Beale Street Music Fest 2008 Lineup Announced
by Chris HerringtonArticle Tools
- Fergie
For a festival sometimes derided for resuscitating classic-rock dinosaurs or bringing the same acts back year after year, this year's lineup looks like one of the most diverse and novel in years, with a much greater emphasis on contemporary pop and indie rock than has been the norm.
Friday night's lineup is topped by an eclectic trio of major contemporary artists in the form of roots-rock superstar Crow, rock-radio royalty My Chemical Romance, and hip-hop's most beloved house band, the Roots. Friday's lineup also boasts two of the hottest emerging names in local music in the form of Americana marvel Amy LaVere and comic hip-hop group Lord T & Eloise.
Saturday's lineup is led by Santana, a classic-rock band with contemporary appeal, but is perhaps most interesting for a daring array of alternative acts lead by Velvet Underground founder and alt-rock godfather Lou Reed. The Saturday lineup also includes a younger trio of hipper-than-usual artists: Memphis-connected indie chanteuse Cat Power, Georgia power trio the Whigs, and Canadian twins Tegan & Sara.
Sunday night's lineup provides the grand unintentional comedy of a diva juxtaposition of Aretha Franklin, the grand dame of American music, and Fergie, the ubiquitous diva of recent Top 40 radio.
Throughout the festival, the lineup is typically strong on blues (Buddy Guy, Bettye LaVette, Watermelon Slim), though the roster of regional icons (headed by returnees Jerry Lee Lewis and Billy Lee Riley) is leaner than has been the recent norm.
A (so far) full lineup for this year's Beale Street Music Festival follows. Love it? Hate it? Let us know.
Friday, May 2nd: My Chemical Romance, Sheryl Crow, The Roots, Keb' Mo', Richard Johnston, Hellogoodbye, Jonny Lang, Ben Folds, Charlie Musselwhite, Robert Wolfman Belfour, Flyleaf, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Project Pat, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, Lord T. and Eloise, Amy LaVere, JJ Greg & Mofro, Lurrie Bell.
Saturday, May 3rd: Santana, Disturbed, Matisyahu, Bettye LaVette, Richard Johnston, Lou Reed, Seether, the John Butler Trio, Pinetop Perkins & Hubert Sumlin w/ Billy Gibson, Blind Mississippi Morris, Buddy Guy, Simple Plan, Arrested Development, Watermelon Slim, Cat Power, The Whigs, Colbie Caillat, Back Door Slam, Duman, Saving Abel, Tegan and Sara, Kenny Neal, Muck Sticky, Oracle and the Mountain, Al Kapone, Preston Shannon, Eli "Paperboy" Reed.
Sunday, May 4th: Fergie, Michael McDonald, the Black Crowes, Doyle Bramhall, Richard Johnston, Finger Eleven, Aretha Franklin, O.A.R., Magic Slim & the Teardrops, Robert Belfour, Gavin DeGraw, Jerry Lee Lewis, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Nick Moss & the Flip Tops, Rue Melo, Duman, Umphrey's McGee, Samuel James, Carney, Billy Lee Riley, Pete Francis, Calvin Cooke.
--Chris Herrington
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I have to say that I am very dissapointed. I have driven from Texas for this festival for 6 straight years, and this year I think I would rather fly to Columbus, OH to see Rock on the Range. -Muy Bumbed
I have to say - I am impressed with the lineup this year. I will actually attend in order to see the acts, not just because there is nothing else to do! There are bands that are actually WORTH the mud and crowds!!
Best line up in a few years.
Each year, this festival becomes more and more of a waste of time. I can't recall a time where I was actually excited for Memphis In May, which is disappointing since my birthday is in May. The bookers of this slop fest continue to put on washed up acts (i.e. Arrested Development, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Joan Jett), predictable acts (Flyleaf, Disturbed,Project Pat, and Finger Eleven) and then try to cover it all up with star "names" (Aretha Franklin and Michael Macdonald). The lineup for this fest is pretty sad. This show continues to live inside of the top 40 radio box. I'd love to see the day the this fest shuns the boring radio rock and radio rap and looks elsewhere for acts. Until then this show will continue to be a living testament to the sheltered music tastes of the south.
Anyone who would say it is a "waste" or they are "disappointed" in getting to see ALL, nevermind any one of, these bands at the price of this 3 day festival, gets me. I mean really, most 3 day festivals are more like $300-$400. Here I get to see Keb Mo, Santana, Lou Reed, Aretha Franklin, Umphreys McGee, Buddy Guy and a ton of others for WAY less than $100 for 3 days!! RIGHT ON!! 56 days and counting!! YAY!
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