Cooper-Young has always been loaded with hometown vibes, but the music lineup for this year’s Guaranty Bank Cooper Young Festival, held on Saturday, September 13th, is practically a who’s who of the bands that are really filling rooms and bobbing heads in Memphis now. Headlining it all will be reigning Psychedelic Swamp Soul Queen Marcella Simien, now returning to the live band sets she made her name with, after a recent foray into synth-craft with the album To Bend to the Will of a Dream That’s Being Fulfilled.
The theme of strong women performers recurs throughout the Guaranty Bank Stage lineup, from the dream pop ballads of Alexis Jade & the Gemstones, to the groove-rock violin of Alice Hasen & The Blaze, to the deep words, beats, and meditative melodies of Nubia Yasin, to Kate Crowder’s art pop vocals in the Downsprouts.
A real smorgasbord of sound is also promised, with Organ Failure‘s classic organ trio lineup, to the electro-beats-meet-human-vulnerability vibe of Cloudland Canyon, to the heavy riffs of Joybomb. And of course, the master showman Jack O, as in Jack Oblivian, will make an appearance, before ushering in the latest groovescape hip-hop/rock hybridizers, Blvck Hippie.
Hear these bands and more at everyone’s favorite arts, crafts, food, and music gathering, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Which, by the way, is well represented in Lamar Sorrento’s colorful poster for this year’s fest. Seeing the bands is a perfect time to take a break, chillax, and size up the handcrafted artisanal whatchamacallit that you just purchased — while the city’s best and brightest entertain you. Here’s the full lineup:
Guaranty Bank Stage
11:15 Alexis Jade & the Gemstones
12:15 Alice Hasen & The Blaze
1:15 Organ Failure
2:15 The Downsprouts
3:15 Cloudland Canyon
4:15 Nubia Yasin
5:15 Marcella Simien
Mempho Presents Stage
12:30 Jas Roa
1:30 Recent Future
2:30 Joybomb
3:30 Jack O
4:30 Blvck Hippie
