Mempho Music Festival: What are the food and drink options?
Mempho Music Festival has announced its food and beverage lineup, offering festival attendees dozens of options.
The annual event is Oct. 19-20 at Shelby Farms Park.
“Food brings people together,” said Kayleigh Reeves, Mempho Food & Beverage manager. “We wanted to create a gathering spot for our patrons.”
Food will run the gamut from fast, hand-held snacks to complete meals to delicious desserts. A number of restaurants will also provide vegan and vegetarian cuisine.
Memphis favorites Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, Grisanti 9DOUGH1 and Mempops will offer their specialties. Vendors such as Peace Love Quesadillas, Rice Rice Baby, Hebros Kitchen and Island Noodles are also among the dozen offerings available for ticket holders at all levels.
“It was important for us to feature Memphis-based vendors, but we also wanted to offer a variety of options such as gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian foods,” Reeves said.
The festival will have two main food areas, each near the stages.
“All our food vendors are located near bars and the stages so guests can quickly get back to the music after dining,” Reeves said.
In addition to traditional concessionaire vendors, Super-vip attendees and Luxury Box ticket holders can experience meals catered by Memphis chef Jimmy Gentry of Paradox Catering.
“Our VIP and Luxury Box ticket holders pay a premium for their tickets,” Reeves said. “In addition to perks such as parking passes, we wanted to offer them a top food experience as well.
“Paradox is one of the top caterers in the Southeast, and we wanted to share that with our patrons.”
In addition to lunch, dinner and daily snacks, Gentry said he plans to offer late-night munchies.
“Late night, we will be serving flatbread pizzas, a version of a Soul Burger since we are in Memphis and my version of hot ‘901’ chicken,” Gentry said.
He also plans to serve his famous “Gibson’s burgers.” This ultimate late-night food uses Gibson’s doughnuts as the buns.
Access to a Super VIP lounge also includes an open bar serving premium craft beer, wine and cocktails, complimentary Wi-fi and charging stations for electronics.
Bars will be located throughout the festival. Millercoors, Jack Daniel’s, el Jimador and Old Dominick are the official beverage partners. Local microbrewery Memphis Made will offer a fruit-infused pale ale as a Mempho Music Festival exclusive special brew.
Mempho Music Festival will also feature a festival app that will not only guide attendees through the entire festival experience, but also feature “Order Ahead” beverages at the two main general admission bars. According to festival organizers, “Order Ahead” will allow festival attendees to place a drink order in advance and pay through the app, then swing by the bar to pick up the beverage.
Acts performing at the festival include the Raconteurs, Brandi Carlile,
Wu-tang Clan, the Revivalists, Margo Price, lovelytheband, Valerie June, PJ Morton, DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia, Matt Maeson, Reignwolf and a Sun Studio tribute.
For more information about Mempho vendors and the festival, visit memphofest.com.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler @commercialappeal.com, and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.