“Iliumpta”
2024-02-08 - 2024-04-28 | Crosstown Arts, East Gallery, Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents an “Iliumpta” by Michael “Birdcap” Roy in the Galleries at Crosstown Arts.
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts
On view through April 28 , 2024
Tickets: Free and open to the public
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.
Directly, this work is about Southern fatalism and its effects on masculinity. Fatalism makes an outlook so despairing that stoicism may masquerade as heroism. The men in these works shout from a nihilistic void, and in their attempts to be heroic, they, like the ancients before them, choose death over happiness, a closed ear before sound advice, and doom before an apology.
Michael Roy, a.k.a. Birdcap, grew up near the bayous of Southern Mississippi, a region battered by hurricanes and scarred by a violent history. In the past decade, Birdcap’s career as a muralist has spanned continents, but the artist’s work is a product of the South, both a love letter to the region he calls home and a challenge to its problems.

“The Earthworm and the Hawk”
2024-02-08 - 2024-04-28 | Crosstown Arts, West Gallery, Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents “The Earthworm and the Hawk” by Melissa Dunnin the Galleries at Crosstown Arts.
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts
On view through April 28, 2024
Tickets: Free and open to the public
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.
Because these modalities are distinct from one another, it takes time and patience to figure out ways of unifying them. Their push/pull tendencies can disrupt as much as facilitate. It’s a continual process. Like two rocks rubbed together just the right way, the friction between the searcher and the strategist can generate sparks or a full blown explosion.

Melissa Dunn is from Memphis, Tennessee. She spent her early years immersed in the city’s music scene, splitting her time between playing with bands and making visual art. Although she still plays guitar and sings, today music is mostly an inward-facing part of her studio life, with an audience of sketchbooks, drawings, and paintings, which she refers to as her “highly energized objects.”

“What Were You Meant For?”
2024-02-08 - 2024-04-28 | Crosstown Arts, Screening Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents “What were you meant for?” by Kevin Brooks in the Galleries at Crosstown Arts.
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts
On view through April 28, 2024
Tickets: Free and open to the public
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.

Kevin Brooks, an award-winning filmmaker from Memphis, Tennessee, is dedicated to telling powerful stories about the human experience. Kevin has directed films that capture the essence of the Black experience, earning him the prestigious Memphis Film Prize Award in 2018 and 2019. He works to unapologetically shape narratives that celebrate and illuminate the rich tapestry of the Black experience.

Opening Reception for “Iliumpta”
2024-02-09 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Crosstown Arts, East Atrium, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, United States
Crosstown Arts presents an Opening Reception for “Iliumpta” by Michael “Birdcap” Roy in the Galleries at Crosstown Arts.
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts, East Atrium
Friday, February 9, 2024
Time: 6-8 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
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.
Directly, this work is about Southern fatalism and its effects on masculinity. Fatalism makes an outlook so despairing that stoicism may masquerade as heroism. The men in these works shout from a nihilistic void, and in their attempts to be heroic, they, like the ancients before them, choose death over happiness, a closed ear before sound advice, and doom before an apology.
Michael Roy, a.k.a. Birdcap, grew up near the bayous of Southern Mississippi, a region battered by hurricanes and scarred by a violent history. In the past decade, Birdcap’s career as a muralist has spanned continents, but the artist’s work is a product of the South, both a love letter to the region he calls home and a challenge to its problems.

Opening Reception for “The Earthworm and the Hawk”
2024-02-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Crosstown Arts, East Atrium, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, United States
Crosstown Arts presents an Opening Reception for “The Earthworm and the Hawk” by Melissa Dunn in the Galleries at Crosstown Arts.
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts, East Atrium
Friday, February 9, 2024
Time: 6-8 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
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.
Because these modalities are distinct from one another, it takes time and patience to figure out ways of unifying them. Their push/pull tendencies can disrupt as much as facilitate. It’s a continual process. Like two rocks rubbed together just the right way, the friction between the searcher and the strategist can generate sparks or a full blown explosion.

