Rock-N-Romp is Back, Baby!
The beloved backyard concert series which launched in 2006 by a group of friends and families returns as a new generation takes the stage.
When Mati was a baby, I took her to one of those classic Rock-n-Romps at Mud Island, I was still able to carry her around on my chest. Now that she and her sister are the perfect age to truly appreciate RNR, no one was hosting it. To be honest, I had forgotten about it until a conversation thread reminded me and I was like, “We have to bring this back!”
I had been thinking about bringing Live From Memphis back for sometime, but I knew I didn’t want to rehash the old Live From Memphis. Back then, most people thought of us as a website promoting Memphis and its creatives, when we were so much more than that. Looking forward, I wanted the relaunch of LFM to signal that. Rock-n-Romp was a perfect fit. While we do sing the praises of the Memphis creative culture, we are focusing on involving creatives in our own creative projects. While we are storytellers, Live From Memphis is the story.
So for me, it made a lot of sense to bring back Rock-n-Romp and have it be the first of many events and projects to come. RNR fits perfectly with the LFM ethos, which is about celebrating and nurturing the good in Memphis. Once we started planning, we were all like, ‘Hell yeah!’ and everyone who came out to the show pretty much had the same response. When Stacy Greenberg, a founding member of RNR turned over the reins she said, “If anyone can bring back Rock-n-Romp, Live From Memphis can.”
We were super stoked to continue the tradition and pay tribute to Memphis Rock-n-Romp’s past by the bands we asked to play the show. Members of KittyPool and Above Jupiter started playing music as kids at the Rock-n-Romp Rock summer camp 10+ years ago. We were also proud to have Above Jupiter representing on News Channel 3's Live at 9!
The Burks Family at the 2023 Halloween Rock-N-Romp at the Ravine Memphis, TN
"Aside from a little rain at the end, it was a complete blast… There's a whole new generation of families who love live music, so it was great to see Live From Memphis bring this series back." said Graham Burks, who helped organize the show and who had served on the original Rock-n-Romp board.
The Art Project led a Halloween arts and crafts activity for the kids, and there was a Halloween costume contest with prizes awarded in categories such as best costume and most original.
I would like to thank the team: Marvin Stockwell, Graham Burks, Drew Barton, and Shelly Hand; the volunteers: Anna Barton, Nathan Parten, and Jordan Walker. A BIG shout-out to my moms, Vernie Kuglin and Belinda Fleming, who were instrumental, and Joanna Harris and myself for video and photos. We couldn't have pulled it off without everyone's support.
Thanks to Memphis Made and the Ravine, the Art Project, the Downtown Memphis Commission, Memphis Made Brewing, Fuel Food Truck and Mempops.
A special thanks to Dixon Art Education Outreach (Christian Allen) for providing takeaway art projects for the kids. And to Memphis Pizza Cafe and Bayou Bar and Grill for gift certificates for prizes. And the Art Project for art projects for the kids.
Last but not least thank you to all the coverage; Alex Colman Live at Nine, Daily Memphian, Memphis Flyer, Fox 13, Downtown Memphis, ilovememphis, Choose901, We Are Memphis, and Memphis Travel.
A special thanks goes out to Sara Moseley who made this years Goner Fest skulls and loaned them to us for Rock-N-Romp as well as inspiring me to make the RNR signage and pumpkin guitar!
Thank you to the bands, including KittyPool, Above Jupiter, and Tamar Love, whose set was unfortunately rained out. We hope to have Tamar back sometime soon.
All in all, my daughters and I are very excited to see where this goes. Mati and Joey’s lemonade stand was a big hit. They even coordinated their own volunteers to help them. Heh.
“We used to always kick off the Rock-n-Romp season in April on opening day at Mud Island," said Marvin Stockwell, who served on the original Rock-n-Romp board and who has been helping with the relaunch of Live From Memphis. "Now that the future of Mud Island seems to be on everyone's mind, we’re hoping to be a part of reactivating that great space and more."
Look for the next Rock-n-Romp in the spring.
