Crosstown Arts

Lawrence Matthews Live at The Green Room
2024-10-25 14:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Lawrence Matthews Live at The Green Room
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, October 25, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $10 in advance | $10 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Born and raised in a suburb of Memphis; the story of Lawrence Matthews is the journey of an artist trying to move forward toward a healthy and free self, all while reckoning with the extreme environmental stimulus of southern poverty and violence. Though often imagined as opposing forces, the horror and beauty of the south often live in the same space. Matthews navigates this in-between space as an extension of the southern gothic voices with whom he is aligned. He emerges as somewhat of a Morrisonian beloved ghost, a child who needed more. Now, fully grown as a manifestation of love and bitterness intertwined.
With a BFA from The University of Memphis and a decade long career working with various arts nonprofits, his work in nearly every area of the arts is an amalgamation of his whole life. As a young artist he’d create with the rap, R&B and alternative rock references he’d come in contact with. Visually inspired by the regionalistic mythology of Paul Thomas Anderson and early Spike Lee; Matthews’ own visuals weave African spirituality with the Christian mythology that permeates the region, highlighting the deep relationship between the often maligned spiritual connections Black people have explored for generations. Introduced to new sounds by way of underground mixtapes and 2000s video countdowns, these sonics blended with the eccentricities of acts like Outkast and grittier more reality-driven music from the south creating a diverse palate that Matthews pulls from when crafting the imagery that populates his own art.
Shedding his previous Don Lifted alias, Matthews re-introduces himself as just that – himself. Matthews decided it was time to harness his truest form as a creative. Exploring those complex feelings of longing, grief, emptiness, and separation actually led Matthews to a deeper and more honest relationship with his community and himself. The unbelievable became inextricably linked to what is real. He ventured into the unexplored corners of himself, places and stories forgotten or suppressed behind traumatic environments and a survivalist mentality. Now a reborn artist, Matthews is intentional about aligning himself with others. That intention is a thread in his new musical journey, as he aligns his stories with the stories of those who came before him and walks alongside their traditions.

Artist Talks Featuring Current Crosstown Arts Residents
2024-10-22 13:00 - 15:00
Join us for an inspiring evening of Artist Talks featuring our current resident artists at Crosstown Arts. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the talented artists who are shaping the creative community here in Memphis. Learn about their artistic journeys, creative processes, and the exciting projects they are working on during their residencies.
Our current resident artists come from diverse disciplines, including visual art, storytelling, performance, audio drama, and more. Explore their work and gain insight into how they navigate their creative paths, all while contributing to the vibrant artistic culture at Crosstown Arts.
When:
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time:
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where:
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 280, Memphis, TN 38104
For more details on our current resident artists, visit our Current Residents page.
We look forward to an engaging evening of creativity and conversation! This event is free and open to the public.

Mak Ro: Love in The Dark
2024-10-19 14:30 - 17:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Mak Ro: Love in The Dark
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Mak Ro is a duo of Filipino-American cousins based in Memphis, TN: Eric Makapugay (Multi-Instrumentalist/Producer/Songwriter) and Kristoffer Ruaro (Singer/Producer/Songwriter). The duo has crafted a sound that blends neo-soul and R&B with edgy, genre-crossing influences. With 15 singles and a 4-song EP already under their belt, Love in the Dark is poised to be a defining moment in their musical journey.
Follow Mak Ro on social media @makromusicofficial and visit www.makromusicofficial.com for more information and updates.
Must be 18 years or older to attend this show.

Fright-Tober Halloween film series: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
2024-10-19 13:30 - 15:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” released in 1975 and directed by Jim Sharman, is a cult musical comedy that parodies science fiction and horror B-movies. The film follows a young engaged couple, Brad and Janet, who find themselves stranded at the mysterious castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a flamboyant and eccentric alien transvestite. Throughout the night, they encounter a series of bizarre characters and musical numbers as Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation, a muscle-bound man named Rocky. Known for its interactive audience participation and campy humor, the film has become a beloved classic, especially celebrated for its quirky characters, catchy songs, and unique blend of genres.
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Fright-Tober Halloween film series: Young Frankenstein
2024-10-19 09:30 - 11:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
“Young Frankenstein,” released in 1974 and directed by Mel Brooks, is a comedic homage to classic horror films. The story follows Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, who initially rejects his family’s legacy. However, he eventually returns to his ancestral castle and, inspired by his grandfather’s experiments, decides to continue the work of reanimating the dead. With the help of quirky assistants, Frederick creates a new monster, leading to a series of humorous and bizarre events. The film is celebrated for its clever writing, iconic performances, and affectionate spoof of the original Frankenstein films.
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Nick Finzer presents: "Legacy" A Centennial Celebration of JJ Johnson
2024-10-13 14:30 - 17:00 | Crosstown Arts The Green Room
Crosstown Art presents the Nick Finzer presents: “Legacy” A Centennial Celebration of JJ Johnsonin The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $20 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Immerse yourself in an extraordinary concert experience as we bring to life the musical legacy of the legendary J.J. Johnson! A heartfelt tribute to one of Finzer’s musical heroes. J.J. Johnson, a trailblazer on the trombone, revolutionized the instrument much like Charlie Parker did for the saxophone. His ability to seamlessly translate the clarity, precision, and velocity of bebop onto the trombone, while maintaining a distinctive sound, is unparalleled. Beyond his virtuosity, J.J. was a prolific composer, creating numerous tunes and arrangements for albums, and later expanding his repertoire to include compositions for movie scores and large brass orchestras.

