After procrastinating repeatedly, I finally made it out (thanks to Mark & Katie) to the beautifully-renovated Levitt Shell on Sunday night for a terrific performance from Samarabalouf (pronounced sah-MAH-rah-bah-LOOF), a Gypsy swing trio from France who energized the crowd in attendance. Seeing this show made me enthusiastic about the future of the arts in Memphis. This isn’t the old Overton Park Shell — it is transformed, ultimately, into something much more grand and beautiful than I could have imagined. More info and a video after the jump.

Samarabalouf Live at Levitt Shell, Memphis from E.J. Friedman on Vimeo.

I got a little teary eyed watching the sunset, surrounded by other Memphians clapping along or dancing, parents coming with their children (who did plenty of their own dancing) and enjoying this incredible free show. For a minute, I felt like I was almost in another city. This is something so special, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of the last few shows of the 2008 Levitt Shell season. After this weekend, shows will be on hiatus until May of 2009 — so, make a picnic, bring a blanket, and come on down. You’ll be very glad you did.

Thursday, October 2 – 7pm
John Jorgenson

Friday, October 3 – 7pm
The Bo-Keys w/ William Bell*

*Makin’ Music Muscles
This artist is offering a special children’s workshop at 5 pm.
Bring your children to this free, fun, and educational musical workshop.

Saturday, October 4 – 5pm
Kenneth Jackson

Saturday, October 4 – 7:30pm
Incendio

Sunday, October 5 – 7pm
Brave Combo

I just haven’t had the time this week to properly mention and promote this wonderful show. You need, and I do mean need to be at the Levitt Shell @ Overton Park tonight for COMO NOW. This press release is culled directly from a press release, but the music speaks quite for itself. Enjoy & I hope to see you tonight.

COMO NOW: The Voices of Panola Co., MS, the latest release from Daptone Records (and first that moves away from the Brooklyn funk and soul) continues to get rave reviews from critics all over. Says Grant Alden from No Depression:

“It is a relief once again to fall in love with an album — an entire album — to become enraptured by the music of artists who are unknown to me. To discover something of such great and glorious sounds that it is worth moving from the truck to the house stereo and back, to find music so rewarding to listen to that I have not opened the mail for a week, because this is enough. This is plenty…this is — by far — the best album I’ve heard this year.”

You can check the mini-documentary Daptone made about the album here, or, if you’re lucky enough to be in the Memphis area, the entire group of singers will be performing a very special show at the Levitt Shell next Friday, September 26 at 7pm.

You can also watch a special performance by the Como Mamas, one of the groups included on the compilation, on YouTube’s music homepage, or below.

World’s Fair News » COMO NOW in No Depression Now, and in Memphis Next Week.

Como Mamas featuring Mary Moore – Trouble In My Way

In case you’re not familiar with what they do, Stax Music Academy provides an outlet for musically-gifted inner city youth in Memphis to develop their musical talent with top regional industry professionals, artists and musicians. These webisodes will give you just the slightest glimpse into the wonderful work that has been going on, perhaps unbeknownst to you, for several years.

The efforts of Live From Memphis are being released on a weekly basis to this player, which appears on the ArtsMemphis homepage. Be sure to check back on a regular basis to have an opportunity to share in the joy and excitement that the Live From Memphis folks were able to capture. Memphis, this is something for us all to support and take pride in.