By: Ezra Wheeler
In many ways, the viability of a city’s live music scene is dependent on its mid-sized venues, which can attract major traveling acts while also providing a home for local artists. With the recent demise of long-standing venues such as Minglewood Hall and the New Daisy Theater, the Hi Tone Cafe has become an even more valuable asset to the city’s live music ecosystem.
After twenty-three years and three different locations, the Hi Tone has evolved over the years, but one important aspect of the venue remains the same: its crucial role as an incubator for both emerging artists and nascent musical scenes. Yes, live music venues exist primarily to provide entertainment to customers, but they also play a vital role in the development and exposure of local unsigned artists. To their credit, the team at the Hi Tone has always excelled at this particular aspect, and it remains a haven for musicians wanting to test out their sound in front of an audience.
Although the ultimate fate of the venue has been in question several times over the past decade, the Hi Tone is back in a new two-story location at 282 N. Cleveland in the Crosstown neighborhood that promises to give the club a new lease on life. Owner Brian “Skinny” McCabe and his team have emerged from the uncertainty wrought by COVID-19 to create a space that is both reminiscent of the previous iterations of the venue, while also introducing some new elements.
The Hi Tone is now split between two distinct levels: a downstairs “small room” and lounge that is 21-and-over, and the “big room” upstairs that will house the majority of the venue’s live shows and which now comes equipped with a full kitchen (an amenity noticeably absent from their previous location).
The venue, which has long been at the epicenter of the city’s rock scene, has also become more accommodating to a wider variety of genres in recent years, particularly Memphis’ hip-hop and R&B community. A clear example of this shift is the weekly Sunday Night Jazz Brunch, which you can read more about here.
So whether you’re a Memphian looking to discover a great new band, a tourist in search of some authentic Memphis music, or an up-and-coming artist looking to hone their skills in front of a friendly audience, the Hi Tone might be just what you’ve been searching for. Just hurry before they change locations again…
You may also be interested in: Top Memphis music venues to check out!