Melissa Dunn is from Memphis, Tennessee. She spent her early years immersed in the city’s music scene, splitting her time between playing with bands and making visual art. Although she still plays guitar and sings, today music is mostly an inward-facing part of her studio life, with an audience of sketchbooks, drawings, and paintings, which she refers to as her “highly energized objects.”

Opening Reception for “What were you meant for?”
2024-02-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Crosstown Arts, Screening Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents an Opening Reception for “What were you meant for?” by Kevin Brooks in the Galleries at Crosstown Arts.
The Galleries at Crosstown Arts, East Atrium
Friday, February 9, 2024
Time: 6-8 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
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.

Kevin Brooks, an award-winning filmmaker from Memphis, Tennessee, is dedicated to telling powerful stories about the human experience. Kevin has directed films that capture the essence of the Black experience, earning him the prestigious Memphis Film Prize Award in 2018 and 2019. He works to unapologetically shape narratives that celebrate and illuminate the rich tapestry of the Black experience.

Sound Meditation: Mike Tamburo and Sean Murphy
2024-02-11 11:00 - 12:30 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Sound Meditation: Mike Tamburo and Sean Murphy in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Doors open at 4:30 pm | Show begins at 5 pm
Tickets: $25 in advance | $30 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Enter a timeless space of listening as Crown of Eternity’s Mike Tamburo and Memphis’ own Sean Murphy weave sonic soundscapes as they navigate through a musical conversation. Together they’ll explore their way through a wide array of 50+ overtone rich instruments including Gongs, Bells, Bowls, Sound Sculptures, Hammered Dulcimer, Didjeridus, Tuba, Flutes, Kalimbas, and more.

Allow yourself to be still and listen as these two musician explorers take you through a journey through the senses and a perceptual rollercoaster.
Mike Tamburo
Mike Tamburo is a world-renowned musician, composer, artist and educator. He is known and loved for his transformational live concerts performed on his personally curated set of gongs, bells and other metal instruments.
A lifelong multi-instrumentalist, Tamburo has focused his talents on metal percussion instruments, string instruments (hammered dulcimer, guitar, zither, shahi baaja), as well as electronic instruments (synths, looping).
Since 1994, Tamburo has shared more than 2,000 concerts and workshops. He has recorded over 70 albums, both solo and in collaboration with Crown of Eternity, Meisha, Arco Flute Foundation, Psychic Frost, Brother Ong and more, ranging from epic gong music to ecstatic and transcendental string music, as well as folk, drone, space rock, ambient, mantra music and sometimes unclassifiable sounds. This man loves music in all its forms!
He teaches gong music, both in person and online with School of Gong. He is also a part of the far-reaching ethnomusicology trio, Dig Deeper, with Mitch Nur and Thomas Orr Anderson. Their online classes have explored countless musical concepts with a focus on the cultural and personal uses of soundfor healing, meditation, trance, ecstatic states, relaxation, self transformation, perception, psycho-acoustics, scientific discovery, time and community.
An early adoptee of meditation, Tamburo’s music offers space for journeying, self-exploration and deep introspection. During many of his early performances, he experienced altered states of consciousness and out of body experiences. To understand these experiences, he explored kundalini yoga, energy work, the therapeutic use of sound and how sound impacts consciousness, human perception and self healing. His love for long sustained drones, overtones and psychoacoustics continues to inspire him to explore music in further directions.
Tamburo is also an interdisciplinary sound artist, instrument builder, video artist, sound therapist, writer and meditation teacher.
www.miketamburomusic.com
Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy is a multidisciplinary artist living in Memphis, Tennessee. He is a musician, composer, instrument maker, sound healer, teaching artist, nature lover, listener, explorer…
Born in Scooba, Mississippi and raised in Memphis, he attended the University of Memphis earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music History with an emphasis on Ethnomusicology. He was trained to play western classical and jazz tuba; but his fascination with world cultures and music has led him to play and make innumerable instruments.
Early in his career, he began performing as a solo improvisation musician accompanying dance and yoga which eventually led him to the practice of sound healing. Sean and his wife, Anne J. Froning, have led workshops in restorative yoga & mediative movement with music throughout the United States.
As a performing and recording musician, Sean has delved into nearly every genre into which music has ever been categorized! From classical to hip hop, world to ambient, jazz to hard rock, new age to jazz, he is equally at home. He is the leader of the Mighty Souls Brass Band as well as regularly playing as a sideman with many jazz groups while also regularly performing improvised music for dance, healing, and yoga. He also has many recording credits to his name as a soloist, bandleader, and sideman. He has also been fortunate enough to perform with many world-renowned musicians and bands including Dr. John, Paul Winter, William Eaton, the Meters, Galactic, Clyde Stubblefield, Rufus Thomas, and Robert Randolph & the Family Bandto name a few.
He and Anne co-own Being:Art LLC, a fusion arts company specializing in music, dance, visual art, instrument making, and site-specific design. The company builds musical instruments for outdoor classrooms; and conducts workshops, residencies, and performances throughout the United States. Their largest public installation can be found in the courtyard of Overton Square in Memphis. OS Tower Chimes is one of the ten largest sets of wind chimes in the world.
Sean currently splits his time between performing and recording as a solo artist, presenting healing arts experiences with yoga/dance and live music (often in collaboration with Anne), leading the Mighty Souls Brass Band, building functional art in the form of musical instruments, and spending as much time with his granddaughters as possible!