This project aspires to build upon the legacy of this trombone giant by delving into his compositions. Drawing inspiration from J.J.’s vast catalog, we explore new musical territories while paying homage to the jazz classics associated with his name. This concert promises to be an unforgettable celebration of J.J. Johnson’s enduring influence on the world of jazz!

POSTPONED Folk All Y’all: Kyshona
2024-10-12 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 Kyshona in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
This event is postponed until further notice.
Kyshona lends her voice and music to those who feel silenced, forgotten or alone. She began her career as a music therapist, writing her first songs with patients — students and inmates under her care. She became compelled to write independently and find her own voice, an endeavor which led her to the Nashville creative community and songwriting culture. Since then, she balances her music career with her passion to heal in community through her organization Your Song.
Kyshona’s new project LEGACY focuses on family. Through stories, photos, film, ancestry and genealogy research, and travels in the power of place, Kyshona shares her story while inviting listeners and concert goers to join her in exploration of self, healing and growth. The tour will kick off in early 2024 with various types of experiences including concerts, speaking event, workshops, and virtual meetings. The album will release in April 2024, with singles coming soon. Sign up for eNews to stay informed of what’s to come!
Over the last few years, in addition to three new original singles and multiple music videos, she released a collection of recordings and videos in collaboration with Centennial Park Conservancy – recorded at Nashville’s Parthenon, in front of a monumental sized gold statue of Athena. A song she wrote with ZG Smith called “Nighttime Animal” was named to American Songwriter’s Top 25 Songs of 2022 and enjoyed spins on AAA radio. She wrote an article for No Depression magazine, and was invited to speak at several events including giving a keynote address for 2023 Fulbright Scholars. She is featured in a 2023 PBS television show called “Ear to the Common Ground,” gathering fans around a dining table to discuss voting rights in America, and she will be featured in an upcoming video series featuring Americana artists performing in the prestigious Schermerhorn Symphony Center Theater in Nashville.
Her song Listen was an anthem for many in 2020. Of her album of the same name, one fan reviewer wrote: “Amidst these hard, divisive times this set of songs is a salve for the grief many of us are feeling about resulting loss of family, friends, and community.” Within the grooves of its 10 tracks, Kyshona blends roots, rock, R&B, and folk with lyrical prowess to uplift the marginalized and bring awareness to the masses. It’s for every silent scream, every heavy load, fearful thought, and a simmering sense of anger that the repressed, the lost, and the forgotten try to hide from the world.
Audiences will find a common thread of empowerment, overcoming adversity, and finding hope in her work. The show doesn’t end when the last song is sung. After her powerful performances, concertgoers often ask, “What can I do?”
Her response? “Listen.”

