“Some people, their goal in life is to be their authentic selves. Most people never get there,” said a longtime friend. “(Lamar Sorrento’s) gotten there and gone past it, I think.”

Comedies and musicals are what’s on stage this month in Memphis theaters.

Some state humanities councils, funded primarily by the agency, will begin closing in the next month, Shelly Lowe said.

Don’t know every band on the Riverbeat lineup? Daily Memphian staffers did the cold hard research into each artist performing at the Downtown Memphis music festival.

Sunday at Riverbeat includes psychedelic-rock band Jombi, Memphis instrumental group Salo Pallini, 2025 Best New Artist Grammy nominee Benson Boone and headliner Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals.

This week, watch 10-minute plays at Hattiloo Theatre, see Julien Baker & Torres in Oxford and get a sneak peek of Baron von Opperbean (with cocktails for a cause).

This guide is for Riverbeat’s Saturday lineup — day two.

Riverbeat is a three-day music festival held at Tom Lee Park on May 2-4, 2025. 

Shelly Lowe, who was asked to step down as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities by President Donald Trump in March, is giving a public lecture Thursday.

Believe the buzz; “Sinners” demands to be seen with the best sound and image quality you can find.

The lineup includes Flaming Lips, Sierra Ferrell, Mavis Staples, Father John Misty, Charley Crockett and The Pharcyde.

The Overton Park Shell’s free summer concert series opens and closes with local acts.

For roughly three decades, the only musicians who played what is now the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium were marching bands. But why?

The Renasant Convention Center is putting the work of local artists on display to its 450,000 annual visitors.

The president of the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which recently became part of a story about alleged racism in the firing of its executive director, says a broader “shakeup” will take local tourism to another level.

The museum, which is run by the Sultana Historical Preservation Society, has raised $10 million so far as it moves toward a full opening on the 161st anniversary of the disaster next April.

This week, Peabody rooftop parties return, Africa in April is back and Saddle Creek opens another art show.

“We’re incredibly excited to celebrate the 25th season of Live at the Garden,” said the director.

Potts has 13 platinum singles and one platinum album.

Born Winston Conrad Martindale on Dec. 4, 1933, in Jackson, Tennessee, Wink Martindale began as a radio DJ, but became famous hosting TV game shows like “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough.”

Advance word on “Sinners,” which incorporates the contributions of many Memphis-area musicians, is very strong.

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is hosting its first major music concert in nearly three decades.

Food scientist and TV personality Alton Brown says his “culinary variety show” combines storytelling, comedy, music and culinary demonstrations all in one. 

Also happening this week: TCAP testing begins for Memphis-Shelby County Schools, and Felicia Suzanne’s reopens.

The festival is held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, situated in the Coachella Valley.