Memphis music

I spent the weekend at the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival in and around the Center for Southern Folklore on Main Street in Memphis. This is an annual event for me -- I think this is my ninth festival. I've been working for and with the Center since 1997.

It's truly an amazing event put together almost entirely by volunteers. The Music and Heritage Festival is the largest free heritage festival of its kind in the Southeast, I think. Yeah, I said FREE. More than 100 acts played over two days. Everything from Choctaw Dancers to Klezmer to the Bobby Rush himself made this years festival a HUGE success.

I am more and more amazed every year with Judy Peiser, the Center's Executive Director, particularly. She seems to have boundless energy and a boundless drive to promote ALL facets of culture represented in the South at the Festival. Judy is simply amazing.

As I say, I've worked with the Center for Southern Folklore for the last decade or so -- I've met hundreds of musicians, artists, and entertainment professionals. I've shook hands with B.B. King (and served him dinner) several times, I've spent quality time with Marty Stuart and the late Rufus Thomas, I've spent hours with record producers, concert promoters, painters, sculptors, and who knows who else. I've never gotten a picture with any of them. I'm an idiot -- in many cases, I was ALONE with these folks. I never thought it was proper or my place to be a fan; I wanted to do my job and make these people comfortable. I've decided to change my outlook slightly: Yes, I'll continue to do my job and support these folks in whatever professional way that I can, but I'm also gonna get PICTURES.

I have a hodge-podge of responsibilities at the Music and Heritage Festival. Primarily, I'm nominally over the operations of the bar and food service area inside what is known as "Folklore Hall". I'm a problem solver, too, fixing problems and putting out fires that may crop up in and near the venue for which I'm responsible. I'm also responsible for making sure the artists get paid. Yeah, I get to hand out the checks -- and that puts me directly in front of the performers.

That's really one of the greatest parts of my job at the festival: I get to meet and greet every performer. Many of the "regulars" know my name; almost all of them know my face by now. Many begin smiling when they see me, call my name, or just generally seem glad to see me. I'd be glad to see me, too, of course, as I have their check! This year, I got several pictures with some of my favorite artists; unfortunately, I *still* missed a few of my favorites.

I did manage to get pictures with two of my primary targets, however: Eddie Bond and Kate Campbell. Of course, in all the pictures, I look like someone's been beating me with a club and the performers look like they've been drenched -- it was hot in Memphis this last weekend (even inside it was warm under the stage lights).

I had a great time -- even though my feet and knees are just now getting back to normal. I can't wait for next year.

For more information on the Center for Southern Folklore, visit http://www.southernfolklore.com. There's also a special web-page for the festival at http://www.memphismusicandheritage festival.com.

I recommend reading Andria Lisle's excellent article on the festival in the Memphis Flyer (click).

Also, Tom Bremer wrote a nice blurb on Kate Campbell (click) in his reflections on this years festival.

Technorati Tags:Center for Southern Folklore, Memphis Music and Heritage Festival, Memphis, Music