Plus-1 Jam: MLGW Presents Live Music on Beale Street in May

MLGW’s second annual May salute to Memphis Music begins this weekend on Beale Street to help raise funds for MIFA and Plus-1. A diverse line-up of musicians, including some MLGW musical talent, will be on display on our tent-covered stage next to the Elvis statue on the north side of MLGW’s Administration Bldg. on Beale Street between Second and Main. The line-up includes several bands that feature MLGW employees.

Common Ancestors, performing Thursday, May 2 from 7-9 p.m., is a long-standing Memphis band that plays Blues, Rhythm & Blues, and Rock.

Delta Project will break out Blues and Blues Rock for their two-hour set on Friday, May 3 from 6-8 p.m., followed by So We Persist, a Rock band with Memphis roots, who will perform for the second set that night from 9-11 p.m.

Diamond Dave and Rock Pile, performing Blues and Rock on Saturday, May 4 from 4-6 p.m., features MLGW musicians David Vick,  a guitarist and vocalist from our Water Meter department, bassist and percussionist Gerald Sanders from Office Automation, guitarist Marty Bond from Rates and Reliability, and guitarist and harmonica-player Mike Lewis from Water Engineering.

Black Rock Revival plays Rock and Blues Rock May 4 from 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. Their sound has been likened to ‘70s rock bands, and they do a couple of Hendrix covers. They bring a large following. Be prepared to rock out to this up and coming, stellar band that is building quite a reputation in the Memphis area.

The Memphis Letter Carriers Band, playing a variety of music and big band jazz Sunday, May 5 from 3-5 p.m., has been around since 1902. Obviously, none of the original members are in the band. But newer members keep a longstanding tradition going. Don’t miss this piece of history!

The Hard Hitters Band will perform Rhythm & Blues and Rock from 6-8 p.m. Sunday evening, May 5. Hard Hitters Band was formed in 2011 by Mike Mosby, an influential Memphis musician, with friends and fellow musicians Darryl Sanford, Claude Hinds, David Parks, Cameron Bethany, Brittney Shelby and Eric Mackey.

Visitors to the MLGW music stage are asked to make donations to help Plus-1, which is administered by MIFA to help those in need of one-time utility assistance. There will be donation buckets to benefit Plus-1 and tip buckets to support the performers who are contributing their time for a good cause.

Plus-1 Jam, MLGW’s celebration of Memphis Music, will continue through the month of May every Friday and Saturday (except May 31), another Thursday (May 16), and another Sunday (May 26) when a grand finale blues jam will light up Beale Street. For more details, revisit this website throughout May.

Come out and enjoy a little MLGW Memphis Music at Plus-1 Jam during Memphis in May. Performances this weekend (May 2-5) are Thursday night from 7-9 p.m., Friday night from 6-11 p.m., Saturday from 4 p.m. -12 a.m. and Sunday from 3-8 p.m. A link for the music line-up can be found on MLGW’s website home page at www.mlgw.com under “Latest News.”