Fright-Tober Halloween film series: Psycho
2024-10-12 13:30 - 16:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
“Psycho,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock and released in 1960, is a landmark in the thriller and horror genres. The film follows Marion Crane, who steals a large sum of money and flees, eventually checking into a remote motel run by the enigmatic Norman Bates. As Marion disappears, her sister and a private detective begin searching for her. The film is famous for its shocking plot twists and the iconic shower scene, which set a new standard for suspense and psychological horror. Hitchcock’s masterful direction and the film’s exploration of psychological themes have made it a timeless classic.
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Fright-Tober Halloween film series: The Goonies
2024-10-12 09:30 - 11:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
“The Goonies,” released in 1985 and directed by Richard Donner, is an adventure-comedy film that follows a group of kids in the small town of Astoria, Oregon. When they discover a treasure map in the attic of one of their homes, the gang—known as the Goonies—sets out on a quest to find the hidden pirate treasure of the notorious One-Eyed Willy. Their adventure is complicated by the criminal Fratelli family, who also wants the treasure. As the Goonies navigate booby traps and solve puzzles, they experience thrilling escapades and uncover the value of friendship and bravery. The film is celebrated for its blend of action, humor, and heart, becoming a beloved classic of the 1980s.
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Lovelight Orchestra featuring John Nemeth
2024-10-11 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Lovelight Orchestra featuring John Nemeth in the Theater
The Theater at Crosstown Arts
Friday, October 11, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $30
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
The phrase “the Memphis sound” often evokes Sun rockabilly or the mid-‘60s “deep soul” era of Stax, but a style equally important in the city’s rich musical history was the big band blues found on the singles of Bobby “Blue” Bland, B.B. King and Herman ”Junior” Parker. It’s a sound proudly celebrated today by the Love Light Orchestra, a group of seasoned Memphis musicians whose name derives from Bland’s 1961 hit “Turn On Your Love Light.”
The 10-piece band—initially envisioned by guitarist Joe Restivo, vocalist John Nemeth and arranger/trumpeter Marc Franklin—also reveals their affection for Bland here through covers of “”I’ve Been Wrong So Long” and “Poverty,” and they tip their hat to King and Parker through, respectively, “Bad Breaks” and “Sometimes.”
In addition to dipping into the catalogs of Buddy Ace, Freddie King, and Percy Mayfield, the band demonstrates their deftness with uptown blues via the solid originals “Singing For My Supper, “Lonesome and High,” and the Ray Charles-inspired opener “See Why I Love You.” Casual fans of Memphis music might only recognize their cover of Al Green’s iconic “Love and Happiness,” but it’s reset here as a shuffle, building upon riffs that Franklin says were inspired by Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus.”
The Love Light Orchestra’s overall sound, says Franklin, was inspired by Joe Scott, the longtime arranger for Bland, whose work Franklin discovered after he was hired to play with Bland in the early ‘90s [Saxophonist Art Edmaiston and drummer Earl Lowe also did stints with Bland]. “The first time I heard his work it sounded like Ellington, but more downhome, with extended harmonics that you don’t necessarily hear on blues or soul records. It’s a jazz thing, throwing extra notes into the chords—at Stax they didn’t do 6th chords.”
Bland and King’s signature styles developed with the aid of formally trained Memphis musicians versed in swing arrangements. King’s first two singles featured the city’s first family of jazz, Phineas Newborn, Sr., and his sons Calvin and Phineas, Jr., and some of King and Bland’s early recordings featured arranger and multi-instrumentalist Onzie Horne, Sr., later a contributor to “Theme From Shaft.”
“The Memphis sound of the ‘50s put in the sophistication with the horns, but it never lost that gritty aspect of the blues,” says Nemeth. “And the spirituality in the vocals was tremendous— the melodies have such great movements, and the lyrical rhythms are perfect.”
Guitarist Restivo has plenty of solos here, but notes “we wanted to make a horn record, so the featured instrument is saxophone. That was the axe of choice on Beale Street at the time.” Grammy winning producer/engineer Matt Ross-Spang cut the record at the tiny DKDC bar in Midtown Memphis, and recalls “it was more or less done after we cut it.”
“This music is really supposed to be heard live, to be in the room to feel the horns, and it turned out magically—lightning in a bottle twelve times in just a couple hours.”
John Nemeth / Vocals⁠
Marc Franklin / Trumpet / Arranger⁠
Art Edmaiston / Tenor Sax⁠
Jason Yasinsky / Trombone⁠
Kirk Smothers / Baritone Sax⁠
Paul Mckinney / Trumpet⁠
Earl Lowe / Drums⁠
Joe Restivo / Guitar⁠
Matthew Wilson / Double Bass⁠
Gerald Stephens/Piano

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents AMADEUS
2024-10-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents a special screening of Amadeus in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 pm | Film begins at 7:00 pm (sharp!)
Miloš Forman / 1984 / 158 minutes / Rated PG
Miloš Forman directed Peter Shaffer’s screenplay, based on his Tony Award-winning play, about the 18th century rivalry between journeyman court composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham in an Academy Award-winning tour-de-force performance) and his rival, young upstart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (fellow Best Actor nominee Tom Hulce). Saul Zaentz’s lavish production features opulent period details, while Shaffer’s witty script speaks eloquently about the challenge of art while leaving room for Mozart’s gorgeous music to dominate. The film earned 11 nominations and its 8 Oscar wins include Best Picture, Actor, Art Direction, Costume Design, Directing, Makeup, Sound, and for Shaffer’s adapted screenplay.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

Modern Masters Jazz Series: Bruce Forman and The Ted Ludwig Trio
2024-10-09 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: Bruce Forman and The Ted Ludwig Trio in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Wednesday, October 9, 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

A hectic touring schedule; twenty-one recordings as a leader, countless sideman recordings including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway; soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films—most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby; raconteur, arranger, acclaimed educator, in residence at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Dept., when does Bruce Forman rest?

