MEMPHO Announces Late Night All-Star Tribute To Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks & Col. Bruce

via Jambase

The inaugural MEMPHO Music Festival will take place at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis on October 6 and 7. Organizers of the event have announced a special “Mempho All-Stars” jam on Saturday, October 7 featuring a tribute to a trio of famed musicians who passed away earlier this year.

Guitarist Eric Krasno will serve as musical director for the late night jam session to be held in honor of Allman Brothers Band founding members Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks and Col. Bruce Hampton. Kraz will lead a rotating lineup that will feature bassist Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company, Allman Brothers Band), guitarist Steve Kimock (RatDog, Phil Lesh & Friends), harmonica player/vocalist John Popper (Blues Traveler, Frogwings), steel guitarist Robert Randolph (Robert Randolph & The Family Band), drummer/percussionist Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit), drummer/percussionist Wally Ingram (Timbuk 3, Stockholm Syndrome, David Lindley, Sheryl Crow), guitarist Papa Mali (7 Walkers), DJ Logic, guitarist Eric McFadden (P-Funk Allstars, Stockholm Syndrome), vocalist Leslie Mendelson, keyboardist Peter Levin (Gregg Allman Band), vocalist Lamar Williams Jr. (Les Brers), bassist Tad Kinchla (Blues Traveler) and MonoNeon.

Here’s more details of the charity aspect of the concert:
The after-show will benefit philanthropic program called “Learn to Rock,” which aims to build bridges throughout the Memphis community by educating students about the city’s rich musical history. As part of the program’s outreach, Learn to Rock–sponsored by Orion Federal Credit Union– is providing hundreds of free tickets to Shelby County Schools high school students, staff, and family members, as well as the Soulsville Foundation/Stax Academy and the Memphis Music Initiative.

Admission to the late night “Mempho All-Stars” jam is included with general tickets to Mempho. This year’s lineup includes Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Cage the Elephant, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Cold War Kids, Bishop Briggs, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Hard Working Americans, Southern Avenue and Booker T Presents: Stax Revue. The festival also will host a Memphis music tributes led by Stax Records guitarist Steve Cropper and featuring special guests. Head here for tickets.

JamBase Exclusive Premiere: Eric Krasno Shares New Solo Album ‘Blood From A Stone’

Next week, Soulive and Lettuce guitarist Eric Krasno will issue a new solo album Blood From A Stone through his Feel Music Group/Round Hill label. In advance of its official release next Friday, July 8, JamBase is pleased to exclusively premiere the entire 10-song album.

Krasno employed a number of special guests who appear throughout the record, including Tedeschi Trucks Band guitarist Derek Trucks and vocalist Alecia Chakour, some of his Soulive and Lettuce band mates and The London Souls. It’s the first material of Krasno’s to feature not only his guitar, but also his singing voice.

“This new record is a side of my music that many people haven’t heard, especially the vocals,” Krasno said. “Most of the album was recorded in Maine with my co-writer Dave Gutter, Jon Roods (both from Rustic Overtones) and Ryan Zoidis from Lettuce. We set up a studio in their barn/rehearsal space and just started recording. What we thought were going to be demos became the actual album. That the relaxed environment helped the creative flow and enabled us to push each other to new places. I’m really looking forward to getting out on the road with the new band and playing these songs for everyone.”

The Eric Krasno Band featuring keyboardist DeShawn Alexander, bassist Alex Chakour, backing vocalist Mary Corso, drummer Eric Kalb and rhythm guitarist Danny Mayer will make their debut with a run of shows in Colorado beginning tomorrow at the “Fiyo on The Mountain” event with Dumpstaphunk at Mishawaka Amphitheatre in Bellvue. A number of additional Eric Krasno Band shows are planned throughout upcoming months.