Resident Artists Open Studios
2024-04-09 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | TN
Crosstown Arts presents the Resident Artists Open Studios.
Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Time: 6-8 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
Crosstown Arts is proud to invite the Memphis community to visit the Resident Artists’ studios during the Open Studios night. Crosstown Arts Spring 2024 resident artists will have their studios open to the public. Residency alumnus Nelson Gutierrez will present his installation A Journey into the Shadows spanning from the second-floor balcony to Crosstown Theater.⁠

Modern Masters Jazz Series: Steve Masakowski and The Ted Ludwig Trio
2024-04-10 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents the Modern Masters Jazz Series: Steve Masakowski and The Ted Ludwig Trio in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door | $10 student tickets

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Steve Masakowski is an award-winning jazz guitarist, educator, and inventor. He invented the guitar-based keytar and the switch pick, and has designed three custom-built seven-string guitars. He developed an approach to playing the guitar by using his pick design, allowing him to switch from fingerpicking to flatpicking.

He has released solo albums and has worked with Johnny Adams, Mose Allison, Dave Liebman, Ellis Marsalis Jr., Carl Fontana, Rick Margitza, Bobby McFerrin, Nicholas Payton, Dianne Reeves, Sam Rivers, Woody Shaw, Alvin Tyler, and Bennie Wallace. Since 1987, he has been a member of the band Astral Project.

He has been voted Best Guitarist twice and included as a member of Astral Project in the Best Contemporary Jazz Group three times by Gambit and Offbeat magazines in their annual readers’ poll. He has also been recognized by Down Beat magazine as Guitar Talent Deserving Wider Recognition.

Cyrena Wages with Lilly Winwood
2024-04-11 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Cyrena Wages with special guest Lilly Winwood in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

“The Wages’ were run out of North Carolina for stealing horses and other boorish behavior. We settled in North Mississippi and evolved into three groups: the preachers, the drunks, and the outlaws; and then kind of a mid-range group. I came from the mid-range group.”

Cyrena Wages fell in love with music on the country backroads between Millington and Shelby Forest, two small towns just north of Memphis. Her upcoming debut album, Vanity Project, is both an exercise in rebellion against years of conditioning, as well as a way of processing her own struggles, healing, and growth. As much as Memphis shaped her positively, there were aspects of growing up as a woman in the South that didn’t align with who she wanted to become. Cyrena tapped producer Matt Ross-Spang (Charley Crockett, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Margo Price) to helm Vanity Project at Southern Grooves Studio in Memphis.

“It had been a really long time coming. I was getting ready to make this record,” says Cyrena, “and I heard about a music biz guy saying—before ever hearing my songs—‘Yeah, but she’s kind of a vanity project, right?’”
And just like that, the album had roots and the title track was born. “I just feel ready, when I haven’t felt ready before. Everybody comes to terms with themselves on a different timeline. It took me a second, but now it’s my time.” Find Cyrena’s first single “Carried Away” and second single “Robin Hood” on all platforms now.

Lilly Winwood is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter with a captivating sound that seamlessly fuses elements of folk, R&B and Americana. Born into a musical family, she inherited a love for singing and honed her craft with a voice that exudes both power and vulnerability. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences and introspection, Lilly’s heartfelt lyrics and soulful vocals create an authentic and resonant connection with her audience. As she continues to evolve as an artist, Lilly Winwood’s passion and undeniable talent solidify her place as a rising star in the music world.

HAYDN: CREATION
2024-04-12 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra present HAYDN: THE CREATION in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Arts
Friday, April 12, 2024
Doors open at 6 pm | Show begins at 6:30 pm
Tickets: $35
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Dr. Rebecca Lord, conductor
Memphis Symphony Chorus – Dr. Lawrence Edwards, conductor
Mary Wilson, soprano
Samuel Cook, tenor
Joseph Parrish, baritone
HAYDN The Creation

Puppy Palooza 2024
2024-04-13 07:00 - 10:00 | Crosstown Concourse, Plaza, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Concourse and Crosstown Arts present Puppy Palooza 2024.
South Plaza
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Time: 12-3 pm
Tickets: Free + open to the public
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 13th. Puppy Palooza is back and better than ever!
Join us with your furry friends at Puppy Palooza on Crosstown Concourse’s South Plaza from 12-3 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Here’s a preview of what you can expect:
• DJ and various vendors
• Yard games designed just for dogs
• Dog costume contest with exciting prizes up for grabs
• Custom caricature portraits of your dog
• Free dog nail-clipping services
• Adopt a fur-ever friend from local rescue organizations
• and so much more!

