After spending way too much money moving a statue with arguable relevance, the University of Memphis has landed on a solid cultural centerpiece to fund.
Blue Tom Records, UofM’s student-run record label, will be throwing a huge show at the University’s Memorial Field on April 6 and has booked some of Memphis’ most notable talent. BlueTomFest is bringing Memphis folk, electropop, and jam bands to UofM’s campus in an effort that will knock the school’s involvement with the city’s eclectic music culture up a few notches.
Kinda soulful super-poppy rock act Star & Micey are set to perform at BlueTomFest on a rare date when they’ll actually be home from touring in support of their most recent EP I Can’t Wait. They’ve received all sorts of hype since releasing the Dennis Herring-produced collection of songs, so the show will be great excuse to catch them while they’re in town for anyone who likes happy guitar pop.
Memphis indie-electronica outfit Fast Planet will bring their post-Postal Service pop to the college’s gig. Currently on their way to finishing the follow-up to their debut Jes, the classy quartet just released a low-key new tune with “Mr. Conversation,” a quantized journey through synth textures and vocal retriggers. They’ll have the single and nice prints of the artwork available at the show.
More than just Star & Micey’s feel-good pop and Fast Planet’s electrop expertise, the event has also booked reggae-soul outfit The Chinese Connection Dub Embassy, jam band Lightajo, singer-songwriter Kris Acklen, country crooner Alex Inman, and the winners of the Student Performance Competition, Absentease. The Memorial Field is located on the University of Memphis campus, and the event is completely free.
