Music in the Parks

Di Anne Price plays the Shell

My friend Mark Jones reposted some news of bygone days from the Commercial Appeal.

100 years ago: 1910

"Main Street retailers have petitioned the Park Commission to have a band concert every Saturday night in Court Square. The businessmen point out that music will induce people to come downtown and will improve business Saturday night."

How lucky are we to have the Shell doing the same thing for Overton Park? Tons new people have been introduced to the beauty of our park thanks to the free concert series at the Shell.

Please remember, though, that the concerts aren't really free. The Levitt foundation is making a donation for the first five years, but that only covers about 25% of the current season. If we want this great music to continue, we need to support our shell and make a donation to help them get great bands.

This year's season starts May 21st. Come on out, bring the blanket and a group of friends, and put something in the bucket.

By the way, don't you miss the Park Commission? I wish we still had that layer of protection for our city parks. The recreation opportunities they provided (concerts in a bandstand, athletic leagues, etc.) were a real benefit to the city.

Levitt Shell Survey

The Shell has a survey out in advance of planning their 2010 season. Fill it out and let them know what you love, what you'd love to see, and who your favorite bands are.

Park-themed Music

Elmore and I heard a fun concert at the Shell yesterday -- we went over for Farmer Jason's children's show. Jason Ringenberg (formerly of Jason and the Scorchers, which is why we were there) did a great show. He talked about the Old Forest, he talked about different animals (skunks, toads, possums -- kids learned words like "amphibian" and "marsupial"), and he sang an awesome song about old oak trees after pointing out several of his favorite trees in the park to the kids.

We talked to him afterwards, and he said he loves the Old Forest and tries to go every time he's in Memphis. I loved having a performer with such an appreciation of the park play the Shell. We got his new album "Rockin' in the Forest" for our nieces and nephews, but we previewed it ourselves later that night. It's a winner if you've got kids who love the forest, or kids you would like to involve more in loving the forest, and the songs are appealing for adults as well. I esp. like "Ode to a Toad" and "The Old Oak Tree." Check out farmerjason.com for more information.

Jim Dickinson Tribute Monday night at the Shell

The Shell is hosting the "Jim Dickinson Memorial Folk Festival" this Monday night with a host of Memphis's best musicians paying tribute to the local legend, musician and producer.

Jim's son Luther Dickinson, his old bandmates Sid Selvidge and Jimmy Croswaith, Amy Lavere, Paul Taylor, Reba Russell, Keith Sykes, and others will be taking part. Check out this great photo of Crosthwait with his own intstrument/sculpture creation, and read more about the concert in the Flyer.

Shell kicks off Thursday

It's the Raul Wallenberg concert Thursday night at the Shell, its kick-off for the fall season. Should be both a fun and meaningful night with "Tear Down the Walls", a Jewish contemporary music group as well as an interfaith gathering of synagogues, churches, and clergy of numerous stripes.

Kick off party at the Shell next Saturday

This invitation is posted on Facebook (though not, strangely enough, on the Shell's own site):

Season Kick-Off Party
Levitt Shell
Saturday, August 29, 2009
7:00pm – 10:30pm
$10 Admission

The Levitt Shell at Overton Park gets geared up for its Fall 2009 concert season of free, open-air concerts with a special Kick-Off Party on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 7:00pm.

We’ll be rockin’ the Shell with special guests

HILL COUNTRY REVUE
Jimbo Mathus
Blind Mississippi Morris & Brad Webb
Delta Joe Sanders

It’s a very special Memphis night. Come early or come late, but don’t miss this party!

Doors open at 6:00pm
Admission is $10
Food and beer will be sold at concessions
This event only, please no coolers or picnic baskets
All ages are welcome
You must be 21 or older to purchase beer

All proceeds from this event will benefit the Levitt Shell’s Fall 2009 free concert season which begins September 3 – October 4!

Come on out and support your Shell on August 29 with a night of the best music in Memphis!

Levitt Shell fall season

The Shell has posted its fall season here. The season runs from Sept. 3 to Oct. 4th -- five weeks of Thursday to Sunday concerts, with a bonus kids' show every Saturday. Highlights include a kids show with Farmer Jason (formerly from Jason and the Scorchers), Joyce Cobb, and the Duhks.

Photo by Chris Desmond/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Celebrations

Saturday was such a gorgeous day that I celebrated by going to the park twice -- my regular morning walk and then an after dinner hangout to watch the evening sky. I wasn't alone. 103.5 FM chose the Shell to host its Soul Family Reunion this year, and there was a rocking party happening over there. A very different celebration was a wedding in the Brooks walled garden just opposite the Shell. The harp would have had a hard time competing with the soul music, but it looked like the festival folks took a break to let the ceremony happen. Other celebrations were scattered around the park as families and friends camped out on blankets and enjoyed the evening. It was marvelous to see so many people coming together to rejoice in a beautiful day and mingle our celebrations in one large public park that Memphis is so lucky to have.

Big Weekend at the Shell

103.5 FM is holding their Soul Family Picnic at the Shell this Saturday from 2-9 pm. The last time they held this event, they drew 10,000 people at Audubon, so if you're heading to the park this Saturday, for soul music or otherwise, consider walking or biking if you're able. There may well be a lot of traffic in and around the park. (For comparison, the zoo drew 17,000 that Tuesday in May when traffic ground to a halt on Poplar and McLean.)

Sunday is the next of the Memphis Music Commission's free July concerts at the Shell -- every Sunday from 5-8 pm. This week's lineup is Jamie Randolph & The Darkhorse, NMB, Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis and The LightYears Jazz Quartet featuring TJ Graham.

Hangin' at the Shell

Had a marvellous time at the Shell last night. We need to get the word out about the Sunday evening concerts -- there weren't nearly as many people for these as they got for the regular Shell season, even though Di Anne Price and her Boyfriends played, and for my money, they're the best not only in Memphis but anywhere. Tell your friends the free concerts are ongoing -- Sundays from 5-9 or so.

Concert tonight!

Come on out to the Shell for the July Sunday evening concert sponsored by the Memphis Music Commission! Tonight features Richard James, Alan Clayton, and the incomparable Di Anne Price and her Boyfriends, my favorite band anywhere. How lucky are we to be living in Memphis with this amazing music scene? Come celebrate! 5-8 pm at the Shell in Overton Park.

More music at the shell

The Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission will celebrate Memphis Music through free concerts in the Overton Park throughout the month of July. This Sunday, July 5th, beginning at 5:00 PM it's Memphis Music at its best, featuring $5 Cover star, VALERIE JUNE. Joining Valerie will be STREETSIDE SYMPHONY and THE MIDTOWN LOWDOWNS (fronted by Jason Freeman, one of my favorite local musicians). It's Midtown Mania this Sunday and every Sunday in July with the Music Commission at Levitt Shell in Overton Park. Bring your family and your friends and come enjoy the extended concert season at the shell. Showtime is 5 PM.

Music in the park!

There are free concerts this week at the Levitt Shell, including former Memphian Todd Snider (one of my favorites). Take a blanket and go enjoy the music, the stars, and the neighborhood block party. See levittshell.org for more information.

Thu Jun 18, 2009 | 7 pm | Americana

Todd Snider

Fri Jun 19, 2009 | 7 pm | R&B w/ Soul & Gospel

Reba Russell & Susan Marshall

Sat Jun 20, 2009 | 5 pm | Kids

Conductor Jack & The Zinghoppers

Sat Jun 20, 2009 | 7:30 pm | Musica Latina

Los Cantadores

Sun Jun 21, 2009 | 7 pm | World Rhythms

Andes Manta