Jerry Lee Lewis kicks over his piano bench while playing "Great Balls of Fire" in this 2006 file photo, taken during a concert in Kansas City. AP Photo/Lawrence Journal-World, Bill Snead/file
The Memphis in May International Festival revealed its
Beale Street Music Festival lineup today.
Oklahoma City's psychedelic ambassador the
Flaming Lips will be one of the headliners.
Also performing at the fest,
May 3-5 on the banks of the Mighty Mississip, will be
The Black Keys,
Public Enemy, Oklahoma-tied
Alice in Chains,
Bassnectar,
Patti Smith,
The Smashing Pumpkins,
ZZ Top,
The Black Crowes,
The Roots,
Sheryl Crow,
Dwight Yoakam,
Mavis Staples,
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros,
Gavin DeGraw,
Yngwie Malmsteen,
Super Chikan,
The Deftones,
Daryl Hall & John Oates,
Phoenix,
Big Boi and others.
Many think of Tennessee as the home to country music. Memphis is credited as the birthplace of rock 'n' roll, too, with
Sun Studio at its heart and performers including Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis to its credit.
In fact, rock 'n' roll pianist
Jerry Lee Lewis also will perform at the Beale Street Music Festival on May 5. His upcoming album, “
Mean Old Man,” was co-produced with
Tulsa Sound iconic drummer
Jim Keltner with
Steve Bing in Memphis and L.A. It drops Sept. 7 via Verve/Universal Music Enterprises.
Many of the bands have new albums in the works. The Flaming Lips' "The Terror" drops April 1. Alice in Chains will release “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here” in May. The latter also will be a headliner of the Rocklahoma festival, May 24-26 in Pryor.
“The Beale Street Music Festival, the largest annual event in the Mid-South, continues to draw thousands upon thousands of music lovers from around the world. Visitors have come to expect an eclectic and diverse line-up, and this year will not disappoint ... the diversity of performers is astounding,” said Jim Holt, Memphis in May president and CEO, in a media statement.
The Flaming Lips! Public Enemy! Jerry Lee Lewis! Mavis Staples! The Black Keys! ZZ Top! Edward Sharpe! The Roots!
Lordy.
All pre-sale tickets are already sold out. Three-day passes start at $85, available at
memphisinmay.org, via
ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. VIP packages also are available.
