Raitt, Cole top Beale Street fest list

For more than a decade, the Beale Street Music Festival has unofficially launched the city's beloved Memphis In May celebration. In that time, the festival has become an entity larger than either faction. Not only does it sound the gun for Memphis In May, but it also signals the start of the festival season, summer outdoor parties and a little lettin' go.

Proving that the Beale Street Music Festival has mainstay power, festival-goers can again look forward to three days of extended fun and good music. The festival will be held May 1-3 on the river at Tom Lee Park. Admission is $13 in advance; $16 beginning May 1. A three-day pass costs $32.

This year's line-up is still tentative, but promises a wide spectrum of musical offerings: Bonnie Raitt, the Doobie Brothers, the Tennessee Mass Choir, Jelly Roll Kings, Mash-O-Matic and Paula Cole, the "alternative" songstress who recently won a "Best New Artist" Grammy and broke the Top-10 pop charts with "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" Also added recently were punk rockers Green Day and alternative favorites Ben Folds Five. One more major headliner may be added before the list is complete.

Not a bad showing, considering Memphis In May parted ways late last year with veteran concert organizer and promoter Bob Kelley, who died of an apparent suicide March 27. Mid-South Concerts, of which Kelley was president, had booked, promoted and produced the festival since 1990. Last year's festival set attendance records, as more than 150,000 people bought tickets to the event.

Discussions about Mid-South Concert's role began between Kelley and Memphis In May's new executive director, Wes Brustad, last November, but the two could not reach agreement and quickly dissolved the relationship. Memphis In May officials thought Mid-South's role in the festival was too extensive. They wanted Kelley and his group to scale back to only booking the performers.

Within months of separating from Memphis In May, Kelley countered by organizing the Mid-South Music Festival, which was scheduled for April 24-26, but was canceled following Kelley's suicide on March 27.

Memphis In May instead chose Cellar Door Concerts, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Fred Jones and his Memphis-based Summitt Management Corp. to organize this year's festival. Jones will book the blues and gospel acts. Memphis In May also has been getting input from local organizations, including the Blues Foundation, said Angie Logan-Johnson, Memphis In May marketing assistant.

"They are working with each other and in conjunction with the Memphis In May staff," she said.

This year, acts will perform on one of six stages. Video screens will be added to the main stage. And the Blues Tent will double in size and be located near the park's Beale Street entrance.

New for Memphis In May attendees this year will be passport tickets, which will get holders into three major events: all three days of the Beale Street Music Festival, three days of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the Sunset Symphony. Passport tickets cost $50. All tickets are available at TicketMaster locations, including Piggly Wiggly and Cat's Music Stores.

For regular updates, check www.memphismojo.com.