The River Series and Orion Free Concert Series at the Overton Park Shell will offer a variety of outdoor musical entertainment in the coming weeks and months.
Here’s what’s planned for each series.
River Series Concerts
Music will return to Harbor Town as the River Series concerts resume this spring.
Launched in 2014 and booked by Zac Ives of Goner Records, the upcoming season will once again be held in the amphitheater across from Cordelia’s Market on the Maria Montessori School campus, 740 Harbor Bend Road. Proceeds from the concerts benefit the school.
The series kicks off on April 22 with a headlining performance by Memphis garage rock merchants Compulsive Gamblers. They will be joined by Fake, led by Tim Prudhomme.
The series will continue on May 13 with sets by Bluff City singer-songwriters Mark Edgar Stewart and Aaron James of the Unapologetic collective.
North Carolina’s Spider Bags will headline the May 20 bill, which will also include a tribute to The Limes, the band fronted by the late Memphis musician Sean Cripps, who died in a car accident in 2021. Tributes will include Jack Oblivian, Nick Ray and Chris Owen, among others.
The River Series will close on June 3 with noise rockers Aquarian Blood and garage-surf duo Turnstyles.
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The Gates to the River Concert Series kicks off at 4pm with a variety of DJs. Bands start at 5 p.m. Concerts will include food from Cordelia’s Market and beer from Wiseacre Brewing Co.
Tickets are $10 per show for adults and $5 admission for children. Tickets will be available online and at the door. To purchase or for more information, go to Riverseries.org.
Orion Free Concert Series at Overton Park Shell
Memphis rapper Al Capone, blues artist Black Joe Lewis and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra Big Band will be among the performers performing at the Overton Park Shell free concert series this summer and fall.
The free shows — which run May through October — are sponsored by Orion Federal Credit Union.
In addition to Kapone, Lewis and the MSO, other series highlights include the weekend’s 12th annual DreamFest, an evening of performances by local artist collective Unapologetic, as well as sets by Stax Music Academy, Grammy-nominated Latin hip-hop group Los Rakas , Memphis punks Pezz and Broadway star Morgan James.
Overton Park Shell has also established a new partnership with Deaf Connect of the Mid-South, and most of the concerts will feature certified deaf interpreters on stage, providing an inclusive concert experience.
For more information visit Ovetonparkshell.org.
Here’s a full list of shows for the Orion Free Concert Series:
- May 19-21: DreamFest weekend 12
- May 28: Sunset Symphony (featuring the MSO Big Band)
- 1 June: The collection
- June 3: Magic!
- June 8: The tree is gone
- June 9: Anand Wilder
- June 10: The Battle of Santiago
- June 15: The Heavy Heavy
- June 16: Star & Micey, Dead Soldiers
- June 17: Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Bourdreau Jr
- June 22: I had
- June 23: Jimmy Kinard presents Muzaic
- June 24: Stax Music Academy
- June 29: Jenny & The Mexicats
- June 30: Buffalo Nichols
- July 1: An unapologetic night
- September 1: Los Rakas with special guests
- September 2: Memphis PowerPop Presents
- September 8: You Sinseers
- September 9: Black Joe Louis
- 15th of September: Pezz
- September 16: Al Capone
- September 22: Jeremy Albino
- September 23: Memphis Country Blues Festival
- September 29: Spray Wilson
- September 30: Telmari
- October 6: Morgan James
- October 15: Shakespeare in The Shell.