Live Music In Memphis This Month: 10 Shows to See in April

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For the last seven years this monthly lineup of concerts has been brought to you by the always witty Wesley Paraham. After seven years of constant recommendations, list curations, and countless YouTube links pulled; Wesley has decided to focus more on storytelling. Luckily for us, that means you'll continue to see his byline on the blog. Stay tuned for some upcoming good ones. Don't worry, this blog will continue on! You'll be in good hands with Keith Evanson.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, APRIL 5-6

Grind City Music Festival at Grind City Brewing Co.

4/5 doors open at 2:00 p.m., shows at 3:00 | 4/6 doors open at 1:00 p.m., show at 2:00
$69 for 1 day/$109 for 2 days

This two-day music festival features a great mix of alt-country and Americana that you hear all the time on the Outlaw Country Sirius XM channel. Whiskey Myers is the biggest name on here for mainstream audiences. You’ll likely see me here sipping on a Godhopper IPA or a Poppy’s Pils at these shows: Charley Crockett, Nikki Lane, and Drayton Farley.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

Kamaiyah – Another Summer Night Tour at Growlers

Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 / $26.29

I’ve been rocking with Kamaiyah since she dropped her debut mixtape “A Good Night in the Ghetto” in 2016 – in fact it was among my personal top 10 music projects that year. The Oakland rapper is now touring off her 2023 record, which is as bouncy as she’s ever been lyrically and sonically.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

The Wood Brothers – Heart of the Hero Tour at Minglewood Hall

8:00 p.m. / $37.45+

It’s a spring show, but these folk-rockers are usually what you’ll hear on a playlist when you type in “fall vibes” in Spotify. Recommended if you like Lumineers, Old Crow Medicine Show, and flannel shirts.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

Cody Johnson – The Leather Tour at FedEx Forum

7:30 p.m. / $60+

This country music rising star holds the record for “most promo commercials shown on Grind City Media YouTube shows,” I swear. This is something my parents would love. And if you love popular country music or live on a farm like them, this is a can’t miss show.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14

Zach Myers of Shinedown with Allen Mack Myers Moore at Lafayette’s

Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 / $25.10 / 21+

Go and support the local Memphis guy. Speaking of, I always see Zach at Grizzlies games. I hope he renewed his season tickets for next year.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

Soul Glo at Growlers

Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 / $22.68

These dudes rule and you need to go to this if you’re into hardcore punk or if you just like thrashing around in a public space. Just a week ago, they made history on NPR’s Tiny Desk by being the first musical act to start a mosh pit. The energy at this Growlers show will be unbelievable.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, APRIL 19-20

Mempho Presents: Shell Daze Music Festival at Overton Park Shell

4/19 doors at 5 p.m. shows at 6:15 | 4/20 doors at 3:30 p.m., shows at 4:45
One or two day tickets are available | $49.85+ for 1 day/$88.85+ for 2 days

A ton of talented musicians from the jam scenes and the modern rock landscape will take the stage at this two-day music festival located at the Overton Park Shell in midtown Memphis. The grand prize of this event is the headlining Oteil Burbridge, who has been playing bass and providing backing vocals for Dead and Company since 2015 and before that, played with The Allman Brothers Band for nearly two decades. There’s no telling what classic breakout tunes he’ll cover.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at Growlers

Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7:00 / $29.38

Put on your Hot Topic t-shirt and remember to take some aspirin for your back pain before rocking out to some classic 2000s pop punk. I am old enough to have had “Face Down” be my ringtone on my Motorola Razr cell phone.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Kem: Live in Concert at Orpheum Theatre

8pm / $109+

Catch the three-time GRAMMY-nominated KEM weave together his unique blend of R&B, soul, and gospel. Has it really been 20 years since “I Can’t Stop Loving You” dropped?

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – Down The Rabbit Hole Tour at Growlers

Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 / $38.14

Saw the GRAMMY-award winning Molly Tuttle at Bonnaroo last year and she was nothing short of amazing. At just 31-years-old, she’s already solidified herself as a modern legend in bluegrass and jam circles and is constantly mentioned as being one of the best flat pickers of all time – and I agree completely. Her band is also fantastic, giving her songs an exceptionally full sound. Can’t say enough about how lucky Memphis is to get her in an intimate venue like this.

For more, check out: I Love Memphis Music Calendar