The 2020 Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee has been postponed due to growing concerns surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic.
“After closely monitoring guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and local health officials, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have been instructed by authorities with the City of Memphis that our 2020 festival events cannot be held as originally scheduled in May,” Memphis in May organizers said in a statement. “With the health and safety of our patrons, performers, volunteers, teams, judges, runners and staff as our top priorities, we are working on a fall postponement of the Beale Street Music Festival.”
The statement continued, “As these are unprecedented times for all of us, Memphis in May encourages all of our fans, supporters and volunteers to stay safe and continue to follow the recommendations of health officials; from frequent hand washing and sanitizing, to working from home if possible and social distancing as much as your situation allows. Let’s pull together to help our neighbors, get through this stronger, and make the time we can enjoy on the other side of this crisis that much sweeter. Stay well!”
Lil Wayne, Three 6 Mafia, DaBaby, Moneybagg Yo, Young Dolph, The Avett Brothers, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Lumineers and more were set to perform this year. The festival was originally set to take place from May 1 to May 3.
The Beale Street Music Festival follows a long list of events that have been cancelled or postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Many Americans are being urged to stay home to help prevent the spread of the virus. Coachella has been postponed until October. SXSW and Pharrell’s Something In The Water festival are postponed until next year. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony has been postponed until further notice.