Shoot & Splice: Filmmaker Feedback & Mixer
2024-02-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts & Indie Memphis present Shoot & Splice: Filmmaker Feedback & Mixer in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Doors open at 6:30 pm | Begins at 7 pm
Tickets: Free
Attention all Memphis filmmakers, actors, and crew members! As we enter the new year, Indie Memphis wants to hear from you—the members of our Memphis filmmaking community. Please join the Indie Memphis staff for an open discussion about what you would like to see from Indie Memphis and our filmmaking community at large over the next year and beyond. This will also be a great opportunity to chat and network with other filmmakers as we move Shoot & Splice into the relaxing confines of The Green Room at Crosstown Arts.

Presented in partnership between Indie Memphis and Crosstown Arts.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents ANSELM
2024-02-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents Anselm at Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!) at Crosstown Theater
Wim Wenders / 2023 / 93 minutes / Not Rated
In Anselm, Wim Wenders creates a portrait of Anselm Kiefer, one of the most innovative and important painters and sculptors of our time. Shot in 3D and 6K-resolution, the film presents a cinematic experience of the artist’s work which explores human existence and the cyclical nature of history, inspired by literature, poetry, philosophy, science, mythology and religion. For over two years, Wenders traced Kiefer’s path from his native Germany to his current home in France, connecting the stages of his life to the essential places of his career that spans more than five decades.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

Folk All Y’all: Leon Timbo
2024-02-17 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts and Folk All Y’all present Leon Timbo in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
The singular singer and songwriter Leon Timbo (he/him) is a veteran artist who brings “a unique, rootsy sound that incorporates equal measures of vintage soul, gospel, folk, R&B, funk, dance music, and even modern blues” (All Music Guide) to a style he calls “transparent soul.”
The son of parents who are both church pastors, Timbo was raised in Jacksonville, Florida and steeped in gospel music since birth. He began pursuing music seriously at 16 and worked the club circuit steadily into his 20s, when he was seen by actor and R&B superstar Tyrese Gibson, who asked the budding musician to open for him at the Dallas House of Blues. Tyrese introduced Timbo to GRAMMY-winning vocalist and producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who signed Timbo to a record deal and took him on the road, cementing Timbo’s rapidly expanding career as one of the major young artists reclaiming American roots music’s association with the Black experience in the 21st century.
His most recent albums are 2021’s Lovers and Fools Vol. 1and follow-up Lovers and Fools Vol. 2 released last year. These albums represent Timbo’s fully-realized steps into Americana, and showcase a musician whose has found his true voice — a voice full of passion, power, and depth.
About The Green Room: Operated by Crosstown Arts, The Green Room is committed to providing the best possible environment for the two most important components of a musical performance: the artists work and the audiences listening experience.
About Folk All Y’all: Intimate, attentive performances by exceptional singer-songwriters, proudly presented in Memphis, Folk All Y’all is a public, nonprofit listening room series supported by our pledges from our community.
Entry requirements may change but your purchase indicates acceptance of any necessary health policy.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents MEMPHIS 13
2024-02-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents Memphis 13 at Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Tickets: Free screening
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!)
Q&A with special guests after the film
Daniel Kiel / 2011 / 35 minutes / Not Rated
First grade can be a scary thing, even without the burden of making history. In October 1961, 13 first graders became some of the smallest pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement when they desegregated the Memphis City Schools. ‘The Memphis 13’ is their story. This documentary collects the stories of 13 families united by a comment moment in history, but experiences individually; stories of normal children living through an extraordinary moment. A half century later, they are proud of having broken a barrier, but many remain burdened by this difficult experience. The film uncovers a hidden story of the Movement, honors the children who lived it, and raises questions about the role of children in movements for social change. With a special guest panel discussion after the film.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