Deep immersion in American culture inspires Forman to contribute to the traditions that he draws from. Reunion! (the newest project) revisits the famed Poll Winners sessions with cohorts John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, playing instruments owned by Barney Kessel, Ray Brown and Shelly Manne; Formanism (his trio project); original works like The Red Guitar; his high-rated podcast, GuitarWank; Cow Bop and the “road challenges” down historic byways like Route 66; JazzMasters Workshop; Junkyard Duo; GrumpsTV (a fifty episode YouTube variety show during the lockdown), the popular ‘first chorus of the day’ series on Instagram…these are only the latest answers to the endless question that underlies Bruce Forman’s creativity. His music and life reflect every step of his journey, and demonstrate the awareness of an artist who’s very much at home in the world, and at the top of his form.

Jazz Jam Session: Hosted by Alex Upton Quartet
2024-10-08 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Art presents the Jazz Jam Session: Hosted by Alex Upton Quartet in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $7 | Free for performing musicians
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

For both the house band performance and jam portion, the set/jam tunes will be announced from the stage.

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. Their work as a performer and composer can be heard most recently on their debut album release “Portraits of a Silent Moment”.

Mahogany Chamber Music Series: Sanctuary
2024-10-06 09:30 - 11:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Art presents the Mahogany Chamber Music Series: Sanctuary in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Doors open at 2 pm | Show begins at 2:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door | $10 student tickets available
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

The opening season concert for the acclaimed returning Mahogany Chamber Music Series is an afternoon of music and poetry, which explores themes of identity, sisterhood, love, and redemption. The show celebrates arts as a powerful vehicle for healing. Performed by world-renowned artists German-American violinist Anyango Yarbo-Davenport, Nigerian-Canadian poet, playwright and performer Titilope Sonuga, and concert pianist and MCS curator, Artina McCain.

The Performers:

Titilope Sonuga, poet

Anyango Davenport, violin

Artina McCain, piano

Stephen Lee Trio ft. Talibah Safiya and South Memphis Jeff
2024-10-05 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Art presents the Stephen Lee Trio ft. Talibah Safiya and South Memphis Jeff in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Stephen Lee is an accomplished jazz musician whose talent, passion, and leadership have made a transformative contribution to the vibrancy of the Memphis community’s cultural center.
Through his multi-city journey, from the soulful sounds of Memphis to the academic training in Knoxville, a stopover in Las Vegas to the artistic immersion in New York’s jazz scene — Stephen M. Lee established himself as a respected musician and composer forging a unique sound rooted in his myriad influences and experiences.

Musicians:
Stephen Lee – Keyboards
Kurtis Gray – Drums
Kem Gray Jr. – Bass
Talibah Safiya – Vocals
South Memphis Jeff – DJ

Fright-Tober Halloween film series: Nightmare on Elm Street
2024-10-05 13:30 - 15:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
“A Nightmare on Elm Street,” released in 1984 and directed by Wes Craven, is a classic horror film that introduced the iconic character Freddy Krueger. The story revolves around a group of teenagers in the small town of Springwood who are haunted in their dreams by Freddy, a disfigured killer with a glove of razor-sharp blades. As Freddy begins to kill the teens in their sleep, their friend Nancy Thompson discovers that the murders are connected to a series of events involving Freddy’s past. To stop Freddy and save her friends, Nancy must confront her own fears and find a way to bring the vengeful spirit to justice. The film is known for its blend of supernatural elements and psychological terror, making it a landmark in the horror genre.
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Fright-Tober Halloween film series: The Addams Family
2024-10-05 09:30 - 11:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
The 1991 film “The Addams Family,” directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, is a dark comedy that brings Charles Addams’ iconic characters to life. The story centers on the Addams family, a quirky and macabre clan led by Gomez and Morticia Addams. Their unsettlingly peculiar lives are disrupted when a con artist named Abigail Craven and her son, Gordon, scheme to steal the Addams’ fortune by introducing a deceitful “long-lost” relative, who turns out to be an imposter. As the Addams family uncovers the plot, they must deal with the complications of a scheming fraud and the disruption to their unusual yet happy family life. The film blends humor with gothic charm, showcasing the family’s love for each other despite their eccentricities.
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Alice Hasen Dream of Rain EP Release Show w/Savannah Brister
2024-10-04 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Art presents Alice Hasen Dream of Rain EP Release Show w/Savannah Brister in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, October 4, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Alice Hasen releases her new EP, Dream of Rain, with a concert at Crosstown Arts.