Artist Talks: Melissa Dunn, Kevin Brooks, and Birdcap
2024-04-13 08:00 - 10:00 | Crosstown Arts, East Atrium, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, United States
Crosstown Arts presents the Artist Talks: Melissa Dunn, Kevin Brooks, and Michael “Birdcap” Roy in The Galleries.
The East Atrium at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Talks: 1-3 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
Current exhibiting artists Melissa Dunn, Kevin Brooks, and Michael “Birdcap” Roy will discuss their work, processes, and influences. It’s a chance to get a special glimpse behind the curtain and better understand the art and the artists.
The Earthworm and the Hawk is the overlap between two states of being. In the private and non-verbal world of Melissa Dunn’s sketchbook, she burrows deep, generating drawings intuitively from her imagination. As the pages fill up, she steps back and shifts perspective, becoming more objective. The lay of the land comes into sharp focus. Here she maps out, poses questions, and acts decisively.
What were you meant for? is an art exhibition that delves deep into the world of film to uncover the seldom-seen layers of Black male identity. It navigates a tapestry of scenes that bring to the forefront the poignant battles between vulnerability and societal expectations, challenging the confining boxes of toxic masculinity. Through curated cinematic moments, the exhibition forces viewers to confront their own biases and question ingrained beliefs about strength, resilience, and emotional depth.
Iliumpta is a retelling of Homer’s Iliad set in the Southernmost bayous of Mississippi. Named after the county the story takes place in, Iliumpta draws comparisons between masculinity in the American South and the sandaled heroes of yore, often pointing out the weakness in a regional outlook that insists on staying put during hurricanes.

Folk All Y’all: David Wilcox
2024-04-13 14:30 - 16:30 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts and Folk All Y’all present David Wilcox in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $30
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
More than three decades into his career, singer/songwriter David Wilcox (he/him) continues to push himself, just as he always has. Wilcox, by so many measures, is a quintessential folk singer, telling stories full of heart, humor, and hope, substance, searching, and style. His lyrical insight is matched by a smooth baritone voice, virtuosic guitar chops, and creative open tunings, giving him a range and tenderness rare in folk music. His innate sense of adventure and authenticity is why critics and colleagues, alike, have always praised not just his artistry, but his humanity, as well.
David was the first artist Folk All Y’all reached out to host, way back in 2014. After that first (more-than-)sold-out show, David’s come back and played seven more. We’re thrilled to welcome David Wilcox back to The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, a space that has inspired him for years.
Minimum ticket price is $30 but you can name-your-own price above that if you’re feeling it. 100% of ticket revenue goes to our artists (you can see where any fees go in the check-out breakdown). Yep, all of it. Folk All Yall is volunteer-run and subscriber-supported. Shows are presented in partnership with Crosstown Arts at The Green Room in Crosstown Concourse.

Cypress Ensemble
2024-04-18 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Cypress Ensemble’s The Often and Rarely played: Beethoven and Fibich in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 | $5 student tickets
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
The group brings the Often and Rarely played: Beethoven and Fibich to The Green Room at Crosstown Arts. The Cypress Ensemble, a group of classically-trained Memphis musicians, is a collaboration of friends who love playing chamber music. The ensemble is currently on a mission to play the Beethoven Opus 18 Quartets and also chamber music treasures that Memphis audiences rarely hear in live performance.
The players:
Piano – Lois Hobbs Yu
Violin – Jordan Musgrave
Violin – Priscilla Tsai
Viola – Daniel Gilbert
Cello – Ruthie Burgess

Flamenco Memphis
2024-04-19 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Flamenco Memphis in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, April 19, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Flamenco Memphis celebrates its one-year anniversary with an evening of flamenco music, singing, and dance!

The performance, presented in a “tablao” style, will bring the audiences a diverse repertoire that includes traditional and original flamenco compositions.