“Revisiting Sketches of Crosstown” feat. Sean Murphy with special guests Jim Spake + Tom Lonardo
2024-02-22 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents “Revisiting Sketches of Crosstown” feat. Sean Murphy with special guests Jim Spake + Tom Lonardo in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Join Sean Murphy as he creates soundscapes based on his 2013 site-specific album “Sketches of Crosstown” and his latest experimental EP “Imbolc Ice”.
Saxophonist Jim Spake and Percussionist Tom Lonardo will join Sean and his multitude of instruments including didjeridus, flutes, tuba, kalimbas, frame drums, bowls, bells, gongs, and more. Together they’ll weave a tapestry of sound and musical conversation unlike anything you’ve likely experienced before!
BIO
Sean Murphy is a multidisciplinary artist living in Memphis, Tennessee. He is a musician, ethnomusicologist, instrument maker, sound healer, teaching artist, nature lover, listener, explorer…
Born in Scooba, Mississippi and raised in Memphis, he attended the University of Memphis earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music History with an emphasis on Ethnomusicology. He was trained to play western classical and jazz tuba; but his fascination with world cultures and music has led him to play and make innumerable instruments.
Early in his career, he began performing as a solo improvisation musician accompanying dance and yoga which eventually led him to the practice of sound healing. Sean and his wife, Anne J. Froning, have led workshops in restorative yoga & mediative movement with music throughout the United States.
As a performing and recording musician, Sean has delved into nearly every genre into which music has ever been categorized! From classical to hip hop, world to ambient, jazz to hard rock, new age to jazz, he is equally at home. He is the leader of the Mighty Souls Brass Band as well as regularly playing as a sideman with many jazz groups while also regularly performing improvised music for dance, healing, and yoga. He also has many recording credits to his name as a soloist, bandleader, and sideman. He has also been fortunate enough to perform with many world-renowned musicians and bands including Dr. John, Paul Winter, William Eaton, the Meters, Galactic, Clyde Stubblefield, Rufus Thomas, and Robert Randolph & the Family Band to name a few.
He and Anne co-own Being:Art LLC, a fusion arts company specializing in music, dance, visual art, instrument making, and site-specific design. The company builds musical instruments for outdoor classrooms; and conducts workshops, residencies, and performances throughout the United States. Their largest public installation can be found in the courtyard of Overton Square in Memphis. OS Tower Chimes is one of the ten largest sets of wind chimes in the world.
Sean currently splits his time between performing and recording as a solo artist, presenting healing arts experiences with yoga/dance and live music (often in collaboration with Anne), leading the Mighty Souls Brass Band, building functional art in the form of musical instruments, and spending as much time with his granddaughters as possible!

Sound Fuzion
2024-02-23 13:00 - 14:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Sound Fuzion in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, February 23, 2024
Doors open at 6:30 pm | Show begins at 7 pm
Tickets: $10 | Free for University of Memphis students and faculty
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Sound Fuzion is the Rudi E. Schedit School of Music’s flagship popular/commercial music ensemble. This touring ensemble serves as musical ambassadors for the University of Memphis and performs for thousands of fans yearly. Consisting of eight vocalists, rhythm section, horn section and two engineers, Sound Fuzion provides its members with professional performance experience and prepares artists for success in the music industry. Sound Fuzion performs all styles of popular music including Top 40, R&B, hip-hop, rock, and country. Members receive a half-tuition scholarship and are highly selected each year.