Memphis violinist and songwriter Alice Hasen releases her second major project, Dream of Rain, with Savannah Brister opening on piano. Exploring themes of climate change and mental health, this EP explores darker, deeper and yet more delicate sides of Alice’s voice. The orchestral arrangements from the album will be performed live by a string quartet and guest flutist.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents YOU’RE THE LIFE OF ME
2024-10-03 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents a special screening of You’re the Life of Me in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 pm | Film begins at 7:00 pm (sharp!)
Shevan Bastian / 2024
First time filmmaker Shevan Bastian sets out in Jackson Tennessee with these questions in mind, as he interviews and works with a group of musicians, while examining the roots of Black music in a small Southern city on the edge of the Mississippi Delta.
The documentary film You’re the Life of Me loosely follows the pursuit of creative renewal that Howard Rambsy and Barbara Jean Mercer experience as they engage with music making in their later years. Rambsy has written and arranged an obscure 1977 soul song recorded by a band consisting of his friends and family called Cold-Blooded Express. The song, You’re the Life of Me, is being recreated with the original members of Cold Blooded as well as Los Yesterdays, a younger duo consisting of Chicano members of LA’s burgeoning modern soul scene. Mercer dreams of recapturing some of the freedom of her youth by performing from her catalog for a large community of British Northern Soul fans at a reunion in Detroit.
Re-accessing their best creative selves, the two stories bookend interviews and discussions with noted local Jackson Black musical excellence about local musical pedagogy, the role of the Church in popular music and the former power and glory of juke joints and their contribution to musicianship.
Throughout the film, Howard and Barbara set the tempo, voicing ideas around belonging, love and freedom, foregrounded by a dreamlike accompaniment of the Jacksonian landscape of kudzu and cotton fields. You’re the Life of Me is a love letter to Jackson, a gentle reminder of the intrinsic connections between community and the art it creates, and a response to the tension between America’s love for Black culture but not Black people.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

Radio City Big Star 50th Anniversary
2024-10-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents a very special 50th Anniversary performance of Radio City Big Star in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Doors open at 6 pm | Show begins at 7 pm
Tickets: $59 + fees
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
The legendary Jody Stephens (original Big Star member) will be joined by musical heavyweights Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Jon Auer (The Posies), Chris Stamey (The dB’s), and Pat Sansone (Wilco) for a limited-engagement performance of the cult classic album Radio City in its entirety.
“A half-century later, the Memphis band’s sophomore album remains a bright, beautiful portrait of young, big emotions and the way they intersected with the joy of music … After Radio City, those feelings have been rarely articulated so perfectly since.” — Paste Magazine (2024)

Brennen Leigh Trio
2024-09-29 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Art presents the Brennen Leigh Trio in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Brennen Leigh is an American songwriter, guitar player, mandolin player, and singer whose to-the-point storytelling style has elevated her to cult icon status in Europe, Scandinavia, across the United States, South America, and the United Kingdom.

Her songs have been recorded by Lee Ann Womack, Rodney Crowell, Sunny Sweeney, Charley Crockett, and many others. As renowned for her musicianship as for her writing, it’s easy to see how Leigh caught the ear of greats like Guy Clark, who colorfully endorsed her flatpicking: “Brennen Leigh plays guitar like a motherfucker,” and David Olney, who described her writing as “tender, violent, sentimental, foolish and wise, she is always Brennen. Confident and at ease with herself, without being a jerk about it.”

Strictly Jazz: The Music of Miles Davis
2024-09-28 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Strictly Jazz: The Music of Miles Davis in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

The Crosstown Strictly Jazz Series, presented by Crosstown Arts in collaboration with Strictly Jazz Entertainment, is designed to salute classic jazz music as contemporary musicians perform the work of the legends. This special Jazz Month presentation of the series features the Muneer Nasser Quintet paying tribute to the music legend Miles Davis.

