Not going to Memphis in May
Yeah, they've got Lou Reed, Betty LaVette, Cat Power, the Roots and the Black Crowes (also coming to the Arkansas Music Pavilion in Fayetteville at the end of the summer), but aside from the cost ($60-80) and the miserable bottleneck that is Tom Lee Park and the hours you'll spend waiting in line to use the john, here's a good reason not to make the trek to Memphis in May this weekend: Festival organizers administer a radius clause in performers' contracts that prohibits them from playing Riverfest, too, according Riverfest's DeAnna Korte.
"We don't feel threatened by it, but we don't think the two events conflict," she says. "I think their rationale is, 'If Jonny Lang is the only person you care about at Memphis in May and you can see him in a couple of weeks in Little Rock for $10 versus $60 in Memphis, then you're likely to skip Memphis in May in favor of Little Rock.'"
Pretty chickenshit, I say. And bully-ish.
As spinsouth suggests and Alltel's Michael Marion confirms, the radius clause is standard procedure, employed by just about every major festival. Bonaroo's radius is apparently really wide.
So maybe not chickenshit or bully-ish. How bout just frustrating? More in the comments below.
"We don't feel threatened by it, but we don't think the two events conflict," she says. "I think their rationale is, 'If Jonny Lang is the only person you care about at Memphis in May and you can see him in a couple of weeks in Little Rock for $10 versus $60 in Memphis, then you're likely to skip Memphis in May in favor of Little Rock.'"
Pretty chickenshit, I say. And bully-ish.
As spinsouth suggests and Alltel's Michael Marion confirms, the radius clause is standard procedure, employed by just about every major festival. Bonaroo's radius is apparently really wide.
So maybe not chickenshit or bully-ish. How bout just frustrating? More in the comments below.
Comments
the radius clause is standard practice. nothing to whine about, really.
do you really think the riverfest folks would book Cat Power or The Roots, given the chance?
Posted by: spinsouth | May 1, 2008 06:02 PM
I've been to Memphis in May before - overpriced, of course, for the talent they generally attract. And the lines for beer are brutal. Did see G Love and R.L Burnside though, they were both great - but I digress. My only advice is don't ride the trolley, it breaks down a lot.
The radius clause does indeed suck, but there are other things that have more to do with the lack of big name shows here in Arkansas than that clause. I suspect it plays a small part.
Posted by: Brian Burnett | May 1, 2008 08:02 PM
but Arrested Development is playing both shows, so either they're about to cancel, have huge cajones or its not strongly enforced.
Posted by: Arkanblogger![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 1, 2008 09:29 PM
Yet, another great reason to avoid Memphis in May... We got .38 Special and Better than Ezra.
Take that Cat Power, Bettye Lavette, The Roots....and...the rest of the cool choices you won't likely see at Riverfest.
Posted by: revjerrylee![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 2, 2008 08:39 AM
revjerrylee--
I'll see you at .38 Special!
again, i have a hard time believing DeAnna et al are losing sleep over not getting The Roots and Cat Power.
I see Jonny Lang is still on both schedules. What gives? If he has to cancel LR i'll have THE BLUES.
Posted by: spinsouth | May 2, 2008 09:11 AM
So Jonny Lang was a bad example.
The Cat Powers and Betty LaVettes of the world are never coming to Riverfest. It's too small, there's not enough money.
But where the radius clause more likely comes into play is for bands like the Black Crowes. Acts that could dramatically impact the festival.
I've harped about the nostalgia element in this year's line-up, but to be fair, it's not all .38 Special and Better than Ezra.
Miranda Lambert is a good get, a bigger country star than anyone at Memphis in May. I barely know what OneRepublic sounds like, but I know they're huge and relevant in the mainstream now.
Posted by: Lindsey Millar![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 2, 2008 10:17 AM
Beale Street Music Festival is a different animal. Maybe, just maybe, we'll have one or two acts as best that would have been there. It's more important for Riverfest to bring back "classic" rock for the cheap classic rock fans of Little Rock: Charlie Daniels, 38 special, Elvin Bishop featuring Mickey Thomas, "ZZ Top, and you can't forget, that ol' brother Willie is soaking Wet ..." sorry the ol' Charlie Daniels line got in there. Where is Wet Willie anyway? Can't we get him?
Posted by: jimmyboy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 6, 2008 10:59 AM