Mahogany Chamber Music Series: Vocal Juggernauts
2024-02-25 12:00 - 13:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Mahogany Chamber Music Series: Vocal Juggernauts in Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater at Crosstown Arts
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Doors open at 5:30 pm | Show begins at 6 pm
Tickets: $20 | $5 student tickets available
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

The Mahogany Chamber Music Series makes its exhilarating return in February by elevating the awareness underrepresented composers as well as standard works for voice. Mahogany series curator, Artina McCain brings along esteemed colleagues mezzo-soprano Paulina Villareal, pianist Jonathan Tsay, baritone James Rodriguez, and soprano Gwendolyn Alfred to share a variety of genres through this vocally virtuosic program.

The Mahogany Chamber Music Series is a series of three chamber music concerts curated by Dr. Artina McCain and presented by Crosstown Arts, spotlighting Black and other underrepresented composers and performers.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents DAY FOR NIGHT
2024-02-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents Day for Night at Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!) at Crosstown Theater
Francois Truffaut / 1973 / 115 minutes / Rated PG
A film director (François Truffaut) tries to get his movie made while observing the real-life dramas in his actors’ lives. Fading icon Severine (Valentina Cortese) forgets her lines when she drinks, while her co-star, Alexandre (Jean-Pierre Aumont), is fixated on his lover’s imminent arrival. Meanwhile, insecure young star Alphonse (Jean-Pierre Léaud) has emotional outbursts, yet seems well-balanced compared to Julie (Jacqueline Bisset), a British actress recuperating from a nervous breakdown.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

Stephen M. Lee “In The Moment” Album Release Show
2024-03-01 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Stephen M. Lee “In The Moment” Album Release Show in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, March 1, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Stephen Lee is the Founder/Artistic and Executive Director of the Memphis Jazz Workshop, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. He has an undergraduate degree in Jazz Performance from City College University in New York City. Master in Education from Freed Hardeman. He has been in the education sector in Memphis since 2010, teaching for three years in the Shelby County Schools system, five years at the Stax Music Academy, and seven years as a fellow for the Memphis Music Initiative.

He has worked with Gregory Porter, Esperanza Spalding, Kirk Whalum, Warren Wolf, Corcoran Holt, Ulysses Owens Jr and many more. Lee has received numerous awards, including the Rhythm of Gospel Award, Steinway & Sons Top Music Teacher Voted by Amro Music Store, WC Handy Award, and Jimmie Lunceford Award. He has been nominated for a First Round Stellar Award and the Kennedy Center’s Citizen Artist Fellowship. He is a proud Carver Cobras Alum and member of Omega Psi Psi.

Michael Shults Quartet featuring Bennett Wood
2024-03-02 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents the Michael Shults Quartet featuring Bennett Wood in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, March 2, 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

Saxophonist Michael Shults has been praised for his “strong, imaginative” improvisations (Downbeat Magazine) and “fresh and intelligent musical ideas” (The Pitch). A first-call musician on the Kansas City jazz scene for nearly a decade, Shults remains an active performer in the Fountain City, Memphis, and beyond, and has twice appeared as a sideman on the Jazzweek National Radio Airplay Charts.

As a concert saxophonist, Shults has been praised for his “jaw-dropping” and “authoritative” performances (Bill Brownlee of the Kansas City Star) and has performed by invitation at the College Band Director’s National Association conference, North American Saxophone Alliance biennial conference, the Minnesota Music Educator’s Association conference, and the University of Iowa Festival for New Music.

Bennett Wood is a freelance musician, composer and clinician. He was recently appointed as Director of Jazz Studies at Webster University. He previously held academic appointments at the University of Memphis, Mineral Area College, Texas State University, Texas Lutheran University, and Texas A&M University-Kingsville and served as the Interim Director of Education and Community Engagement and Education Coordinator at Jazz St. Louis.