Muneer Nasser Quintet’s distinct brand of jazz is part Memphis blues, part New York fire, and a healthy dose of DC flavor. Born in 1967 to the late, great jazz bassist Jamil Nasser, Muneer’s exposure to jazz was early and powerful. Muneer says that in 1976 “my dad took me to see Dizzy Gillespie at the Village Gate and Dizzy blew the place apart. I had to get a trumpet and weeks later I did.”
After graduating from high school, he attended Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he played with Paul Jeffrey and gigged at churches and cultural venues around town. He transferred to Howard University and graduated with a BBA in International Business. While in Washington, DC, he performed at the Lincoln Theater, Bohemian Caverns, Westminster Church, Takoma Station, Cafe Nema, The Kennedy Center, and Twins Jazz.

Musicians:

Muneer Nasser- Trumpet/ Flugelhorn

Keenan Shotwell- Acoustic Piano

Carl Caspersen- Upright Bass

Mike Assad- Drums

Charles Pender II- Tenor Sax

Overly Sensitive Orchestra Presents Punisher ft. Marcella Simien
2024-09-27 14:30 - 16:30 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Overly Sensitive Orchestra Presents Punisher ft. Marcella Simien in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, September 27, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
The Overly Sensitive Orchestra covers beloved full albums with original arrangements for classical chamber ensemble, pairing with local Memphis singers. The 2024-25 season will include Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers, Pink Moon by Nick Drake, and Carrie and Lowell by Sufjan Stevens. The richness and variety of orchestral timbres both enhances and reimagines the original music of these great artists, giving the songs new perspective and a timeless quality.

Crosstown Arts presents an Opening Reception for “Ana Log”, “Size Matters,” and "Still" in the Galleries at Crosstown Arts.
2024-09-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts East Atrium, 1350 Concourse Avenue, Memphis, TN, United States
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts
Friday, September 27, 2024
Time: 6-8 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
ANA • LOG:
FOURTEEN PICS

ANA•LOG: Fourteen Pics is a cumulative project referencing elements from several continuing bodies of work by Lester Julian Merriweather including #JETBlack, WHITE(S) ONLY, Vanilla Extract, #WGW, COLOR(ED) THEORY and Merriweather’s most recent collage series, #BetterGardensAndJungles.

The works presented draw upon several sources: They take direct visual inspiration from the compositions of the 1982-88 Basquiat-Warhol Collaborations. ANA•LOG’s methodology invokes the long-rumored Dr. Dre concept album The Planets in which the famed producer executed each individual track of the album in a completely different genre, thus creating an intensely lush atmospheric soundscape that still would exist as parts of a whole. The gestural treatment of the layered and excavated surfaces pay homage to the experimental processes of the mid-60s Developer tool works by the late Jack Whitten as well as the innovative organic Tesserae paintings that Whitten continued creating until his death in 2018.

Language is key to the works included in ANA•LOG. In breaking down its linguistic aspects, Merriweather examined varied forms of the word Analog. The word is defined as “not computerized”; Analog is a counter-cultural delineation that separates itself from the “Digital”. The individually collaged-by-hand “units” in ANA•LOG function in a fashion similar to the amalgamation of pixels in the Digital space. One could recognize Analogous, “a comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on resemblance of a particular aspect” within the approach of Merriweather’s collage practice. In terms of Memphis slang, “Ana” is a shortened form of “Animosity”. “Log” in this instance serves as a “Recorded History”. ANA•LOG essentially serves as a “Record of Angers Remembered ” obtained through repeated racial disparities which are then immortalized within generalized/homogeneous American visual media. Merriweather examines the concept of agency over Black Visualization within American Popular Culture.

Size Matters
I’ve been thinking about scale and proportion a lot lately. The size of an object can make it seem important or unimportant. And we all measure things according to the size of ourselves. Things that are smaller than us can seem trivial, while larger objects can feel overwhelming. Yet, when considering the vastness of the universe, our planet seems tiny and inconsequential.

My current series focuses on the juxtaposition of small figures within expansive landscapes, alongside large scale portraits depicting figures of profound personal meaning from my childhood. The pieces involving small figures in massive spaces, create a sense of insignificance. The large portraits give off a sense of immense importance. But this is all relative to the size of the viewer and how it makes them feel.

I often think about how humans fit into this world and how small we actually are compared to the rest of the universe. I am very interested in the purpose of human existence, but it seems like we do a lot of weird things for no reason. And I’d like to learn as much as I can with my time here on Earth.

