See the soulful side of Memphis at 2016 Soulsville USA Festival tomorrow

The 2016 Soulsville USA Festival takes place on Saturday, October 15 from 11am-6pm in the historic Soulsville USA district on College & McLemore.

If you (or your parents) were in Memphis in the 60's/70's, you're probably very familiar with the many contributions Stax Records has made to not only Memphis but to Soul music overall. Songs such as "Respect Yourself" or "Soul Man" and artists such as Mavis Staples, David Porter, Isaac Hayes, Maurice White & William Bell have helped shape the world's experience with soul music. One of the goals of the Soulsville USA Festival is to educate the city about those who have contributed to Memphis' soulful musical history and introduce them to those of us who are contributing to the city's soulful future.

In 2015 (its inaugural year), the street festival featured three stages of live music from renowned Memphis talent- Artistik Approach, Cameron Bethany, Henry Ford, Larjuanette Williams & Black Shampoo, Black Rock Revival, Nick Black, Tonya Dyson, Preauxx, LeMoyne-Owen Gospel Choir, Justin Granville, Chinese Connection Dubb Embassy, D’Monet, Tameka “Big Baby” Goodman, Devin Crutcher, Tim Terry and Tony Dickerson & the Essential Band. The “Street Stage” featured live dance demos from the Power Glide Jam roller skaters, the Drama Queens majorette troupe, and the Pharaohs of Memphis jookin team. In addition to the musical/dance artists, our 'ARTent' showcased some of the city's top visual artists. The kid’s activities center was jam-packed with family friendly fun that included everything from a rock climbing wall to face-painting artists!

This year, the music festival will also have three stages of live music from Take Me to the River ft William Bell, Charles & Leroy Hodges, Boo Mitchell, Al Kapone, Frayser Boy with the Stax Alumni Band; Stax Records artists- Southern Avenue; Carmen Hicks; Brennan Villines; Tennessee Mass Choir; Iron Mic Coalition; Marco Alexander, Carla Tolbert-Taylor, Tia Henderson, Cherisse Scott, Juju Bushman, Stax Music Academy Drum Line, Adajyo, and more (see complete line-up & schedule by visiting the festival website).

In addition to the stellar music line-up, this year's festival will feature educational talk backs & storytelling inside Stax Museum of American Soul Music; the ARTent with demos from an array of visual artists; a kid's center with carnival games, face-painting, caricature drawings, and other fun activities; interactive ballet, contemporary, jookin/b-boy, and hoola hooping dance demos; FREE admission to Stax Museum of American Soul Music all day.