MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In just one week, two new festivals are coming to Tom Lee Park.
This week, ABC24 had the chance to catch up with the organizers behind the new RiverBeat Music Festival and the SmokeSlam BBQ Showdown, ahead of both festivals' debut on the Mississippi Riverside.
“I grew up riding cardboard boxes down these bluffs as a kid,” said Mike Smith, Mempho Presents producer, “and I can’t wait to see all the smiles and all the people's faces as they come down to our events this summer.”
May could be a dream come true for the Memphian and his team behind the new festivals. While the events will be smaller than what people may be used to this time of year, Smith believes this will allow them to upgrade the general experience. Five stages will be set up at Tom Lee Park, which are planned to be home to 20 musical acts a day.
“Downsizing the event offers us the ability to create a much more boutique environment, create different atmospheres," Smith said. "Our VIPS and our suites areas are absolutely gorgeous.”
It has been hard to dodge criticism for Mempho Presents. On Nextdoor, ABC24 viewers said Memphis crime would be a major deterrent from going to the festivals.
"Every person in this entire area most certainly should have concerns about where our city stands on crime. Until this is under reasonable control, never let your guard down!" said Grace McKenzie on Nextdoor.
However, Mempho Presents Director of Public Safety and Security Scott King told ABC24 the festivals already have several partnerships to make sure those concerns are at ease.
Mempho Presents has agreements with Memphis Police, Memphis Fire and the Office of Emergency Management to assist one of the largest security firms in the country.
“On any given day, there’s going to be more than 150 private security people,” said King.
In addition, King said there will also be security screenings and a clear bag policy in place, similar to FedExForum's policy.
Parts of Riverside Drive will be closed for about a month due to the upcoming RiverBeat Music Festival and the SmokeSlam Barbecue events.
Continuing through Friday, May 24, 2024, at 5:00 a.m., Riverside Drive between Georgia Avenue and Union Avenue will be closed to traffic.
Outside of public safety, viewers were also concerned about what they said was Memphis River Parks Partnership (MRPP) trying to replace Memphis in May.
"They screwed Memphis in May so they can drive those dollars to some private interests they are no doubt in cahoots with," said Dusty Sikes on Nextdoor.
Last year's World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest (WCBCC) and MIM ended in a dispute with the MRPP ending with the event facing a $1.4 million renovation bill once WCBCC came to a close.
After Memphis in May announced it would suspend the music festival and move the BBQ contest to Liberty Park, the new festivals were announced to take MIM's old stomping ground.
However, Smith said the new festivals were not meant to replace Memphis in May, but make sure Tom Lee Park would still see activity during one of the biggest times of year in Memphis.
“Definitely not trying to replace anything, I mean we got big shoes to fill no doubt…trying to keep something that we’ve had forever, keep it going in a positive direction, and possibly with new growth,” said Smith.
The RiverBeat Music festival will take place May 3-5, 2024. The full 2024 lineup includes Tobe Nwigwe, The Band Camino, Killer Mike, Matt and Kim, Yung Gravy, Jessie Murph, and over two dozen other artists featuring rock, pop, blues, hip-hop, country, electronic and more.
The SmokeSlam BBQ Showdown will pick up almost two weeks later from May 16-18. Fifty-nine teams will be heading to Tom Lee Park to compete head to head for $250,000, with organizers calling it the ‘World’s Ultimate BBQ Showdown.’