Mempho Music Festival Continues with Incredible Lineup for 8th Time
Mempho Music Festival’s 8th year at the Memphis Botanical Gardens Radian Theatre was once again a huge success. Widespread Panic headlined the first two nights, with supporting acts including Bloodkin, Kevn Kinney, Leftover Salmon (with a John Bell sit-in on “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”), Galactic, Father John Misty, The Flaming Lips, Mavis Staples, The Pharcyde, Puddles Pity Party, High Fade, and Lucas Nelson prior to the one of the best bands from Athens, Georgia, taking the stage delivering two smoking hot sets each night.
Widespread Panic — Friday, October 3
WSP opened day one with OG favorite “Disco” and proceeded to dip back into the earlier days in their career with a mostly-OG set of songs including “Pleas,” a rare first-set “Love Tractor,” “I’m Not Alone,” “Thought Sausage,” “Up All Night,” and set-ender “Junior.”
Second set would start with JoJo Hermann’s “One Armed Steve,” transitioning into a jam-packed 20-minute “Surprise Valley.” JoJo then took us into crowd favorite “Black Out Blues.” Next Kevn Kinney would join the band for the first time in ten years (Milwaukee 2015) performing Drivin N Cryin’s “Straight to Hell” with a huge crowd sing-along. Next King of Bass Dave Schools’ heavy-duty licks on “Impossible > Jack > Bear’s Gone Fishing” led into “Tie Your Shoes,” with Jimmy Herring’s axe closing out the second set with “Protein Drink > Sewing Machine” – heavy-metal Panic!
Encore: Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart > Porch Song”
Day One in the books
Widespread Panic — Saturday, October 4
Day two, and the music continued under blue skies and funny trees with plenty of food and beverages, artist auctions, inferno dome, and music, music, music.
Returning for another blistering two-setter, Widespread Panic kicked off night two with JoJo Hermann’s “Bust It Big,” with Widespread Panic Army fans back with their dancing shoes on ready to get the funk down. “Traveling Light > This Part of Town > Imitation Leather Shoes > Traveling Man > Waker > Jamais Vu > Greta,” ending the set with “Life During Wartime.”
Set two: “For What Its Worth > Tall Boy > King Baby” into an inverted “Saint Ex” with Herring’s ever-so-sweet slow jams leading into “Party At Your Mamas House > Diner > C.Brown > All Time Low,” ending the set with “Chilly Water.”
Encore: “Cosmic Confidante > Rocking in the Free World”
Mempho — Sunday, October 5
Day Three: Nico, Lucero, Sierra Ferrell, Charley Crockett, John R. Miller, Annie & the Caldwells, Amy Lavere, and the Gia Welch Trio would bring their diverse country bluegrass with the crowd, cowboy hats and boots scooting and dancing, leading up to headliner Tyler Childers and his story-filled chart-topping songs.
That’s all folks. Thank You, Mempho Music Festival, all the bands, crews, volunteers, and security who worked hard to make this wonderful musical event happen for the 8th year. See you here next year!!!
FRIDAY GALLERIES
Father John Misty
Leftover Salmon
Bloodkin
Kevn Kinney
Galactic
SATURDAY GALLERIES
Lukas Nelson
The Flaming Lips
Puddles Pity Party