Wood is an experienced bandleader and an in-demand sideman. In addition to leading his own groups, he has performed alongside internationally acclaimed musicians including Nat Adderley Jr., Chris Cheek, Alan Ferber, Andre Hayward, Butch Miles, and Bruce Saunders. He plays lead tenor saxophone in the Jazz St. Louis Big Band directed by Victor Goines.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents 8 ½
2024-03-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents 8 ½ at Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!) at Crosstown Theater
Federico Fellini / 1963 / 138 minutes / Not Rated
Marcello Mastroianni plays Guido Anselmi, a director whose new project is collapsing around him, along with his life. One of the greatest films about film ever made, Federico Fellini’s 8½ (Otto e mezzo) turns one man’s artistic crisis into a grand epic of the cinema. An early working title for 8½ was The Beautiful Confusion, and Fellini’s masterpiece is exactly that: a shimmering dream, a circus, and a magic act.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

S.C. Ramblers: “Ramblings of the Big Easy”
2024-03-07 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents the S.C. Ramblers: “Ramblings of the Big Easy” in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
The S.C. Ramblers is a brass band hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, specializing in the trademark sounds of street bands, initially made popular by the street musicians of New Orleans.
Whether it’s a classic jazz tune or a current pop song, in the style of the New Orleans brass band, it’s an automatic party when you hear the S.C. Ramblers, perform live!

The band:
Paul McKinney – Trumpet
Tom Link – Tenor Sax
Victor Sawyer – Trombone
Sean Murphy – Sousaphone
Cedric Keel – Bass Drum
James Sexton – Snare

Everything Yes
2024-03-08 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Everything Yes in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, March 8, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Everything Yes is an American jazz fusion band spearheaded by the drummer Zack Graybeal, known famously as ZackGrooves on his platforms, Sean Reeser, prolific composer, producer and tenor sax master, and Cole Sipe, composer, sound engineer and magistral bassist. This powerhouse of a band brings a fresh take on the style while staying true to the roots.

Mar10 Day 2024
2024-03-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Crosstown Concourse, Central Atrium, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN
Crosstown Concourse & Crosstown Arts present Mar10 Day 2024!
The Central Atrium, Crosstown Concourse
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Time: 6-8 pm
Tickets: Free + open to the public
Mar10 Day is an annual salute to the entire Mario franchise. For the second year, Crosstown Concourse will celebrate the holiday with retro games, video game-themed mini golf, a DJ, and more!
Come celebrate classic video games with the community at Crosstown Concourse!

Folk All Y’all: Julie Williams
2024-03-09 13:30 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Folk All Y’all and Crosstown Arts present Julie Williams in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
“Making waves with these waves”
Fearlessly forging ahead down country roads, CMT Next Women of Country singer-songwriter Julie Williams (she/her) carries her mixed-race heritage proudly, just as she carries her tunes. Raised in Florida, Julie is turning heads in Nashville’s country music scene with the soft but powerful songs that capture the soul of growing up as a mixed-race child in the South.
Music has always been a part of Julie’s life — honing her singing talent in church and beach bars and belting national anthems before packed stadiums. She grew up listening to everyone and everything, from The Chicks and James Taylor, to Gladys Knight and Michael Jackson. Even though she was drawn to the storytelling of country music, she never quite found the sound that spoke to everything she was: Black, white, Southern, a woman, hopeful, truthful. So naturally, it was up to Julie to make this sound. “My music is mixed like me,” is how she describes it, “I want to tell the stories that need to be told.”

