The Overton Park Shell is unique among all the other existing WPA-sponsored bandshells built in the 1930s, in that it arose from a Memphis arts community so determined to have a public performance space that they were performing in that part of Overton Park when it was only grass and trees. The ensuing tale of the Shell’s ups and downs is a fascinating one, explored in depth in this Memphis Magazine story. But the heartening endpoint of the tale today is that the Overton Park Shell turns 90 this year, and the team that manages it have put together a whopper of a celebration this September.
“From funk to jazz to blues to rock, get ready for an unforgettable weekend of fun at
everyone’s favorite backyard venue,” said Overton Park Shell executive director Natalie
Wilson in a statement. “We invite Memphis — and the world — to celebrate with us, just as we have done for 90 years!”
The biggest news is arguably the celebration’s kick-off on Thursday, September 10th, with a ticketed concert featuring Booker T. Jones, the genius behind the of Stax Records sound and the last living member of the incomparable Booker T. & the MG’s, not to mention the producer of Bill Withers and Willie Nelson, among many others. His recent electrifying concert at the Bartlett Performing Arts and Convention Center was sprinkled with songs from all those eras, plus a smattering of Jimi Hendrix and Prince. All proceeds from the Shell Yeah! Benefit Series showcase, made possible by Mempho Presents, will directly support the Shell’s future programming and preservation efforts.
But there will be more. From Friday, September 11th through Sunday, September 13th, extended birthday festivities with an unmistakable Memphis flavor will be free to the public. Events will include The Birthday Picnic (a mid-day celebration with cake, local food trucks, and live music), Sounds of the Shell: 9 Decades of Delight (a presentation by local music historian and producer David Less), The Gathering: Lifted By Love, Guided By Sound (featuring Gary Goin, Ephie Johnson, Gina Neely, and Princeton James Productions), and an intriguing wrap-up dubbed Connecting Cables: The Memphis Studio Superset (celebrating Stax Records, Sun Records, American Recording Studio, Royal Studios, UNAPOLOGETIC., and Sam Phillips Recording Service, all of whom featured artists at the Shell over the years — produced by local troubadour and session player/producer Mark Edgar Stuart).
Beyond that, there will be plenty of other ways to celebrate the Shell in the meantime, including their annual Orion Financial Free Concert Series, by now a much-beloved Memphis institution, and other events. Check the Memphis Flyer to read all about those shows and more as they unfold.