Opening this week: a darkly comic thriller about a barber whose quest for revenge turns into a spree of murder and cannibalistic meat pies. It also happens to be a beloved musical.

In this week’s To-Do List, veteran newsman Otis Sanford signs his new book, and Alabama plays mountain music — like grandma and grandpa used to play.

Also set to play: Spoon, Gary Clark Jr., De La Soul, Ziggy Marley, JJ Grey & Mofro and Fishbone.

Two music festivals are coming to South Main this weekend, and organizers from both join Eric Barnes on this week’s Sidebar podcast.

Aliens are on the big — and giant — screen in Memphis, and you can stream the portrait of the life of Memphian Maurice White. And somehow, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” brings it all full circle.

Generative AI has become widely used. But Celine Lee, co-owner of Hernando’s Hide-A-Way, wants no part of it. Here’s why. 

Four Memphis Youth Symphony members have been selected for Carnegie Hall’s national music programs, which will take them to New York and beyond. 

Grant opportunities are now open to local visual artists and nonprofit or government organizations that want to address community issues through art.

Theatre Memphis and Germantown Community Theatre are producing musicals that open Friday. 

In this week’s To-Do List, we’ve got your LGBTQ+ Pride guide. Plus, Elmwood screens a 1980s classic, Filipino culture is on display in Millington and there are Pizza Witches in Crosstown.

Olivia Wall, director of marketing and communications for Memphis Botanic Garden, joined Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about Live at the Garden’s 2026 lineup.

A Memphis native has returned home to take the Orpheum stage — and help his castmates find a good place to eat. Plus, the Peabody ducks are keeping time with the help of a new clock.

The Daily Memphian is highlighting five concerts and a block party for Black Music Month in June 2026.

It’s pick your theme at the movies this week and you can double up.

James Jin just graduated from high school, but already, his nonprofit, ArtFlow, is in more than 200 schools and community organizations across 10 countries. Here’s why he started it — and what he’ll do next. 

The honky-tonk was just featured in a new video series by Brand USA that is meant to encourage more international tourism to the U.S. and Tennessee.

The Lakeland native started out in the children’s programs at Germantown Community Theatre, Playhouse on the Square, Harrell Theatre and New Day Children’s Theatre.

In this week’s To-Do List, hear “weird music” at Crosstown, watch dragon boats race at Shelby Farms and see Olympic stars on ice in Southaven.

Wynette Jones, program director for Books from Birth, joined Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about Books from Birth.

As devoted as their cult followings may sometimes be and as reliable as they are — relatively speaking — at luring people into theaters, horror movies used to get no respect.

With Memorial Day now behind us, you might think we’ve started summer. But not yet. 

Jaylen Hunter has toured the U.S. in major stage productions of “The Lion King” and “MJ The Musical,” and in recent weeks, millions around the world have seen him play young Marlon Jackson in the blockbuster movie “Michael.”

“It’s just been amazing what we’ve done with just our sheer talent, just wanting to write and be heard,” Bria Saulsberry said.

Anchoring the Civil Rights Museum expansion is celebrated artist Derek Fordjour’s “Three Kings: Epilogue.” The massive artwork shows three sides of Martin Luther King Jr. in the Lorraine Motel and it tethers Fordjour to his hometown. 

“The person that invites me to a posture of praise is likely not the same person that brings other people to that place, which is why writers and musicians and artists and creators need to keep doing their thing.”