Kafé Kirk: Kirk Whalum and Eric Darius
2024-03-10 13:00 - 14:30 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Kafé Kirk with Kirk Whalum and special guest Eric Darius in Crosstown Theater.
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Crosstown Theater
Box office opens at 5 pm | Doors open at 5:30 pm
Show begins at 6 pm
Tickets: General Admission $59 (plus fees)
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Join Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum for Kafé Kirk, an ongoing jazz series in Crosstown Theater featuring musical and spiritual collaborations with special guest artists. This iteration’s performance will feature jazz saxophonist Eric Darius.
ERIC DARIUS
With his iconic, signature jump and unrivaled crowd-captivating energy throughout his world-renowned live performances, Billboard chart topping saxophonist, songwriter, and performer, Eric Darius, is breaking the mold of modern Jazz. His latest and boldest venture to date, Unleashed, is a testament to his ever-evolving artistic vision, fearlessly pushing all musical boundaries while innovatively fusing Jazz with elements of R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, and more.
Now, with eight highly acclaimed albums to his name, Eric continues to be a dynamic force on the music scene. To date, he has racked up five No. 1 Hit Singles and 17 Top 10 Radio Hits on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart. He was SESAC’s Top 10 Jazz Artist of the Year in 2015, Citril Starz Awards’ Best Jazz, Saxophonist, Composer, Producer & Musician of the Year in 2017, and most recently was selected the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival Artist of the Year for 2022.
From sharing the stage with GRAMMY® Award-winning artists such as Prince, Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, David Foster & George Benson to name a few, making TV appearances on FOX’s The X Factor and TNT’s Mob City, running his own SagiDarius Music label, to serving as annual host of the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival, Mexico Jazz Experience, & Paris Smooth Jazz Festival, Eric’s impact on the music industry is undeniable. Determined and steadfast in making a difference through music education in the schools, Eric Darius stands as a beacon of unparalleled talent and dedication in today’s world of entertainment.
KIRK WHALUM
Soulful, passionate, stirring…these are the words most often used to describe Kirk’s music. Forged from his Memphis, Tennessee, gospel roots and his 1980s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX nightclub scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. The ’80s were highlighted by Kirk’s stepping out of his blossoming sideman role and forming his own band. It was there that Kirk ultimately developed both his “voice” and songwriting in the crucible of the local club scene—especially at a rooftop club called Cody’s. It was also in Houston where jazz pianist Bob James “discovered” him and brought him on tour, which led to five successful albums with Columbia Records, including Cache, Kirk’s first #1 album. As well, Kirk and Bob received a Grammy nomination for their collaboration album, Joined at the Hip. After moving to Los Angeles, Kirk became an in demand session player for top artists like, Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones and most notably, Whitney Houston, amongst many others. It’s his sax heard on the mega-hit, “I Will Always Love You.” Kirk soon followed that career high point with his phenomenal hit album released on Warner Bros. Records, For You, perhaps the most successful of over 25 solo recordings to date; others include his eclectic, and much lauded, Gospel According to Jazz series, (Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4). In addition to his many solo projects, Kirk was also a member of the popular soul/jazz group, BWB, which features Kirk as the “W” of the group with Rick Braun (trumpet) and Norman Brown (guitar).
Kirk is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgements for his musical excellence including three Dove Award nominations, an NAACP Image Award nomination and has won two Stellar Awards- Gospel music’s highest honor. A twelve time Grammy nominee, Kirk won his first Grammy award (2011)for Best Gospel Song (“It’s What I Do”—featuring Lalah Hathaway) alongside life-long friend and gifted songwriter, Jerry Peters.

Shoot & Splice: Music Licensing & Composition
2024-03-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts & Indie Memphis present Shoot & Splice: Music Licensing & Composition in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Time: 7-9 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
Join Indie Memphis & Crosstown Arts for our March Shoot & Splice all about music in film! Crosstown Sync’sMckenzii Webster and Charles Seaton will discuss their process for musicians to have their music licensed for film & TV, plus how filmmakers can best utilize their services. Immediately following will be a discussion with Memphis film composers Paul Vinsonhaler and Jeff Cohran about their process in creating the music for filmmakers across the city and beyond.
NOTE: SHOOT & SPLICE WILL NOW TAKE PLACE IN THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS (LOCATED INSIDE CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE EAST ATRIUM).

