MEMPHIS, TN (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Memphis in May announced the line-up for 2012 Beale Street Music Festival that includes over 65 musical acts scheduled to appear at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis, TN on May 4-6.
Now in its 36th year, Beale Street Music Festival has long been known for its eclectic and unique line-ups which includes varied music genres and performers, and it continues to be evident in 2012. Headliners for this year’s event include internationally acclaimed artists such as Jane’s Addiction, My Morning Jacket, Florence + the Machine, Wiz Khalifa, Evanescence, Primus, Girl Talk, Pitbull, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, and Anthony Hamilton.
Musical genres represented at this year’s event are broad and deeply flanked by the festival’s staple, rock and blues.
This year's performers range from Herbie Hancock, to Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine and the instrumental prowess of bassist Les Claypool and Primus.First time artists for the 2012 Beale Street Music Festival include Florence + The Machine, Evanescence, and My Morning Jacket. It also marks the first appearance by Jane’s Addiction, Pitbull, Primus, Girl Talk, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Wiz Khalifa, Black Stone Cherry, The Head and the Heart, The Civil Wars, Dr. Dog, Black Lips, Big K.R.I.T. Childish Gambino, and Lupe Fiasco to name a few. In all, nearly half the artists performing are first-timers at the festival.
The FedEx Blues Tent celebrates the soul of the Delta this year with veteran performers such as Johnny Winter, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Bernard Allison, Charlie Musselwhite, Duke Robillard, Larry McCray, and The Nighthawks.
The contemporary blues scene is well represented by Gary Clark Jr., and Memphis’ rich blues legacy is showcased with The Bo-Keys, Will Tucker, Valerie June, Robert “Wolfman” Belfour and Victor Wainwright.
Two Memphis Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees are featured on the line-up, Jerry Lee Lewis and Al Green. Memphis is well represented in all genres from rap to rock to soul and the blues. Among this year’s Memphis performers, Three 6 Mafia and Yo Gotti as well as crowd favorites North Mississippi Allstars, Memphis rockers Prosevere, hipsters Zoogma, and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.
The Beale Street Music Festival also welcomes 5 time Grammy winner Buddy Guy, and Bush, The Cult, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
Memphis in May’s honored country for 2012, The Philippines, is represented by the Filipino alternative rock band Sponge Cola.
Memphis in May President and CEO Jim Holt said in a statement, “The Beale Street Music Festival is consistently the largest annual event in the Mid-South and continues to draw hundreds of thousands of music lovers from around the world. This year’s music festival is clearly no exception. Visitors have come to expect an eclectic and diverse line-up, and this year will not disappoint.”
— Crystal Lynn Huntoon
