VOL. 133 | NO. 38 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
BSMF Lineup Features Diverse Mix of New and Familiar
By Bill Dries
The Beale Street Music Festival's 2018 lineup is out, and it features a mix of BSMF first-timers and familiar faces for longtime attendees of the three-day music fest in Tom Lee Park.
Headliners for the May 4-6 event include Tyler, the Creator, Jack White, R&B singer-songwriter Erykah Badu, rapper Post Malone, the EDM duo Odesza and Queens of the Stone Age, along with Alanis Morissette and Incubus.
The 63 musical acts announced Wednesday, Feb. 21, for the three-day event that kicks off the Memphis In May International Festival, include 20 newcomers to the BSMF. Among them is Talking Heads founder David Byrne; Margo Price, whose 2016 breakthrough “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter,” and her followup “All American Made” were recorded in Memphis for White’s Third Man Records; Andrew W.K.; and Calexico.
Returning festival favorites include Chevelle, The Flaming Lips, Ludacris, Juicy J and Gov’t Mule as well as Cake and Third Eye Blind.
The Memphis talent spread among the stages in the park takes in Tav Falco & The Panther Burns, Chinese Connection Dub Embassy and Al Kapone.
The line ups for each stage will be announced by the festival at a later date.
The honored country of this year’s Memphis In May International Festival is the Czech Republic and the festival bill includes Dan Barta and Illustratosphere from the Czech Republic.
The blues tent line up is led by Delbert McClinton and Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Also on the blues bill is Marcia Ball, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers and R. L Boyce.
Memphis In May president and CEO Jim Holt said the festival aims for diversity in its selections each year balanced with a sampling of what is popular local and the scheduling of acts who are on the road in the spring.
“You will find our Beale Street Music Festival line-up features artists you won’t find at other festivals around the country,” he said in a written statement.
Here is the complete list of performers for the music festival:
Jack White, Queens of the Stone Age, Odesza, Erykah Badu, Logic, Post Malone, Incubus, Alanis Morissette, Tyler, the Creator.
David Byrne, Kaleo, Ludacris, Vance Joy, Cake, D.R.A.M., The Flaming Lips, Juicy J, Luke Combs, Third Eye Blind, Gov’t. Mule, Dashboard Confessional, Chevelle, Action Bronson, Clutch, Margo Price, All Time Low, Oh Wonder, Young Dolph, Franz Ferdinand, Tank and the Bangas, Andrew W.K., Misterwives, Wilderado, flor, Dan Barta and Illustratosphere, Calexico, Star & Micey, Al Kapone, Amasa Hines, Tav Falco and the Panther Burns, Chinese Connection Dub Embassy.