Still

My current work is more about the process of the painting than anything else. Of
course, there are themes and subjects I gravitate towards—figures and landscapes,
ideas of solitude and loneliness, etc.—but there is something so explorative and
meditative about painting that I’ve noticed becoming more and more the driving factor
for me. I find when I try to come up with ideas that are motivated by the final product I
get stuck. Lately I have decided to forego the control of the final product and just go
where a piece takes me. In doing so, I am looking at colors, shapes, and textures
differently than I was before, and I make decisions I probably wouldn’t have made if I
had planned everything out. I think focusing on the process has allowed me to lose a
little rigidity and to explore more, and that is what these pieces have been

ANA•LOG, Size Matters, and Still
2024-09-27 - 2025-01-19
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts
Free and open to the public
ANA•LOG – Lester Merriweather
Fourteen Pics is a cumulative project referencing several continuing bodies of work by Lester Julian Merriweather examining the concept of agency over Black Visualization within American Popular Culture. The works in ANA•LOG draw upon several sources: They take direct visual inspiration from the compositions of the 1982-88 Basquiat-Warhol Collaborations. ANA•LOG’s methodology invokes the long-rumored Dr. Dre concept album The Planets. The gestural treatment of the layered and excavated
surfaces in ANA•LOG pays homage to the experimental processes of the mid-60s Developer tool works by the late Jack Whitten. Language is key to the works included in ANA•LOG. In breaking down its linguistic aspects, Merriweather examined varied forms of the word Analog, defined as “not computerized”; Analog is a counter-cultural delineation that separates itself from the “Digital”. The individually collaged-by-hand elemental “units” in ANA•LOG act in a fashion similar to pixels in the Digital space. Referencing Memphis slang, “Ana” is a shortened form of “Animosity”. “Log” in this instance serves as a “Recorded History”. ANA•LOG essentially serves as a “Record of Remembered Angers” obtained through oft repeated racial disparities within American Visual culture.
Size Matters – Alex Paulus
I’ve been thinking about scale and proportion a lot lately. The size of an object can make it seem important or unimportant. And we all measure things according to the size of ourselves. Things that are smaller than us can seem trivial, while larger objects can feel overwhelming. Yet, when considering the vastness of the universe, our planet seems tiny and inconsequential.
My current series focuses on the juxtaposition of small figures within expansive landscapes, alongside large-scale portraits depicting figures of profound personal meaning from my childhood. The pieces involving small figures in massive spaces, create a sense of insignificance. The large portraits give off a sense of immense importance. But this is all relative to the size of the viewer and how it makes them feel.
I often think about how humans fit into this world and how small we actually are compared to the rest of the universe. I am very interested in the purpose of human existence, but it seems like we do a lot of weird things for no reason. And I’d like to learn as much as I can with my time here on Earth.
Still – Michelle Fair
My current work is more about the process of the painting than anything else. Of course, there are themes and subjects I gravitate towards—figures and landscapes, ideas of solitude and loneliness, etc.—but there is something so explorative and meditative about painting that I’ve noticed becoming more and more the driving factor for me. I find when I try to come up with ideas that are motivated by the final product I get stuck. Lately I have decided to forego the control of the final product and just go where a piece takes me. In doing so, I am looking at colors, shapes, and textures differently than I was before, and I make decisions I probably wouldn’t have made if I had planned everything out. I think focusing on the process has allowed me to lose a little rigidity and explore more, and that is what these pieces have been born from.

The No Tears Project
2024-09-26 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Art presents the No Tears Project in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

The No Tears Project is a jazz-inflected collective formed in 2017 and led by Arkansan-based vocalist Kelley Hurt, and pianist Christopher Parker. The group’s repertoire is inspired by explorations into social equality and strives to create recognition as a precursor to reconciliation. Born from a musical composition (“No Tears Suite”) written by Hurt and Parker and commissioned by the nonprofit Oxford American magazine to honor the civil rights heroes the Little Rock Nine, No Tears has evolved into a touring group. The ensemble’s second album, Humanitics is forthcoming in early 2025.

Musicians:

Kelley Hurt (voice / artistic director); Christopher Parker (piano / artistic director); Rodney Jordan (bass); Darrian Douglas (drums); Robert “Bobby LaVell” Garner, Jr. (tenor sax); Marc Franklin (trumpet); Chad Fowler (alto sax)