Flamenco Memphis will bring an evening of art aiming to inspire and captivate audiences with this unique blend of history, sounds, and movement that is flamenco. New works include “Alegrias,” “Soleá por Bulerias,” and “Seguiriyas.”

With this special anniversary performance, Flamenco Memphis is excited to welcome a new artist to the group, who will bring to life the beautiful and intricate rhythms through percussion instruments!

Flamenco Memphis invites you to embark in this magic experience with us and continue celebrating life in the community through flamenco.

The ensemble continues to work on growing cultural awareness of flamenco in the Memphis community through performances and education. The group appreciates your support in attending this performance and sharing their message.

American Roots: A Celebration of Americana through Dance
2024-04-19 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Ballet Memphis presents American Roots: A Celebration of Americana through Dance in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Arts
Friday, April 19, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm
Tickets: $35-55
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Following the success of Ballet Memphis’ 2022 production of SOUL, the company returns to Crosstown Theater with another unique and immersive theatrical experience. Rising choreographic stars Alia Kache of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Ballet Memphis’ own Julie Niekrasz and Brandon Ramey each present new works performed to musical selections that celebrate the vast and exciting landscape of Americana music. A spotlight on the diversity of American dreams, this production features a live house band that just may have you dancing in the aisles!

American Roots: A Celebration of Americana through Dance
2024-04-20 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Ballet Memphis presents American Roots: A Celebration of Americana through Dance in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm
Tickets: $35-55
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Following the success of Ballet Memphis’ 2022 production of SOUL, the company returns to Crosstown Theater with another unique and immersive theatrical experience. Rising choreographic stars Alia Kache of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Ballet Memphis’ own Julie Niekrasz and Brandon Ramey each present new works performed to musical selections that celebrate the vast and exciting landscape of Americana music. A spotlight on the diversity of American dreams, this production features a live house band that just may have you dancing in the aisles!

American Roots: A Celebration of Americana through Dance
2024-04-21 09:00 - 10:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Ballet Memphis presents American Roots: A Celebration of Americana through Dance in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Arts
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Time: 2 pm
Tickets: $35-55
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Following the success of Ballet Memphis’ 2022 production of SOUL, the company returns to Crosstown Theater with another unique and immersive theatrical experience. Rising choreographic stars Alia Kache of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Ballet Memphis’ own Julie Niekrasz and Brandon Ramey each present new works performed to musical selections that celebrate the vast and exciting landscape of Americana music. A spotlight on the diversity of American dreams, this production features a live house band that just may have you dancing in the aisles!

John Bass and Friends
2024-04-24 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents John Bass and Friends: Nowhere in Between Album Release Concert in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door | $10 student tickets
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
To celebrate the release of his new record Nowhere in Between, John Bass brings an amazing lineup of talented Memphis musicians and friends who the guitarist has worked with over the past 20 years.
Bass is a Memphis-based guitarist, songwriter, and educator whose work over the past 20 years has garnered regional, national, and international recognition. He has performed and recorded with artists such as Bobby Rush, George Coleman, Kirk Whalum, and Eden Brent and was invited performer at the 2023Festival Internacional de Guitarra in Cartagena, Colombia.
In 2021, he arranged, co-produced, and performed on an original recording of “America the Beautiful” that featured blues legends Bobby Rush and Eddie Cotton, and his debut solo album Nowhere in Between is scheduled to be released in 2024.
Bass is also an Associate Professor at Rhodes College, where he serves as the Director of the Mike Curb Institute for Music, which has been recognized by Billboard magazine as a “Top Music Business School.” At Rhodes he teaches classes on Songwriting, Improvisation, and Popular Music History, and his writing appears regularly in scholarly journals and other media outlets.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents ENNIO
2024-04-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents Ennio at Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!)
Giuseppe Tornatore / 2024 / 156 minutes / Not Rated
Giuseppe Tornatore, director of the beloved Cinema Paradiso, turns his camera on his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone (1928-2020) in a moving and comprehensive profile of an indefatigable composer. Tornatore’s documentary portrait explores the breadth of the maestro’s career, from his early Italian pop songs to the fistful of unforgettable film scores that he wrote, including The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The Thing, Days of Heaven, and hundreds of others. The examination thoughtfully captures insightful commentary from Morricone’s closest collaborators and contemporaries, featuring testimonies from artists and directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci, Marco Bellocchio, Giuliano Montaldo, Dario Argento, Clint Eastwood, Joan Baez, Quentin Tarantino, and more. Ennio affords the master one last chance to recount his career and deconstruct the artistic process that led him to win two Academy Awards and author over 500 unforgettable soundtracks.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

