On October 6th and 7th, I had the opportunity to attend Mempho Music Fest which took place at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tennessee and the experience was unlike any other. For only being its second year, Mempho Fest was one of the most well put together festivals I’ve attended to date and with plans of expansion for the 2019 year, there is absolutely no stopping them!
The weekend started off with the soulful, Memphis based singer, Talibah Safiya, who put on an absolutely amazing performance and quickly captivated the crowd. Followed by the likes of Lucero, Boo Mitchell & The Kings, Cory Branan and Memphis native, Eric Gales.
As the afternoon went on, the crowd that had formed at the First Tennessee Stage had grown and was buzzing by the time Milky Chance hit the stage. Soon after, Janelle Monáe performed one hell of a set and had everyone absolutely enthralled by the second song. Everything from the stage set up to the choreographed dancing was incredibly captivating and just by glancing over the crowd, I could tell I wasn’t the only one that was completely into what was happening on that stage.
The First Tennessee Stage was also graced by none other than Phoenix, the indie pop band hailing from France. Shortly after their incredible set we headed over to the Hard Rock Stage to catch Juicy J and Project Pat, who really knew how to hype up the crowd and definitely left us excited for what was in store for the following day.
We started our Sunday off by watching The Como Mamas capture the crowd at the Hard Rock Stage with their soulful tunes. Soon after, we headed to the First Tennessee Stage and witnessed Larkin Poe rock the crowds socks off! There was also some amazing performances from artists such as, Rich The Kid, Mac DeMarco, and Nas. Though the First Tennessee Stage had been packed throughout most of the day, the crowd really gathered for Post Malone. From start to finish, the crowd was full of energy and hundreds could be heard singing along to some of his most popular songs. Post Malone had such a unique way of keeping the crowd captivated and not only by smashing his guitar on stage!
Not only did this years Mempho Fest have a variety of different but equally amazing performances on two separate stages, it was also equipped with a Silent Disco, as well as the Orion Dome, which was essentially a dome under pillars of fire and by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever witnessed! Not only did Mempho do an amazing job organization wise, but they also made sure festival goers were able to see some of what Memphis is really about by having local businesses and aritsts!
This years Mempho Fest was all around and amazing experience and a great way to spend your weekend, especially if you’re a music lover! After talk of expanding the festival and adding more days, stages, and activities, I’d be sure to mark your calendar for next year!
Follow Mempho Fest for updates here: Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Website
