austin soul band Black Pumas, New York electro duo Matt and Kim, irreverent rapper Yung Gravy, Alabama singer-songwriter Jessie Murph, roots combo the Robert Randolph Band and blues Hall of Famer Charlie Musselwhite.
A range of top rap artists including Outkast’s Big Boi, recent triple-Grammy winner Killer Mike, rising star Tobe Nwigwe and hometown heroes 8Ball & MJG are also among those set to perform.
Officials with Mempho Presents — which has promoted its own fall festival since 2015 at the Memphis Botanic Garden and regularly stages concerts in and around the Bluff City — said the booking was designed to bring together a diverse array of artists and audiences.
“RiverBeat was conceived as an inclusive event featuring a wide range of genres that will attract music lovers from all walks of life,” Mempho Presents event producer Jeff Branford said in a statement. “Through music, we will bring our community together, support our local businesses, and attract new visitors to our city. We believe this is what Memphis is all about.”
Branford confirmed RiverBeat will have five stages spread throughout Tom Lee Park. There will be two bigger main stages, a third stage in the park’s pavilion area, a fourth stage as part of the compound where DJs will spin, and a smaller stage as patrons enter the park, which will feature stripped-down or acoustic-type performances.
In addition to the confirmed national talent, the festival will highlight top local and regional performers, with the likes of R&B vets Don Bryant and The Bo-Keys, soul-blues combo Southern Avenue, hip-hop artist Lawrence Matthews and roots songstress Marcella Simien among the Mid-South acts set to appear.
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Boo Mitchell, Royal Studios head and two-time Grammy winner, will also be leading a special performance called “Take Me To The River: Memphis.” The revue-style show will feature appearances by Stax Records greats William Bell and Carla Thomas, and the Hi Rhythm Section, among others.
“I believe this is a unique lineup,” Mitchell said of RiverBeat. “I’m really impressed by the caliber of talent. I can’t wait to get back out there on stage and enjoy this event with all of Memphis.”
Three-day general admission passes for RiverBeat are $249. Three-day VIP passes cost $995. Three-day parking passes are $100. Single-day general admission tickets are $99, single-day VIP tickets are $395, and single-day parking costs $40. VIP tickets will allow patrons access to private lounges, seating near the two main stages, air-conditioned restrooms, exclusive drink and food options, and more.
Three-day ticket and parking passes are on sale now. The daily lineup is expected to be announced later this month — along with several additional DJ acts — at which point single-day general admission, VIP and parking passes will also go on sale.
To purchase tickets or for more information, go to Riverbeat.com.
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2024 RiverBeat Music Festival lineup
May 3-5 at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis
Performers include:
The Fugees
Odesza
Jelly Roll
Mt. Joy
Black Pumas
Tobe Nwigwe
The Band Camino
Yung Gravy
Big Boi
Killer Mike
Jessie Murph
Morgan Wade
Matt and Kim
Jai Wolf
Whitey Morgan and The 78s
Robert Randolph Band
Durand Jones
Del Water Gap
Mindchatter
8Ball & MJG
Charlie Musselwhite
The Aces
Southern Avenue
Nightly
Coco & Breezy
White Panda
Al Kapone & The BWA Band
Phantoms (DJ Set)
Don Bryant feat. The Bo-Keys
S.G. Goodman
The Heavy Heavy
Kenny Brown
Forester
Aimmia
Talibah Safiya
Marcella Simien
Lawrence Matthews
Jimbo Mathus
Lucky 7 Brass Band
Bailey Bigger
Dirty Streets
Mark Edgar Stuart
The Wilkins Sisters
Salo Pallini
Take Me to The River: Memphis — featuring William Bell, Eric Gales, Carla Thomas, Jerome Chism, Linda Beach and The Hi Rhythm Section
Rodd Bland and The Members Only Band Tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland
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