Modern Masters Jazz Series: Matt Otto and The Ted Ludwig Trio
2024-03-13 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: Matt Otto and The Ted Ludwig Trio in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Wednesday, March 13, 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
Matt Otto is currently the Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Kansas University (KU) teaching Jazz Theory and Performance, Jazz Combo 1, and private lessons. Matt was also an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers New Brunswick, teaching online courses in jazz improvisation, theory, and performance.
Matt currently performs his original compositions and jazz standards with his Kansas City-based quartet as well as traveling several times per year to New York and L.A. for performances and recordings.
Matt has recorded and performed with the Grammy-nominated Anthony Wilson Nonet (The Power of Nine, Groove Note 1035, 2006), The Rashid Bakr Quintet, has performed in Los Angeles with the Grammy Nominated Alan Ferber Big Band as well as having recorded on over 50 CDs as both a leader and a side man.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents THE AWFUL TRUTH
2024-03-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents The Awful Truth at Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!) at Crosstown Theater
Leo McCarey / 1937 / 90 minutes / Not Rated
Jerry (Cary Grant) and Lucy (Irene Dunne) are a married couple who doubt each other’s fidelity: Jerry suspects Lucy and her music teacher (Alexander D’Arcy) of spending an evening together, and Lucy is convinced Jerry lied about a business trip. When the jealous pair file for divorce, both rush into new relationships, but quickly realize their love never died. The soon-to-be-divorced husband and wife then both scramble to spoil each other’s chances for newfound romance.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.

The Cooper Young Quintet Reunion
2024-03-15 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents The Cooper Young Quintet Reunion in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Friday, March 15, 2024
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15 in advance | $20 at the door
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

The Cooper-Young jazz group was an institution in Midtown Memphis for the better part of the 2000s, playing at the Young Avenue Deli every Sunday from approximately 1999-2006. At a time when jazz wasn’t exactly thriving in Memphis, this group helped to bridge the gap that would carry the torch from Memphis’ storied past of jazz innovation to the burgeoning scene it is today.

For the first time in over 20 years, the core members of the original ensemble are reuniting for a very special Jazz Month performance on The Green Room stage!

Joyce Cobb and the Bosco Band
2024-03-16 14:30 - 16:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents Joyce Cobb and the Bosco Band in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Saturday, March 16, 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

Joyce was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and reared in Nashville. She first sang in her grandmother’s church. At an early age, the influence of music was present in her home environment. Both her parents were avid music lovers, with an emphasis on jazz.

Joyce’s career spans from live orchestrations for Nashville’s WSM radio and television stations, to live performances in Europe. She landed a record deal with a subsidiary of Stax Records just before the label folded, but continued her recording career with the West Coast-based Cream Records. Under the direction of Wayne Crook of Shoe Productions, she wrote, sang, and performed the single “Dig the Gold” that earned her a No. 42 spot in Billboard Magazine.

Maestro Alan Balter, conductor of the Memphis Symphony, heard her sing at the Peabody Hotel in 1990 and Cobb has since been invited to perform with the symphony on numerous occasions.

Joyce hosts two radio shows on WEVL FM90 — “Voices” and “Songs for My Father”, a program that shares a collection of jazz music. Joyce also travels from the East Coast to the West Coast with the Beale Street Jazz Band performing at traditional jazz festivals. Joyce has been featured on numerous CDs with other artists and is currently writing and producing her own CD.

Resident Artist Talks
2024-03-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Crosstown Arts, The Green Room, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 280, Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
Crosstown Arts presents the Resident Artist Talks in The Green Room.
The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Time: 6-8 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public
Crosstown Arts Spring 2024 resident artists will present artist talks.
The presenters will include:
MadameFraankie
Lina Beach
Caleb Suggs
Mark Mayer
This event is free and open to the public.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents THE TENANT
2024-03-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104, United States
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents The Tenant at Crosstown Theater.
Crosstown Theater
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Tickets: $5 at the door
Doors at 6:30 p.m. | Films begin at 7:00 p.m. (sharp!) at Crosstown Theater
Roman Polanski / 1976 / 125 minutes / Rated R
In Paris, isolated Eastern European émigré Trelkovsky (Roman Polanski) rents an apartment in a spooky old building whose inhabitants regard him with suspicion and even outright hostility. When he learns that the apartment’s previous tenant, a beautiful woman, tried to commit suicide by jumping out the window, Trelkovsky begins to identify with her in increasingly disturbing ways. Then, to make matters even worse, he reaches the conclusion that his new neighbors are plotting to kill him.
The Crosstown Arts Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground, and documentary features.
