Memphis in May – Beale Street Music Festival

The Beale Street Music Festival is part of the Memphis in May celebration held in Memphis, Tennessee each spring. The music festival is always held the first weekend in the month of May. I’ve been a regular festival goer for a while and have had the opportunity to see Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, James Brown, B.B. King, George Clinton, the Killers and so on. It is CROWDED, but it’s a good time.

If you plan on going to the festival, plan on muddy terrain. Seriously. Every year I see girls walking around in their cute high heel sandals. That’s great if you don’t want to leave the sidewalk. But everyplace else is pretty muddy. Bring you boots. Also, it gets cold on the Mississippi River. You can look cute, but take a sweater or jacket.

If you’re going to Memphis that weekend, whether it’s for the festival or business or both, book your room well in advance and RECONFIRM YOUR RESERVATION. Hotels DO overbook and I have seen people who were left without a place to sleep. Be advised that many hotels will require a minimum stay of 2 or 3 nights during the festival.

This year’s lineup is looking good with Social Distortion, North Mississippi Allstars, Counting Crows and Super Chikan (who I saw at King Biscuit last year). For more information about the music festival and other Memphis in May activities, check: https://memphisinmay.org/home.html.