Listen Up: 12 Shows To See in Memphis in April 2017

Listen Up: 12 Shows To See in Memphis in April 2017

Ed. Note: Contributor Baylee Less has put together this sweet list for live music in Memphis in April 2017. 

 


We still have another month until Beale Street Music Fest, but don’t fret. This month is filled to the brim with live music. Here are the twelve live music shows you won’t want to miss in Memphis this April. 

1. Two Blues Legends for One Great Cause Concert feat. Bobby Rush and Buddy Guy, Minglewood Hall, Sunday, April 2, doors at 5 p.m., $35-$100, all ages
Blues Hall of Famers Bobby Rush and Buddy Guy pair up to raise money for PCA Blue, a non-profit organization that raises awareness for prostate cancer. The night will also include special performances by the Bo Keys, Southern Avenue, and Vashti Jackson.

2. Dylan LeBlanc, 1884 Lounge at Minglewood Hall, Wednesday, April 5, show at 8 p.m., $10-$12, 18 and up
This Southern boy knows his way around a soulful, traveling ballad. Dylan LeBlanc’s new album “Cautionary Tale” is painful, hopeful, and sounds like the lovechild of Elton John and Neil Young. I saw him open for George Ezra two years back and his performance is not to be missed.

Photo courtesy of Chris Milam.

3. Chris Milam Record Release Show, Loflin Yard, Thursday, April 6, show at 8 p.m., $5 cover, all ages
Join Chris Milam at Loflin Yard for the release of his new record, “Kids These Days.” He brings country, folk, and rock elements together to create poetry of loss and love. If you ever wanted to perfect music to match the atmosphere of Loflin, you found the show.

4. Deering and Down, Railgarten, Sunday, April 9, show at 9 p.m., free, all ages
Enjoy Railgarten’s opening weekend with the soothing sounds of  blues duo Deering and Down. The brand-new Midtown ping-pong bar’s warm outdoorsy atmosphere will be the perfect setting for Lahna Deering’s Norah-Jones-esque serenades and Reverend Neil Down’s folksy rhythmic strums.

5. Panic! At the Disco, FedexForum, Saturday, April 8, doors at 7 p.m., $37-$350, all ages
This decade-old emo-pop band is still cranking out hits these days. I can’t imagine Panic! At the Disco’s show at the Forum to be anything short of a smoke-and-lasers Cirque-De-Soleil mega-party with all of your closest alternative rock friends.

6. Colony House, The Hi-Tone, Wednesday, April 12, doors at 8 p.m., $12, all ages
If you want to bop around to fun, energetic, guitar-based pop rock, Colony House is for you. Hailing from Franklin, Tennessee, this four-man group treks to the Hi-Tone to showcase their new album “Only the Lonely”. Grab some tickets and show them how Memphis boogies.

7. Toy Trucks and Mystery Twins, Bar DKDC, Saturday, April 15, show at 10 p.m., 21 and up
Need some rock-n-roll in your life? Toy Trucks and Mystery Twins bring their head-banging, hip-swinging rock to Bar DKDC this month. Go scream, jump, and celebrate that your taxes are paid with these two Tennessee rock groups.

8. Jojo, New Daisy Theatre, Sunday, April 16, doors at 7p.m., $25, all ages
It’s not “Too Little, Too Late” to see Jojo anymore. After a 10-year gridlock with her record company, the R&B hip-hop princess is touring North America. Her new album “Mad Love” gives us an older, more grounded songwriter but with the same power ballad vocals we’ve missed for the past decade.

9. Rev. John Wilkins and Crystal Shine, Harbortown Ampitheater, Sunday, April 23, doors at 3 p.m., $5 donation, all ages
The 2017 River Series at Harbor Town Amphitheater, a series of live music shows that benefit the Maria Montessori School, kicks off this month with Rev. John Wilkins and Crystal Shrine. Wilkins makes a bar feel like a church with his gospel-infused blues music, and this show on the River is sure to leave you tingly.

10. GGOOLLDD, The Hi-Tone, Friday, April 28, doors at 9 p.m., $7-$10, 18 and up
With the pop-synth hooks as catchy as CHVRCHES and a splash of 70’s rock performance technique, GGOOLLDD is taking the US music scene down one dirty basement show at a time. Frontwoman Margaret Butler claims the band always strives to exist somewhere between “winging it and great artistry.” This mantra shines through their electro-dance pop, and makes me think anything will happen at a GGOOLLDD show.

11. Hear901 Fest with The Band Camino, Aaron James, Kyndle McMahan, and more, The Bluff, Friday April 28, $6-$20, doors at 7 p.m., all ages
The third annual Hear901 Fest is upon us, and it’s one of my favorite ways to support local music. Come out to hear the hottest student bands from the U of M including The Band CAMINO, Aaron James, Kyndle McMahan, Sonic Pulse, Flirting with Sincerity, and Haley Daniels.

12. Charisse, Halloran Centre, Saturday, April 29, doors at 6 p.m., $25, all ages
To close out April, Ashley Charisse Mackey and her Aretha Franklin voice will perform at the Halloran Centre. Native Memphian Charisse pulls inspiration from her early church-singing gospel days and her time as the lead singer for the world renowned blues band the B.B. King All Stars.


About The Author
A born and raised Memphian, Baylee Less recently returned to her roots after her four-year hiatus at the University of Maryland. A new contributor to ILoveMemphis and Memphis Travel, she is excited to share the reasons she’s always loved Memphis. She enjoys live music, Asian food, and being outdoors.Follow @bayleeless on Twitter for updates about being vegan in the land of barbecue.

To submit a show for inclusion in May's Listen Up by emailing [email protected] by April 20. Please use Listen Up May in the subject line. Then go submit your show to the calendar, too.

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Chris Milam | …
[…] Listen Up: 12 Shows To See in Memphis in April 2017 + Chris Milam Ticket Giveaway! – I Love Memphis Blog […]
April 3, 2017 7:21am
Andria
For those looking for an intimate show experience, we've still got a few seats left for our Folk All Y'all house concert with Australian guitar virtuoso and transcendent singer-songwriter Daniel Champagne on April 13th. Here's how to RSVP: http://www.folkallyall.com/daniel-champagne-4-13-17/
April 4, 2017 8:45am
Brently
I love this place. A hidden gem in the south. So much fun.
April 4, 2017 10:52am
Lincoln
For those needing their Grateful Dead fix on 4/20, but have seen the movie 100 times, go to The Railgarten and see Left Unsung. Its Grateful Dead meets Memphis soul and rhythm. Gonna be a jamming good time!
April 16, 2017 5:35am
Chris Milam | …
[…] Listen Up: 12 Shows To See in Memphis in April 2017 + Chris Milam Ticket Giveaway! – I Love Memphis Blog […]
September 23, 2019 6:04pm