After closing her ceramics store, the head of Paper & Clay reached out to Belltower, a cafe and pottery studio, to sell her equipment — a conversation that molded into a partnership. 

Since her last Memphis-area show 18 months ago, the multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter has won a Grammy Award, headlined an international tour and hosted a fundraising concert with Jason Isbell.

The 2024 Live at the Garden lineup includes lauded rock and country acts.

For the first time in 10 years, the Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival is extending its celebration beyond its traditional four-day schedule.

The Memphis in May event at Liberty Park will also have celebrity pitmasters doing cooking demonstrations and 129 teams from 22 states and four foreign countries competing for barbecue honors.

“Everybody got a festival celebrating their own heritage and ethnicity,” David Acey said. “So, our efforts in the early ’60s was to develop something that could get our people into their history and culture.”

Julie Pierotti, the Dixon’s Martha R. Robinson Curator, said that the show is a cross-section of art currently being made in the region.

Lonnie Robinson, one of the artists who worked on new stained-glass images for Historic Clayborn Temple, talks on the “On The Record” podcast about bringing images of the 1968 sanitation-workers strike to the landmark’s windows.

This week, 1990s hip-hop group Arrested Development headlines Africa in April, Shelby Farms Park gets a head start on Earth Day and music is back on Cooper-Young porches.

New bands performing this season are Fleetwood Mac tribute band Landslide on April 25, Grit & Grind Music Machine on May 30 and Memphis Soul Remedy on July 18.

At its core, Vintage901 is about good food, good wine and the connections people make through eating and drinking together.

Shows include Cyrena Wages, Aaron James, MonoNeon, Talibah Safiya with MadameFraankie, Blvck Hippie and Lukah with Hope Clayburn & The Fire Salamander.

Memphians can clean up parks and trails, party with pollinators, try goat yoga, and do arts and crafts.

After nearly four decades, Memphis theater producer Mike Detroit found a full brother he never knew existed. It’s a mystery that could be a miniseries. But even Detroit warns: “There are parts you may not believe.”

Live classical music from local groups such as the University of Memphis Lorraine String Quartet, Prizm Ensemble and the Bartlett Community Concert Band could also be heard at Art in the Loop.

“The bluebird’s bright blue flash of color brings a smile to your face emphasizing why we call them the ‘bluebird of happiness,’” Germantown Vice Mayor Mary Anne Gibson said of the city’s official bird.

Memphian Sara Koffi’s debut novel has been burning up the “most anticipated” and “best” thriller lists.

Memphis producer Teddy Walton has worked with artists like Kendrick Lamar and has produced music for Hulu and Netflix. With his new media company, he hopes to give opportunities to others — especially young Memphians.

For eight years, Lauren Kennedy was executive director of the UrbanArt Commission, an organization which was essential to the spread of so much public art throughout Memphis

This week, Stax kicks off a summer dance series in Handy Park, flowers meet art at the Dixon and Memphis Made rolls out the hops. 

St. Paul and the Broken Bones will headline the inaugural SmokeSlam barbecue contest. The lineup also includes rap, rock and funk.

“I found that I’m always learning new things,” one of the master gardener tour guides said about the annual spring walk. “Even though I know about some of the plants out here, I always learn something new.”

For the third season of Stereo Sessions, WYXR is back to unveil a new crop of six rarities, including the story of a blind keyboardist, an all-female ensemble of roots-punk rockers and more.

“We want to build this brand,” organizer Nick Barbian said. “It’s something that can be hopefully the launch of spring and summer event season here in Memphis.” 

This week, Memphis Farmers Market opens, Elizabeth King performs “sacred soul” at Crosstown Arts and there’s an eclipse party in Overton Park.