Article Contributed by Victory Lap PR
Published on 2026-04-07
Photo by Bobbi Rich
A new chapter in Memphis live music begins this spring as Grind City Amp makes its debut with iconic soul-rock trio Alabama Shakes on April 22. Located along the Mississippi riverfront, the open-air venue is a collaboration between longtime Memphis establishment Grind City Brewing and Nick Barbian, veteran concert promoter and founder of Barbian Entertainment.
The 4,500 seat venue is designed to serve both Memphis residents and visitors alike, expanding the city’s capacity to host national touring acts while addressing a long-standing need for a mid-sized outdoor venue of its scale.
Opening week will continue with a free, all-ages grand opening party on Saturday, April 25 featuring MonoNeon, Memphis-born bluesman Eric Gales (fresh off an Oscars performance tied to the award-winning film Sinners), along with Cedric Burnside, Joybomb, Raneem Imam, and Frank McLallen & Extra Eyes. The mini-fest will also feature local food trucks, vendors, and a short ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the space.
For Barbian, who came to Memphis by way of Wisconsin, London and Austin, the venue was built with a dual purpose: to strengthen Memphis’ live music infrastructure for local artists while positioning the city as a stronger destination market for touring acts and fans. “Try to name a city anywhere in the world that has a deeper music history than Memphis,” Barbian told Forbes in an interview early this year. “There’s an opportunity here to be one small cog in a bigger machine of building the future of live music in this town.”
The amp’s launch marks a broader effort to strengthen Memphis’ live music ecosystem by increasing access to world-class performances for locals while attracting national touring acts and visitors to the city. In addition to serving as a new entertainment hub in Uptown Memphis, Grind City Amp is positioned to support the continued growth of Memphis’ music economy and provide a new home for large-scale outdoor programming in the region.
Also slated for its inaugural season is Chicago-based rock outfit Wilco on July 7, with additional shows to be announced in the coming weeks. Future plans for the venue also include the return of Grind City Fest, which will now have a permanent home at the Amp following a brief hiatus. Barbian also envisions the amp as a platform for Memphis artists, ensuring the city’s music community remains front and center as the venue’s programming expands.
"Since the early development of Grind City Brewing Company, I have consistently envisioned integrating live music into our brand experience,” shares Grind City Brewing president Hopper Seely. “It has always been important to me that we contribute meaningfully to the rich musical legacy of Memphis. Through my partnership with Nick Barbian, that vision has become a reality. Together, we have created an environment that brings people together in a way that is both authentic and memorable. There is truly no experience quite like sharing great beer with friends while engaging in the energy and excitement of a live performance."
As Grind City Amphitheater begins to establish itself, organizers anticipate a growing slate of programming and events, with approximately 12-15 shows per year expected as the venue fully ramps operations. Setting its sights on its first season, the Amp is positioned to become a recurring gathering place for Memphis residents and a destination for visitors seeking a direct connection to the city’s music culture.
Tickets for Alabama Shakes with Mon Rovîa are on sale now. For more information, visit GrindCityAmp.com and follow along on social media at @GrindCityAmp and @GrindCityBrew.
