Live Music In Memphis This Month: 12 Shows to See in September
Here are the top picks for live music events, concerts, and shows in Memphis this month.
Got a show to promote? Add it here.
Here are the top picks for live music events, concerts, and shows in Memphis this month.
Got a show to promote? Add it here.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
River City Jazz and Music Fest at Cannon Center for the Performing Arts
Doors at 5:30 p.m. / Show at 6:30 p.m. / $81.90+
Kick the month off right with some smooth jazz! The 6th Annual River City Jazz & Music Fest boasts a ton of top-tier talent in the genre including Saxophonist Najee, Avery Sunshine, Pieces of a Dream, and Karyn White. If you’re worried about parking, don’t be! It’s just $10 right next door at 266 N. Front St.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Hawthorne Heights with Saosin, Anberlin and Cartel
Doors at 4 p.m., Show at 5 p.m. / $50.65+
If you were unable to attend When We Were Young, the pop punk and emo fest in Las Vegas, you’re in luck – we have a mini version of that coming to Memphis, Tennessee. I am loving the official title of this concert, which is called, “Is For Lovers & Hawthorne Heights Presents: 20 Years of Tears,” because that’s exactly what this is, a complete emo fest for the ages. You get not only Hawthorne Heights, which is most famous for their two smash alt rock hits, “Niki FM,” and “Ohio Is For Lovers,” – but you also get Saosin, Anberlin and Cartel who are among the most heralded in the Vans Warped Tour world circa 2008. Please be aware of the very early start time of this event, which I can only assume is so every band can play a full set on stage. While Converse and Vans are usually the go-to footwear to one of these shows, you may be at the age now where you should probably strap on the Hokas or New Balance shoes so you can comfortably stand through all of these awesome shows. We’re a bit older now, let’s face it.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
JT: The City Cinderella Tour at Minglewood Hall
Doors at 7:00 p.m. / Show at 8:00 p.m. / $51.65+
JT is playing in Memphis this September. And it’s not of the Timberlake variety! OK, bad joke. This JT is one half of the of the female duo City Girls, who have created some of my favorite radio rap singles of the last half decade. While I think both JT and her former groupmate, Yung Miami, are better when they are together, I will admit I’ve always found JT to be the better rapper of the two. Apparently, they broke up due to creative differences -- I won’t speculate further. Hey, it’s hard to be in a group – it’s why there are so few of them. Interested to see how JT takes her career to the live stage as she promotes her new album, “City Cinderella.” The beats are grungier and less polished than before, but you can still expect the same lyrical braggadocio you’ve loved from before.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Patti LaBelle at The Orpheum Theatre
Show at 8 p.m. / $81.70+
What more can be said about the great Patti LaBelle at this point that hasn’t already been said? The Godmother of Soul herself will be gracing Memphis with her presence at The Orpheum thanks to the Southern Heritage Classic who is helping to put this on. Come this September to see an absolute legend.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Built to Spill: There’s Nothing Wrong With Love 30 Year Anniversary at Growlers
Doors at 7:00 p.m. / Show at 8:00 p.m. / $43.30+
Your favorite indie rock band’s favorite indie rock band, Built to Spill, is back for a show that is a must for true fans and fringe fans alike. BTS (I always feel weird using that acronym now that an incredibly popular K-Pop group is called that) is touring to commemorate their classic 1994 album, “There’s Nothing Wrong With Love,” which means the setlist will definitely be filled with songs from this album and more. They’re truly one of the best rock shows around, so don’t miss it. Can anyone explain why they had to make “Twin Falls” so short? Why couldn’t it have been longer? What a song.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers at Germantown Performing Arts Centre
Show at 7:30 p.m. / SOLD OUT (tickets available on secondary market)
Two things I know about Bruce Hornsby: 1. He toured with the Grateful Dead in the early ‘90s in a very interesting time in their respective careers and 2. He has some great jams. The only negative thing I can say about this show is that it’s entirely sold out, but go forth and get a ticket on the secondary market if you can brave through the Facebook Marketplace or Stubhubs of the world.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
The Wallflowers at Graceland Soundstage
Show at 8:00 p.m. / $35+
“One Headlight” is a great song and I want to thank Bob Dylan for being a big part of helping that song get created via his son, Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers. They played my college homecoming in the 2010s and I thought they were pretty dang good.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Styx & Foreigner at Radians Amphitheater
Doors at 6:00 p.m. / Opener at 7:30 / $55.50+
Do I even need to sell you on this? Come sail away with Styx. Foreigner has been waiting for a girl (or guy) like you. This will be an all-out blast from the late ‘70s and ‘80s past.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
The War and Treaty at Germantown Performing Arts Centre
Show at 8 p.m. / $89
The fast come-up this country group has had in the past couple years has been fascinating to watch. They’re obviously mega-talented artists with great vocal chops and deserve everything they’ve gotten. The husband-and-wife duo will be bringing their talents to GPAC and you better not miss it.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Deana Carter at Lafayette’s Music Room
Doors at 6:00 p.m. / Show at 7/ $30.25+
This Deana Carter show comes at a pivotal time in my personal life. In her hit 1996 song, “Strawberry Wine,” she has a verse where she remembers naively thinking 30 was “old.” I just turned 31 and can finally identify with this. Another thing personally, I remember my older sister having the cassette (yes, the cassette) to her 1996 album “Did I Shave My Legs For This.” I always thought that was a hilarious title to call your breakthrough country album. That album is littered with numerous, incredibly catchy ‘90s pop country B-sides. Anyway, this is going to be a great show from the Nashville native.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Miranda Lambert at Autozone Park
Show at 7:00 p.m. / $35+
Miranda Lambert to me critically is one of the best radio country stars of the last decade plus. I love that she’s rougher around the edges than her competitors in the genre like Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan. She has so many hits and I loved her break-up album in 2016, “The Weight of These Wings.” I can’t wait to see her again. Also, I am just so happy that there’s a concert being held at Autozone Park. Artists like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson used to play there as recently as 2013. I’d love to see like 4-5 of these types of concerts per year here.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
The Bar-Kays (Orion Free Concert Series) at Overton Park Shell
Show at 7:00 p.m. / FREE
It’s the legendary Bar-Kays playing for free at the Overton Park Shell. You know what to do. Speaking of the Bar-Kays, go and watch that HBO documentary they made this year about Stax – called “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” Incredible documentation of one of the most influential music labels in world history. It features The Bar-Kays as youngsters, playing as backing musicians for Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes.
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