So you thought there wasn’t going to be a kick-ass music festival in Downtown Memphis during the month of May this year?
Well, there is!
The International Blues Challenge is coming to 20 clubs in and around Beale Street Friday, May 6-Monday, May 9. IBC is for solo artists, duos, and bands who have incredible talent playing the blues… but they just haven’t been heard by the right people in order to get gigs around the world… they just haven’t been heard by the right people to score a record contract.
The right people will be at IBC, looking to discover new talent.
You can be there too.
The quarterfinals start at 6:30 on Friday and 5:00 on Saturday. The way it works is, you purchase a wristband that gets you into all the participating clubs, giving you access to a buffet of some of the best blues in the world. The semifinals begin at 7:30 on Sunday and again, there is wristband admission (I think the price of a wristband goes up a little for the semis). The finals are Monday, May 9 at noon at the Orpheum. View the complete schedule
FedExForum is participating in Live Nation’s National Concert Week. From tomorrow (starting at 9 AM) until May 10, you can get $25 tickets to 3 upcoming concerts:
- The Who, Friday, May 13
- Maverick City Music, Friday, July 1
- Backstreet Boys, Friday, September 9
Soul & Spirits brewery on N. Main has new hours:
- Tuesday-Friday 4-10 PM
- Saturday 12-10 PM
- Closed Sunday and Monday
- Last call 9:30 PM
The Museum of Science and History presents A Taste of Ghana Saturday 6:00-8:30 PM. There will be Ghanian food, dance, and storytelling, and goods from local Ghanian craftsmen available for purchase. Ghana is the honored country for Memphis in May for 2022.
The Birds Aren’t Real guy appeared on 60 Minutes recently. He told them his movement is a parody of the Internet age’s conspiracy culture.
STIX Express Downtown has announced its $20 special for May:
- A ginger salad with ginger dressing
- A Downtown roll
- Teriyaki chicken hibachi
Happy hours in The Edge are back every Wednesday in May. They’ll kick it off at Stop 345 tomorrow from 5-7 PM, with
- Free food from the Fuel food truck (is the Nuh-Uh Girl still in town?)
- Free drinks from Strangeways Cordials
- Free wine from Rootstock Wine
- Free 30-minute throwing sessions at Craft Axe Throwing in The Edge
- Music by DJ Capital A on Stop 345’s new rooftop deck
Insomnia Cookies on Beale is offering a free 6-pack of Classic Cookies with any $5 purchase to teachers, school staff, and nurses this week. Promotion ends at close of business Friday. Must show proof of employment such as a pay stub or ID badge.
Cordelia’s Market reports that their “best kept secret” is back in the grab & go: Mesquite-grilled chicken salad with sun-dried tomatoes, celery, onion sweet relish, mayonnaise, spicy mustard, and their secret marinade.
The Flying Saucer celebrates its 25th anniversary all day Saturday. The Downtown Memphis location opened in May 1997.
Today is Election Day for primaries in Shelby County.
Registration is open for St. Jude Marathon Weekend for 2022. The marathon will happen on December 3.
Jerk, Jokes, and Karaoke comes to Curry & Jerk’s lounge tomorrow night at 7.
Big (and not good) national news: A draft opinion leaked to POLITICO suggests that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that guarantees women the right to an abortion.
GO GRIZZLIES! Game 2 vs. Golden State, 8:30 PM, TNT. Back tomorrow with more news.