Scott Avett (L) and Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers perform during Concert for Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
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October is another month with plenty of chances for great concerts in the Memphis area.
In addition to the 10 concerts listed below, Memphis music lovers should take note of the ninth Mempho Music Festival — with headliners Pretty Lights and Widespread Panic — Oct. 9-11 at the Memphis Botanic Garden, the inaugural Memphis Jazz Festival — with headliners Theo Croker and Dear Silas — in Downtown Memphis and the 23rd Tri-State Blues Festival — with acts including Rucka, King George and EJ Jones — at the Landers Center in Southaven.
Also, of note to Memphis music lovers: Music Export Memphis’ annual mash-up concert is back with a new name: The Co-Lab. Attendees can see these performance pairings: Keer, DeeGoat and Demi Lowrell; Frank McLallen, Joybomb and Gia Welch; Dead Soldiers, Lukah and Nubia Yasin; Rodd Bland, Keia Johnson and Iris Collective; and Aidan Osias, Mac Mercury (formerly known as Cameron Bethany) and Savannah Brister.
The Avett Brothers with Drive-By Truckers at Grind City Amphitheater, Thursday, Oct. 1:
As the name suggests, The Avett Brothers is a band of brothers (but not exclusively). North Carolinians Scott and Seth Avett founded the Grammy-nominated folk rock band. In 2025, the band released its latest album jointly with Faith No More and Mr. Bungle frontman Mike Patton.
Patterson Hood, left, and Mike Cooley of Drive-By Truckers perform at Bourbon and Beyond Music Festival at Kentucky Exposition Center on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Amy Grant with Mac McAnally at Graceland Soundstage, Friday, Oct. 2:
Amy Grant performs at the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection benefit concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in New York. (CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)
Six-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Amy Grant has released music in the contemporary Christian, gospel and pop genres. Two of her songs have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; three others have reached the Top 10.
Mac McAnally performs a tribute to Jimmy Buffett at the 57th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. (George Walker IV/AP)
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer Mac McAnally (Lyman Corbitt McAnally Jr.) has had hit songs, written hit songs for others and is a longtime member of the late Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band.
Lakecia Benjamin at Germantown Performing Arts Center, Saturday, Oct. 3:
Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin. (Credit: Elizabeth Leitzell)
Since 2024, alto saxophonist, composer and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin has amassed six Grammy Award nominations. They are for Best Jazz Performance (thrice), Best Jazz Instrumental Album (twice) and Best Instrumental Composition. (Of note to local jazz lovers, Benjamin was co-nominated for Best Jazz Performance in 2025 with Jeff “Tain” Waits, who played a show at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts in June.)
With a sound spanning jazz, funk and R&B, Benjamin released her sixth album in June. Collaborators include Terence Blanchard, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Bilal, Tarriona “Tank” Ball and the aforementioned Waits.
She’s also worked with artists including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Missy Elliott, Anita Baker, Gregory Porter, Kool & the Gang and The Roots.
Bryson Tiller with Majid Jordan, Ty Dolla $ign and Austin Millz at the FedExForum, Tuesday, Oct. 6:
Bryson Tiller performs at the Wireless Music Festival in Finsbury Park, London, Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Louisville, Kentucky, singer Bryson Tiller took off wiith his 2015 multi-platinum single “Don’t.”
Tiller, who dubs his style “trapsoul,” is Grammy Award-nominated and released his latest album in late 2025.
Majid Al Maskati, left, and Jordan Ullman of Majid Jordan perform at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Indio, Calif. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Toronto R&B duo Majid Jordan (Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman) is known for being featuring on Drake’s hit song, “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” The group released a new album in late 2026.
Ty Dolla Sign performs with Young Thug during the first weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Indio, Calif. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Los Angeles’ Ty Dolla $ign (Tyrone William Griffin Jr.) has seven Grammy nominations. The multi-platinum singer, songwriter and producer is frequently featured on (hit) songs, including Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hot Girl Summer,” SZA’s “Hit Different,” “WusYaName” by Tyler, the Creator and “Psycho” by Post Malone.
Austin Millz arrives at the live episode of the 10th anniversary of "Hot Ones" on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, at Avalon Hollywood & Bardot in Los Angeles. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Austin Millz (Austin Christopher Miller) is a Harlem, New York, dance DJ and producer.