Jeff Hulett and the Hand Me Down’s
2024-04-25 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Jeff Hulett and the Hand Me Down’s in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
From the outside, Jeff Hulett might seem like a late-blooming guitarist and songwriter. But if you ask any of his fellow musicians they’ll tell you he was writing songs and playing music long before he put pen to paper or strummed a chord.

His unique style landed him in the band Snowglobe. Over his many years with the Memphis-based institution, Hulett regularly contributed melodies, lyrics, and arrangements to many of the tunes in their prolific cannon. You can even hear a few of his originals in their discography.

During his long tenure with Snowglobe, Hulett continued to hone his own voice and develop his own creative projects. He began playing guitar more, and writing his own lyrics. This dedication and passion led to his collaboration with Leah Keys in the band Me & Leah. They released an eponymous and beautiful CD in 2016 featuring nine original folk tunes. Then in 2019, Me & Leah added Jonathan Schallert to the mix to record and partially release a digital copy of their 7 inch Most of Your Life. Both albums were engineered by accomplished mainstays Toby Vest and Pete Mathews of High/Low and Andrew McCalla, respectively.

Recently, Hulett had a song placed in Hulu’s Single Drunk Female and also provided the score for Empty to Enough, a documentary about Room in the Inn – Memphis.

Amina Figarova Sextet and the Matsiko World Orphan Choir
2024-04-30 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Amina Figarova Sextet and the Matsiko World Orphan Choir in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

“Among the most important composers to come into jazz in the new millennium” – JazzTime

Hailing from Azerbaijan, the New York-based Amina Figarova is an internationally influenced—and recognized—composer, pianist, and bandleader. Those three roles come to the forefront in Figarova’s sextets, bands with a remarkable chemistry that brings her detailed arrangements to life. Every member of the group stands out as a first-rate individual, but their dedication to Figarova’s eclectic and powerful compositions gives this group its depth of feeling and elite status. The Amina Figarova Sextet has been a hit at major festivals like the Newport Jazz Festival and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
The Matsiko World Orphan Choir has brought together our world’s orphaned and vulnerable children to share their story of turning the pain of loss, hunger, and hopelessness into personal empowerment, an educational scholarship through their nation’s university or vocational levels to instill love, joy, hope, and optimism for the future.

Folk All Y’all: Gaby Moreno
2024-05-01 14:30 - 16:30 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts and Folk All Y’all present Gaby Moreno in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Since moving to Los Angeles from her native Guatemala, singer-songwriter-producer Gaby Moreno has released eight albums and earned 4 GRAMMY nominations for her albums “Illusion” (Best Latin Pop Album, 2017) , “Alegoría” (Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album, 2022), “X Mí (Vol. 1)” (Best Latin Pop Album – 2023) and for producing legendary cuban singer Omara Portuondo’s album “Vida” (Best Latin Tropical Album – 2023). She is also a 5-time nominee and winner of a Latin GRAMMY for “Best New Artist” (2013).
Over her career, Moreno has shared the international stage with music luminaries such as Tracy Chapman, Ani DiFranco, Hugh Laurie and The Copper Bottom Band, Punch Brothers, Chris Thile, Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek, Buena Vista Social Club, Calexico, David Gray, Los Lobos, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Taj Mahal, Jackson Browne, Van Dyke Parks and many more. She has had the honor of performing several times at Lincoln Center in NYC and The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Outside of her large critical acclaim and extensive accolades in TV and film (including co-writing the theme song of “Parks & Recreation”), Gaby has proven to be a groundbreaking artist whose impact has extended beyond just music. She was recently named the first UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from Guatemala and works closely with various organizations that support those on the margins.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents BLUE IN THE FACE
2024-05-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents BLUE IN THE FACE in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Doors open at 6:30 pm | Film begins at 7:00 pm (Sharp!)
Tickets: $5 at the door
After coming in under budget at the completion of SMOKE, Wayne Wang and screenwriter Paul Auster managed to convince their producers to make an immediate sequel, this time shot almost entirely on the fly with no script in just five days. Despite the constraints, Wang and Auster, serving as co-directors, deliver a satisfying follow up, returning once again to Auggie Wren’s Brooklyn tobacco shop, and assembling another impressive cast, including Harvey Keitel, Victor Argo, Keith David, Giancarlo Esposito, Roseanne Barr, Michael J. Fox, Lily Tomlin, Mira Sorvino, Lou Reed, Mel Gorham, Jim Jarmusch, Malik Yoba, and Madonna. What emerges is yet another funny, moving, and authentic portrait of a Brooklyn neighborhood.
Wayne Wang / 1995 / 89 minutes / Rated R
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

