You know the RiverBeat headliners. Here are 5 under-the-radar acts you won't want to miss
The 2025 RiverBeat lineup is loaded with big names at the top of the bill and plenty of local favorites playing over the course of the weekend. But the festival also boasts some unique performances that might otherwise escape your notice.
From special jam sessions featuring multiple generations of blues greats and underground rappers to rare appearances by reunited garage rockers to a local debut by a legacy Afrobeat artist to the latest in Folktronica trendsetters, the 2025 fest will offer a range of musical choices for those looking for less obvious pleasures.
Here are five under-the-radar acts you shouldn't miss at RiverBeat, which is set for May 2-4 at Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis.
20 years after helping reinvigorate the Mid-South rap scene, Memphis underground hip-hop collective Iron Mic Coalition will help kick off the 2025 edition of RiverBeat. This esteemed crew of MCs and DJs — Fathom 9, Jason 'Da Hater' Harris, Yasin Allah aka Mmilk, Mighty Quinn, Duke, General Macarthur, The Derelick, Empee, DJ Capital A and DJ Shamrock — will deliver a set of boom bap rap on the Bud Light Stage as part of May 2's opening festivities.
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One of the features of RiverBeat has been the special event performances put together by Royal Studios honcho and Grammy-winning producer Boo Mitchell. This year — amid raves for his work on the music for the blues-themed horror film 'Sinners' — Mitchell has gathered a collection of Mississippi musicians for an all-star jam. The set will feature appearances by the legendary Bobby Rush, Duwayne, Garry and Kent Burnside, and Kinney Kimbrough, among others.
One of the great garage/trash rock bands of the last 30 years, Oxford's Neckbones will make a rare reunion appearance with a May 3 evening set at the Mempho Presents Stage. Led by a trio of vocalists — Tyler Keith, Dave Boyer and Forrest Hewes — the group will revisit songs from its '90s catalog, including the classic Fat Possum LPs 'Souls on Fire' and 'The Lights Are Getting Dim.'
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Twin brothers Matt and Chris Drake are a popular production duo that have done remixes for a range of artists from country star Zach Bryan to rapper Flo Rida and have created viral hits of their own with their folktronica sound — a blend of folk, country and EDM. The siblings will be spinning a set at RiverBeat's Orbit Stage on May 3.
The youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti has carried on the family's musical legacy leading the group Egypt 80, following his father's passing in 1997. Kuti has carved out his own legacy across seven studio albums, including 2024's 'Heavier Yet' (executive produced by Lenny Kravitz). Thrilling live performers — as they showed during a recent set at the Coachella Music Festival — Kuti and Egypt 80 will be making their Memphis debut as part of May 4's RiverBeat finale.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: RiverBeat Music Festival lineup: 5 under-the-radar acts to check out
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