MEMPHIS, Tenn. — UPDATE 3/29/2023 - Memphis in May officials announced Wednesday, March 29, that more artists have been added to the line-up for the 45th annual Beale Street Music Festival.
Indie rockers Moon Taxi, and GRAMMY-nominated Eric Benet have been added to the line-up on Sunday, May 7.
Blues band Azmyl & the Truly Asia will hit the Blues Stage on Beale for two days, on May 5 and 6, representing the blues styling of Malaysia, Memphis in May’s honored country in 2023.
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2/27/2023 - The Lumineers, Earth Wind & Fire, Glorilla, The Roots and more will hit the stage in May for the 2023 Beale Street Music Festival at the revamped Tom Lee Park.
Memphis in May officials unveiled the lineup Monday afternoon at a special event at Roadshow BMW and showed off the new official poster by Memphis artist Danny Broadway.
Headliners include The Lumineers, Greta Van Fleet, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Earth Wind & Fire, HARDY, Jazmine Sullivan, The Roots, AJR and 311.
Hometown hip hop star GloRilla, Blues guitarist extraordinaire Gary Clark Jr., reggae icon Ziggy Marley, indie rock of Young the Giant, classic rockers Live, PJ Morton, The Struts, Gov’t Mule, mike., Andy Grammer, Yola, Dru Hill, Toadies, Lucinda Williams, Living Colour, Cameo, White Reaper, Shovels & Rope, Marcy Playground, Phony Ppl, Low Cut Connie, Beach Weather, Myron Elkins, Mac Saturn and more will also hit the stage.
Hip-Hop stars Finesse2Tymes and Big Boogie will make their BSMF debut and legendary soul stars The Bar-Kays return to the BSMF stage. Memphis area talent appearing in 2023 includes Jason D. Williams, Dirty Streets, Tyke T, Sleep Theory, The Sensational Barnes Brothers and breakout Mille Manny.
Find the full list of artists set to appear at the festival May 5 through 7 in downtown Memphis HERE.
“Music just sounds better in Memphis, and there’s nothing like experiencing the Beale Street Music Festival in its home in Tom Lee Park next to the Mississippi River with the Memphis skyline and lighted bridges as the backdrop,” said 2023 Board Chairwoman Leigh Shockey in a news release. “We are so pleased to return the festival to its long-term home downtown on the riverfront at the foot of historic Beale Street.”
“This year’s lineup reflects the broad musical tastes of our festival goers with a diverse lineup of some of today’s hottest artists as well past festival favorites and stars of tomorrow” said James L. Holt, President & CEO. “At the Beale Street Music Festival, we endeavor to offer something for almost every musical taste, and we have a few more surprise additions to come.”
MIM officials announced previously that the Memphis Tourism “Blues Stage on Beale” will move to Handy Park. IN years past, the Blues Tent had been part of the festivities at Tom Lee Park. The Blues Stage will now be open to the public and free of charge, with no ticket required. Organizers said the move allows them to offer the blues lineup to a wider audience.
While it’s free to the public, there will be a reserved section for festival ticket holders at the Blues Stage on Beale.
Hitting the Handy Park stage will be headliners like Los Lobos, Keb Mo, North Mississippi Allstars, and Blues talent including Ana Popavic, Bernard Allison, Colin James, Cedric Burnside, Selwyn Birchwood, Blind Mississippi Morris, Ghost Town Blues Band, Mr. Sipp, Reba Russell Band, Will Tucker, Rodd Bland Members Only Band, Mark Muleman Massey and Ollie Moore.
THREE-DAY PASSES and VIP Passes are on sale. For more information, visit https://memphisinmay.org/events/beale-street-music-festival/.
And be ready for detours in downtown Memphis, Riverside Drive is closed through July 2023 for construction and the planned Memphis in May Festival events.
Memphis River Parks Partnership announced Riverside Dr. is closed from Georgia Ave. to Union Ave. through July 1. The organization said work would be done on crosswalks for Tom Lee Park.
The group said there will still be access to the South Bluffs gate on Riverside and to Beale Street Landing for cruises that are docking. They said when Beale Street reopens, the closure will move from Union to Beale.