The Alex Upton Quintet
2024-05-03 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents The Alex Upton Quintet in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, May 3, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door | $10 student tickets
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Memphis-based saxophonist Alex Upton will bring their original modern, straightahead jazz compositions to The Green Room at Crosstown Arts. The second half of the performance will be the premiere of a brand-new, five-movement suite for jazz combo entitled “In Retrospect”.

Alex Upton is a saxophonist and composer with a deep-rooted passion for all music both old and new. As a jazz artist, Alex has performed and recorded with nationally recognized artists including Rachel Therrien, Rahsaan Barber, Stephen Anderson, Jim Ketch, and more. In 2022, Alex was awarded first prize at the prestigious North American Saxophone Alliance’s National Jazz Artist Competition.

They have performed as a soloist at esteemed events such as the JEN Conference, North American Saxophone Alliance, and the John Coltrane Jazz Festival, and have recorded on the Summit Records label as a member of the 360 Jazz Initiative Ensemble.

The band:
Alex Upton (Saxophone)
Jacob Loreant (Guitar)
Alvie Givhan (Piano)
Liam O’Dell (Bass)
James Sexton (Drums)

Ben Nichols and Rick Steff (of Lucero)
2024-05-04 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Ben Nichols and Rick Steff (of Lucero) in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $25
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Memphis music legends Lucero’s Ben Nichols and Rick Steff are teaming up to play a very special performance in The Green Room at Crosstown Arts.

Since forming in Memphis in the late ’90s, Lucero’s base musical hallmarks have remained similar to the band’s initial sound established with their first record The Attic Tapes. In the history of their expansive discography, Lucero has evolved and embraced everything from southern rock to Stax-inspired Memphis soul, whilst simultaneously maintaining their distinctive sonic foundations. Over 20 years later, dedicated fans of the group still flock to hear the band’s punchy driving rhythms, punk-rooted guitar licks, and lyrics that evoke the whiskey drenched sentimentality of Americana singer-songwriters. As expected of any band built to survive, Lucero has welcomed change over the course of their career, but it has always been on their terms.

Modern Masters Jazz Series: Jim Snidero and The Ted Ludwig Trio
2024-05-08 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents the Modern Masters Jazz Series: Jim Snidero and The Ted Ludwig Trio in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door | $10 student tickets
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Described in a recent 5-star review in DownBeat magazine as having “incredible prowess and tender musicality,” New York saxophonist and composer Jim Snidero encapsulates what is both unique and compelling about jazz, reflected in over 10 million plays on Spotify. Hailed as having a sound “at the highest level among his fellow alto saxophonists of the 21st century” (All About Jazz), and improvisation that is “mind-boggling and, at the same time, hugely enjoyable” (The Guardian), Snidero is a veteran recording artist placing in both DownBeat critic and reader polls (EMI, Milestone, Savant …) and sideman (Mingus big band, Jack McDuff, Eddie Palmieri, Frank Sinatra …) who can truly say “been there, done that.”

