What We Do Best

There could be some argument about what our city really specializes in. Is it pulled pork? The ribs? The sauce? Is it the Southern hospitality? The way we support our teams (even during years of disappointment)? Or is it the music? The sultry blues or the driving rock ‘n roll birthed in our Delta? Whatever it is we do best, we do it with an air of celebration and that’s why summer evenings in the midsouth…when we’re gathered together, swatting mosquitoes and feasting on something good, is arguably the best time of the year, offering the best of what we’ve got.

Here are some ways to make the most of your magical summer nights with live music in Memphis this season.

This is How We Do It

The Grove in Germantown features live POPS music from the Memphis Symphony Orchestra select Thursdays throughout the summer. At $7 a ticket, the outdoors experience is perfect for the whole family. Bring a picnic or enjoy cocktails and food trucks from onsite vendors and enjoy a charming evening with incredible music and good friends.

Alfred’s on Beale offers early evening jazz shows on Sundays throughout the Summer with the Memphis Jazz Orchestra. Founded in 1992 at local songstress Joyce Cobb’s historical jazz club on Beale, the Memphis Jazz Orchestra is an authentic Memphis experience not to be missed. Catch a show with the virtuoso musicians from 6pm - 9pm on select Sunday evenings. 

First Wednesdays at the Brooks Art Museum will dazzle all summer with local, live musicians, stunning art, and the museum’s blooming garden. Watch the Brooks website for musician announcements each month. The perfect, free date night all Summer long!

The Overton Park Shell…another season of free music for the entire family. The lawn of the Shell has been a friend and family meeting ground for decades. You picnic, you socialize, you watch your kids run around, and you listen to great music; it’s what summers were made for. Check their calendar for the June shows and go ahead and throw a lawn chair in your trunk. Arguably the easiest, stress-free, best way to relax with friends and family this season.

Jazz Saturdays at the Brooks offer a monthly immersion into one of the most complex musical styles that Memphis has to offer. Enjoy two hours of local jazz from noon to 2 pm every third Saturday of the month as you stroll the galleries. Sponsored by the Memphis Jazz Workshop, Jazz Saturdays aims to draw interest in the always evolving tradition of jazz among youth in the city. Bring the whole family and get yourself some real culture. 

The truth is, Memphis will be jamming all summer. Get out and enjoy the best music in the South with the best people in the South. There’s something for everyone and the magic is plenty.

Photos via Overton Shell Facebook Page