This concert is made possible in part by Jazz Road, a program of SouthArts.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents WESTERMANN: MEMORIAL TO THE IDEA OF MAN IF HE WAS AN IDEA
2024-09-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
In collaboration with Rhodes College, Crosstown Arts presents a special screening of Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 pm | Film begins at 7:00 pm (sharp!)
Leslie Buchbinder / 2023 / 86 minutes / Not Rated
A 3-D documentary film about the life and work of artist and marine H.C. (“Cliff”) Westermann, voice-acted by four-time Academy-Award nominee Ed Harris, conceived and directed by Leslie Buchbinder, and featuring interviews with Ed Ruscha, Frank Gehry, and many others. As a veteran of World War II and the Korean War who struggled with the ramifications of modern warfare, Westermann’s dramatic personal history can be traced through his beguiling, surreal artworks. The film is executive produced by the international art icon KAWS, and award-winning documentary producer Caryn Capotosto, whose prior projects include “Little Richard: I Am Everything” and “The Thief Collector.” Westermann features music by legendary artists Laurie Anderson, the Kronos Quartet, and Terry Allen, with an original score by MacArthur “Genius Grant” winner Tomeka Reid.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

Dan & Peggy Reeder with Greg Cartwright Krista Wroten
2024-09-24 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents a special performance from indie-folk legend Dan Reeder and his daughter Peggy with an opening performance from Memphis-based musos Greg Cartwright and Krista Wroten in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $25 in advance | $30 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Dan Reeder, Oh Boy Records’ longest signed artist besides John Prine, is a self-sufficient artist in every aspect of his work. The cover of each one of his albums bears artwork he created himself. He’s built a majority of the instruments you hear. From guitar pickups to microphones, preamps and mixers. He’s built steel string guitars, electric guitars, banjos, drums, basses, cellos, violins, clarinets, and even a saxophone (note from Dan: “I’ll never do that again”).

The bluntness of Reeder’s lyrics are softened by his crooning; yet, even with multi-layered harmonies, his voice maintains its iconic “wisp”. Reeder’s musical intelligence is as present as ever. You’re hearing every piece of a self-made artist and his multifaceted skill set — from the soulful, smoky vocal overlay to a singular, meticulous guitar sound, but best of all, you’re hearing the ingenuity that is Dan Reeder.

This Week at Crosstown Arts
2024-09-23 08:00 - 2024-09-29 17:00
### **This Week at Crosstown Arts – September 24-29, 2024**
Join us at Crosstown Arts for a week filled with live music, art, and film! Whether you’re here for a concert or to explore stunning new artwork, there’s something for everyone. Check out our lineup below:
#### **Tuesday, September 24, 2024**
**Dan and Peggy Reader** – *Live in The Green Room* | 7:00 PM
Enjoy an intimate evening of live music from this talented duo.
#### **Thursday, September 26, 2024**
**No Tears Project** – *Live in The Green Room* | 7:00 PM
A moving jazz performance reflecting on civil rights history.
**Westermann 3D Movie** – *Crosstown Theater* | 7:30 PM
Experience an avant-garde 3D cinematic masterpiece.
#### **Friday, September 27, 2024**
**Gallery Opening Reception** | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Explore new works by **Michelle Fair**, **Lester Merriweather**, and **Alex Paulus**. Enjoy music by **DJ Janet Wilson**, culinary bites by **Chef Leah Getchel**, and complimentary drinks.
**FREE and open to the public!**
**Overly Sensitive Orchestra** – *Live in The Green Room* | 8:00 PM
Immerse yourself in a unique live orchestral performance.
#### **Saturday, September 28, 2024**
**The Music of Miles Davis** – *Live in The Green Room* | 7:30 PM
A powerful tribute to the legendary jazz artist Miles Davis.
#### **Sunday, September 29, 2024**
**Brennen Leigh Trio** – *Live in The Green Room* | 7:00 PM
End your week with the soulful Americana sounds of the Brennen Leigh Trio.
—
### **Please note:** Only the **Gallery Opening Reception** on September 27 is a free event. Ticket prices for other events vary. Visit our website or contact us for details on pricing and availability.
We look forward to seeing you for a week of art, music, and culture at Crosstown Arts!
—

TAE & the Neighborly
2024-09-21 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents TAE & the Neighborly in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Tae & The Neighborly, a Wisconsin-based soul-pop, R&B group, found themselves playing music together in a very unconventional way. They were all neighbors, each one living alone on one floor of a five-story flat.

Cake-baking is a shared passion of the five-member group, but in the sugar shortages early in the 2020 pandemic, they found themselves so continually knocking on each other’s doors asking for a single cup of sugar that a group decision was made to all move in together and share cake-baking resources. Since everyone knows all good rhythms begin in the kitchen, it wasn’t before long that the group began to write and perform together across the nation.

Critics hail the group as “having more kick than a bagged-up mule” (Rotary Times) and their live show “… going down smoother than a can of [beans] warmed on the campfire” (Cowboy Gazette).
