5 Things To Do In Memphis This Weekend: 1/23 - 1/25

5 Things To Do In Memphis This Weekend: 1/23 - 1/25

Happy Friday, Memphis! Here are the five things you won't want to miss in Memphis this weekend.

youth-villages-soup-sunday-memphis
A sample of some of the food from last year's Soup Sunday (see #5).

1. International Blues Challenge, Beale Street (various venues), Friday and Saturday, priced per event, some clubs may be 21 and up 
Every year, the International Blues Challenge brings some of the world's finest blues musicians to Beale Street for five nights of live blues music competitions. The music is spread through most of the clubs on Beale Street (plus a few other venues) with the finals held at the Orpheum on Saturday night. Read the full post here.

2. Backbeat Tours Family Day,  departs from Blues City Cafe, Saturday, 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., $9 per family of 5, all ages/kid-friendly
Here's your chance to save about 20 bucks! On Saturday, hop on the Backbeat Tours bus for a 90-minute ride around town with music, comedy, and behind-the-scenes stories. You and your kids will go by Sun Studio, Stax Studio, Lorraine Motel, the homes of Elvis, B.B. King, and Johnny Cash, and more. It's a great way to introduce the little ones to their city, and the usually $15 - $28 tours are just $9 per family of five this Saturday only. Be sure to call for reservations. 

3. Flying Saucer Cordova 9th Birthday Party, Flying Saucer Cordova, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., no cover charge, 21 and up
The Flying Saucer's Cordova location celebrates nine years of existence with a Rare Beer tapping event all Saturday evening and live music from Free World at 8 p.m. Rare beers from Founders, Goose Island, Dogfish Head, et al, will be tapped every half hour starting at 6:30 p.m. Get more info at MemphisCraftBeer.com

4. John Paul Keith 10th Anniversary Party, The Buccaneer Lounge, Friday, 10 p.m., 21 and up
Here's an explanation of this event in JPK's own words: "Hard to believe I moved to Memphis January 2005. This town changed my life forever and I am proud to call it home. In many ways my whole style grew out of One Four Fives gigs at the Bucc, so we have to celebrate there. Me and the boys will be playing and Elizabeth Wise will be opening. Let's have a party."

5. Soup Sunday, FedExForum, Sunday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., $30 adults/$10 kids/free under 6, all ages/kid-friendly
A favorite Memphis tradition is Youth Villages’ annual Soup Sunday. This year, Soup Sunday will celebrate 26 years of serving up some of the Mid-South’s best soups, breads, desserts and specialty items. Guests are invited to come sample delicious dishes from more than 50 of the area’s best restaurants, caterers and food trucks on Sunday, Jan. 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the door. 

A few more notes for y'all:

Paula Raiford Memphis Holly Whitfield Kevin Cerrito

1. If you haven't yet listened or subscribed to the I Love Memphis podcast, you're missing out! In the January edition, my cohost Kevin and I interview Memphis' party queen, the recently-featured-in-the-New-York-Times Paula Raiford. Click here to listen (no downloading required). Click here to see all 11 I Love Memphis Podcasts and a few shorter Bonus Clips.

2. Bonus thing to do: Memphis Roller Derby's Season Opener is Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Pipkin Building. Go here for more info.

3. In addition to the John Paul Keith show mentioned above, this weekend seems especially full of shows from some of Memphis' favorites. Here are just a few:

Friday Night
Cities Aviv and Ex-Cult at the Hi Tone (read more here)
Graham Winchester at Young Avenue Deli  

Saturday Night
The Bluff City Backsliders at Bar DKDC
Grace Askew at the Booksellers at Laurelwood
Ghost Town Blues Band at Lafayette's 
Hope Clayburn and the Soul Scrimmage at the Cove
Mighty Souls Brass Band at the Bayou (read more here)

If you don't already, and you want to, you can follow me on: 
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– Pinterest 

You can always check the calendar for more events and ideas for things to do in Memphis. Have a great weekend and don't forget to tag your photos #ilovememphis and they might show up here on Monday. 

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5 Things To Do…
[…] 2. Backbeat Tours Family Day, departs from Blues City Cafe, Saturday, 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., $9 per family of 5, all ages/kid-friendly Here’s your chance to save about 20 bucks! On Saturday, hop on the Backbeat Tours bus for a 90-minute ride around town with music, comedy, and behind-the-scenes stories. You and your kids will go by Sun Studio, Stax Studio, Lorraine Motel, the homes of Elvis, B.B. King, and Johnny Cash, and more. It’s a great way to introduce the little ones to their city, and the usually $15 …read more […]
January 23, 2015 9:54am
Brad
Backbeat Tours Family Day states it is on Saturday the 25th on their website - 25th is Sunday. Minor detail but people could show up on the wrong day. 
January 23, 2015 11:56am
Holly Whitfield

Brad, that is last year's date. The correct day/date is this Saturday, January 24. I've updated the link in the post. Thanks! 

January 23, 2015 12:21pm
James
Just went to the Memphis Dawls FB page; they state there that "Contrary to popular belief, we are not playing The Deli tonight." You might want to edit that.
January 23, 2015 4:10pm
Holly Whitfield

Thanks James. It was (and still is) listed on the Memphis Flyer's calendar.

January 23, 2015 6:08pm
Jerry Bowman
Don't forget the more cultured side of Memphis.  Amp it up a bit and come see Iris Orchestra play tomorrow at 2:00 at GPAC. Tickets still available. We went tonight and they were amazing. Premiered a new work called I Will Not Remain Silent in honor of Joachim Prinz, a rabbi confidant of Martin Luther King.  http://www.commercialappeal.com/go-memphis/arts/stage-news/prinz-project-remembers-rabbi-civil-rights-activist-via-concerto-classroom_89550205
January 25, 2015 2:46am