While the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival is in its 16thyear, Center for Southern Folklore Director Judy Peiser said thisyear's festival, to be held this weekend, is honed to be the bestof Memphis music and culture.
"We've got artists from what seems like different worlds on thesame stage," Peiser said. "We're featuring artists of gospel,rockabilly, Latin-American groups and Chinese and Korean food."
University of Memphis assistant professor of art history CarolCrown said she has attended the festival in the past and thought itwas a great way to show off the spirit of Memphis.
"I think it's a fabulous event and one that Memphis should beexcited about and a chance to see the best of local art," Crownsaid.
Wildly varied performers are scheduled throughout the weekend,including Gospel greats The Sprit of Memphis and The VanceEnsemble, as well as country guitarist Roy Harper, dobro playerJohnny Bellar and blues acts such as Blind Mississippi Morris andReverend Gatemouth Moore with the Orange Mound Jazz Messengers.
Folk singer Kate Campbell and rappers Al Capone and Kaviouscomplete the diverse set list.
"As the city changes, it's a much bigger, broader net that we'recasting, because we're coming to see that all cultures areimportant to the whole," Peiser said.
"I think it won't be long before we see blues and Latin-Americanmusic coming together and changing music," Peiser said, emphasizingthe continually combining and changing music scene.
There will be a stage set up on Main Street for dance and spokenword performances Saturday and Sunday, as well as acts on thePeabody Place Trolley Stage and the stage inside the Center forSouthern Folklore, all located around 119 S. Main St. downtown.
Additional events are 8 p.m. Championship Wrestling, The GreaterMemphis United Chinese Association is doing a ping-pong showSaturday and Jim Crosthwait presents puppetry Saturday andSunday.
Ultra Youth is putting on activities and shows for the youngerfestival-goers, and there are several guest speakers and vendorsplanning to make an appearance.
According to Peiser, the Festival is free, as it has been everyyear, but the Center is using the Festival as an opportunity torelease a new CD for sale, hoping that Festival-goers will beenticed.
The CD "Beale Street Saturday Night" is a live recording ofartist Joyce Cobb singing music centered around Memphis, from earlyblues to Elvis to "Walking In Memphis."
There will also be several food demonstrations and food forsale.
"We are hoping people will show support and buy CDs andT-shirts," Peiser said.
Outdoor vendors are planned to be open at 11 a.m., the trolleystop stage begins at 12:15 p.m. and the Southern Folklore Stagewill begin at 5:15 p.m.
"For people who are just coming to Memphis for school and wantto know where they landed, the Festival is a good opportunity toeat the food, hear the music and see the crafts and become aMemphian," Peiser said.
