There’s another act just announced for the Sunset Symphony lineup.

The Four Tops and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra are headlining, of course, but Memphis in May just confirmed that the guy known for last year’s accompaniment of Patti Page on her re-recording of her 1950 hit “Tennessee Waltz” will perform. You may actually know him better as the senior senator from Tennessee, former governor, former U.S. Secretary of Education and guy who likes flannel shirts, Lamar Alexander.

He last tickled the ivories at the sunset event in 1982 when he was governor. He may have been too busy to add much material to his rep since he’s doing an encore of the medley of Memphis music he did back then.

But that’s OK. Any politician who can be associated with the Tennessee Waltz and come out looking good is going to be a crowd pleaser.

George Hunt has been doing the Beale Street Music Festival poster for 17 years. He’s got a gallery next to the Blues Tent where he’s signing posters throughout the day. And after all these years, he’s still having a great time.

I would like to officially apologize to the Memphis Police Department for speeding here to catch Oracle and the Mountain. I’m sorry, but I only break the law when it’s really, really convenient for me.

I had to catch the only band here who is from Memphis, who is not a rap group, who is somewhat representative of what currently, really goes on around here. (In my tiny head/world anyway.)

I mean seriously, where is all the Memphis music?

(I’m not talking about the Jerry Lee Lewis kind.)

We didn’t have 40 minutes for the Noise Choir? or Vending Machine? or even Lucero or Snowglobe or The Glass or whatever? Adios Gringos maybe? Joint Chiefs? Mouserocket? The Warble? The Subteens? Arma Secreta? I’m nothing that even approaches a music critic, but come on!?

In my head its early Saturday afternoon at the Tom Lee Park BSMF, most people are waiting around on the headliners, and this is the best time to wander and discover something. Preferably from Memphis. We have such an amazing, diverse music scene and it’s lame for it to just lie here dormant at our big “showcase.” I guess Muck Sticky and Saving Able is what the kids want to see.

But I’m not so sure. Maybe I just don’t get it.

Anyway Oracle and the Mountain was great.
We should have more acts like that.

Now that I’ve gotten my single, solitary gripe out of the way; I’m going to have some fun.

Maybe wander over towards the Buddy Guy, Lou Reed area. You guys should come hang out. I hear the draw today is 60,000, but it doesn’t really seem that crowded to me…

(I have pictures, but this computer is bobo… you’ll have to wait. I know you can hardly stand it.)

A corn dog is calling my name.

Cheers.

What is sticky muck? So I’m this old dude trying to figure out the music festival. Last time I was at something like this the Grateful Dead was playing and everyone was doing a field of wheat dance - arms waving kind of mellow in the breeze like Kansas on a good day. Something tells me times have changed. But when I check out this act called Muck Sticky, the first thing that happens is two giant reefer torches start smoking on stage. That looks familiar, but it’s been a long time. Muck Sticky comes on stage between the monster joints looking like an annoying leprechaun who got into his kid sister’s wardrobe. I asked around about him. Listen to the audio. Click here. What is sticky muck?

Seems that last night’s storms may have put a damper on the Beale Street Music Festival’s attendence. While it’s still early, after walking the grounds of Tom Lee Park end to end, it’s clear that there’s less traffic than in years past. But, with a grade A list of performers - Lou Reed, Santana, Bettye LaVette -slated for tonight, expect the numbers to grow.