Hayley Williams with Magdalena Bay and Rico Nasty at BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove, Monday, Oct. 12:
Hayley Williams performs during Remi Wolf's Insanely Fire 1970s Pool Party Superjam on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Hayley Williams is the three-time Grammy-Award-winning frontwoman of the rock band Paramore. She released her third solo album in late 2025, but this is her first solo tour.
From previous reports, we have learned that Williams has performed the B.O.B. song “Airplanes,” which she’s featured on, for the first time in 16 years. (It was released in 2010).
She performed the song on tour with opener Rico Nasty.
Rico Nasty arrives at the premiere of "The Drama" on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Rapper, singer and actor Rico Nasty (Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly) released her latest album in 2026. She’s known for songs including “Smack a B-----” and “Rage,” and for fusing punk, trap and pop.
Mica Tenenbaum of Magdalena Bay performs on day four of the Lollapalooza Music Festival on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
The tour also includes opener Magdalena Bay, the synth-pop duo composed of couple Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin. The group released its latest album in 2024.
Brittney Spencer at Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center, Saturday, Oct. 17:
Brittney Spencer arrives at the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (LM Otero/AP)
Country singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer is from Baltimore, Maryland.
She released her debut album (and the deluxe version) in 2024. She’s toured with artists including Jason Isbell, The Highwomen, Willie Nelson, Reba, Bob Weir, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Marcus King and Grace Potter and played festivals including CMA Fest, Railbird, Stagecoach, Austin City Limits and Essence Fest.
Spencer was featured on Beyoncé’s cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” on the album “Cowboy Carter.”
MDR Showcase featuring visuals by the Memphis Chroma Collective at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, Saturday, Oct. 17:
Memphis band Missed Dunks at Summer League. (Kendra Petersen-Kamp)
Local label Machine Duplication Recordings will feature acts on its roster: General Labor and Missed Dunks at Summer League and musician Carrry Ripple (Carter Earheart-Brown) at this showcase.
As they perform, they’ll be accompanied by live visuals from the Memphis Chroma Collective. The members include Infinity Stairs, Kid Maestro, Whimsyhaus and Handicrafts.
Cash Money and No Limit Tour at FedExForum, Saturday, Oct. 24:
Master P performs a medley at the BET Awards on June 25, 2023, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Mark Terrill/AP file)
Leaders and stars of the two New Orleans hip-hop labels that peaked in the mid-to-late 1990s are on their first joint tour. The Cash Money Records and No Limit Records tour is set to feature Master P, Birdman, Juvenile, Silkk the Shocker, Mannie Fresh, B.G., Mia X, Choppa Style, Mac, Mercedes, Fiend and Mr. Serv-On.
(Do you remember the radio versions of the No Limit songs with the sound effects? One of my favorite random remembrances.)
The tour also features Baton Rouge, Louisiana, rapper Boosie (Torence Ivy Hatch Jr.).
Morris Day and the Time and The S.O.S. Band at the Orpheum Theatre, Sunday, Oct. 25:
Morris Day of Morris Day and the Time performs during the second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Minneapolis funk and R&B band Morris Day and the Time were closely associated with Prince, with former members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis going on to a formidable career as a producer duo.
Morris Day and the Time had many hits, including “Cool,” “777-9311,” “Jerk Out” and “The Bird.”
(I hope that when you read the previous sentence, you sang “777-9311” in your head and did the dance for “The Bird,” as seen in the 1984 Prince film “Purple Rain.”)
Atlanta R&B and funk group The S.O.S. Band’s hits include “Take Your Time,” “Just Be Good to Me,” “Tell Me If You Still Care,” and “The Finest.”
(I also hope you hummed at least one of these when you read the title.)
Buddy Guy at Graceland Soundstage, Monday, Oct. 26:
Buddy Guy performs on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago. (Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)
Younger fans may have been introduced to Chicago blues singer and guitarist George “Buddy” Guy via Ryan Coogler’s 2025 film “Sinners,” or by way of his daughter, rapper Shawnna.
Buddy Guy turned 90 this year; he released his debut album in 1967.
In 2005, B.B. King and Eric Clapton inducted him into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, The Recording Academy honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Guy has nine Grammy Awards. He released a live album with Junior Wells — “New York City Blues - Live 1978” — in 2026; he released his latest studio album — “Ain’t Done With The Blues — in 2025. (It features Clarkdale’s own Christone “Kingfish” Ingram.)