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents TRUCK TURNER
2024-05-09 14:00 - 15:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts and the Stax Museum present a 50th Anniversary Screening of Truck Turner in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!)
Jonathan Kaplan / 1974 / 91 minutes / Rated R
Bounty hunter Mack “Truck” Turner (Isaac Hayes) almost always finds his target, but his latest prize — a pimp called Gator (Paul Harris) — is killed while Turner is chasing him. Gator’s girl, Dorinda (Nichelle Nichols), vows to avenge his death and offers ownership of her successful call girl operation to anyone who can knock off Turner. Upscale pimp Harvard Blue (Yaphet Kotto) steps in, upping the ante with professional assassins. Turner, however, isn’t going down easily.
This screening is presented in collaboration with the Stax Museum.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

Shoot & Splice: Filmmaking Grants & Labs
2024-05-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts and Indie Memphis present Shoot & Splice: Filmmaking Grants & Labs in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Doors open at 6:30 pm | Begins at 7 pm
Tickets: Free + open to the public
Join Indie Memphis & Crosstown Arts for a discussion of best practices when applying for filmmaking grants and labs. Joseph Carr will lead a presentation for filmmakers applying for Indie Memphis’ IndieGrant program*. He will break down the application process step-by-step and provide tips on what the jurors look for when reviewing submissions. Additionally, Indie Memphis’ Kayla Myers and Amanzi Arnett will discuss other local and national opportunities for grant funding, as well as provide guidance on how to best present yourself and your project when applying for funding.

Whether you’re new to filmmaking or not, securing funds is always a significant challenge. Don’t miss out on this Shoot & Splice session—it’s your opportunity to gain invaluable insights and tools to navigate the grant and lab landscape like a pro!
Shoot & Splice is a FREE filmmaker forum presented by Crosstown Arts and Indie Memphis, featuring a wide variety of technical, educational, and unique topics of interest to the Memphis filmmaking community.

*IndieGrants is the Indie Memphis filmmaker grant program in which two filmmakers each year are awarded $7,500 in cash & $7,500 in in-kind services and equipment from our sponsor organizations – Archer Records, Firefly Grip & Electric, LensRentals.com, and VIA Productions. To learn more and apply head to – indiememphis.org/indiegrants

IndieGrants is sponsored by Mark Jones and the above mentioned businesses.

MicroCinema: Children’s Film Festival Seattle 2024
2024-05-15 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts and Indie Memphis present MicroCinema: Children’s Film Festival Seattle 2024: Best of the Fest Live Action Showcase in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Arts
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Special start time: Doors open at 6 pm | Begins at 6:30 pm
Tickets: Free + open to the public

Co-presented by Crosstown Arts, Indie Memphis, and Like You: Mindfulness for Kids, we’re excited to once again present Children’s Film Festival Seattle’s Best of the Fest: Live Action Showcase!
This program, which includes award-winning and audience-favorite films from their most recent festival, intends for youth audiences to gain global awareness through the medium of film. From intergenerational friendship, to discovering and rescuing a friend from an alternate dimension, to learning how to honor your ancestors, these films beautifully cover a broad range of ages and experiences.
Like You is a mindfulness podcast for kids of all ages. It uses breathing, affirmations, music, and imagination to explore feelings, relieve anxiety, encourage self-esteem, and grow empathy, all while having fun. You can find out more about the podcast and listen to episodes here!
We recommended that kids ages 8 and up attend this screening!

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents ENDLESS POETRY
2024-05-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Endless Poetry in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!)
Alejandro Jodorowsky / 2016 / 128 minutes / Rated R
Through renowned father of the midnight movies Alejandro Jodorowsky’s intensely personal lens, Endless Poetry tells the story of his years spent as an aspiring poet in Chile in the 1940s. Against the wishes of his authoritarian father, the 20 year old Jodorowsky leaves home to pursue his dream of becoming a poet, and is introduced into the bohemian and artistic inner circle of Santiago where he meets Enrique Lihn, Stella Diaz Varín, Nicanor Parra, all unknown at the time, but who would later become driving forces of twentieth century Hispanic literature. Living with these inspirational artists, Jodorowsky’s exploration of his inner feelings takes him on a journey of sensual experimentation leading him to realize his innermost desires and passions.
Continuing the autobiographical story he began in The Dance of Reality, Endless Poetry is an ode to the quest for beauty and inner truth, as a universal force capable of changing one’s life forever, written by a man who has dedicated his existence to creating spiritual and artistic awareness, told through Jodorowsky’s unique surreal and psychedelic visual language.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

Mississippi Moon Festival Showcase
2024-05-16 14:30 - 16:00 | TN
Crosstown Arts presents the Mississippi Moon Festival Showcase preview in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, Mary 16, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Join us for the Mississippi Moon Festival Showcase preview on The Green Room at Crosstown Arts on Thursday, May 16! It will be a fun evening to hear a sampling of 11 musicians performing acoustic Americana music before the bigger festival happens in June on the grounds of Aisling Farm in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Get your jam on with this celebration of American roots music.

STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. Preview
2024-05-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts, Indie Memphis, and HBO present STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. Preview in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Friday, May 17, 2024
Doors open at 6:30 pm | Screening begins at 7 pm
Tickets: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Join director Jamila Wignot in person for a preview of the first episode of the new HBO docuseries STAX: Soulsville U.S.A., followed by a panel discussion with Wignot and key participants. After the film and post-film discussion, please join HBO, Crosstown Arts, and Indie Memphis for a reception for all ticket-holders. The post-film reception will be held in the Crosstown Arts East Atrium (above the red staircase). Complimentary food and drinks will be provided.

Residency Application Info Session
2024-05-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, East Atrium, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, United States
Crosstown Arts presents the Residency Application Info Session in the Glassroom Classroom.
The Glassroom Classroom
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Time: 7-9 pm
Tickets: Free with RSVP
RSVP HERE
Want to apply to the Crosstown Arts Resident Artist program, but you’re not sure where to start? Attend the Residency Application Info Session and learn the ins and outs of creating and submitting your application, plus get answers to any questions you might have about the Residency program. Be sure to RSVP!

Opening Reception for “MANE” and “Hidden Gems”
2024-05-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, East Atrium, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, United States
Crosstown Arts presents an Opening Reception for “MANE” and “Hidden Gems” curated by Najee Strickland and Kiara Sally in the Galleries at Crosstown Arts.
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts
Friday, May 24 , 2024
Time: 6-8 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
MANE
In the South we have a language like no other. Some people think it’s drawn out, others think it’s charming. Some folks may appropriate, but none can replicate. In this culmination of speech, artists expose their own experiences with southern vernacular. All content will reflect the various interpretations from local Memphis-based artist in their hometown. The show will explore how southern speech has shaped their view of community and themselves.
Hidden Gems
To level up we must get out of our own way. That can begin with taking a chance or creating one. In this exhibition we search for the hidden gems in our community. This show includes artists with modest visibility and offers them an opportunity to show up and be uncovered.
Presenting works by:
MANE:
Marco Alexander
Devin Kirkland
Vel Haynes
Lurlynn Franklin
Mosal Morszart
Cheeto Ryan
Kenneth Alexander
Kiersten N. Williams
Kai Ross
Derrick Weaver
Princeton James
Kiara Sally
Najee Strickland
Hidden Gems:
Natalia Yarger
Nicolette Taylor
Quantavious Worship
Gabrielle Duffie
Dimitri Stevens
Clyde Johnson Jr.
Jeanelle Toothbrush Jesus
Najee Strickland
Taylor D. Bee Boyd
Timberly Hope
Curated by Najee Strickland and Kiara Sally

Folk All Y’all: Hayley Reardon
2024-05-25 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts and Folk All Y’all present Hayley Reardon in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Hayley Reardon (she/her) is a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and a storyteller in the truest sense of the word. Her songs serve as postcards from an artist brave enough to take the road less traveled. Reardon dove head first into music at the young age of 15, and has spent much of the past decade writing, recording and performing music around the world.
Raised in a coastal Massachusetts town north of Boston, Reardon spent three years based in Nashville and much of the past six years carrying her songs and stories all over the globe — including a six-month artist-in-residency stay in Dachau, Germany — gathering experiences, inspiration and soulful connections. Her ever-deepening music carries a lyrical and melodic weight beyond her years, being described as “brilliantly moving folk/pop with a lyrical depth and soul” (Performer Magazine) and “a melancholy little masterpiece” (American Songwriter Magazine). No Depression writes “Reardon is truly a treasure.”
