12 must-see concerts coming to Memphis in September: Moneybagg Yo, Lil Baby and more

As summer turns to fall, there will be no shortage of musical and comedic entertainment for Memphians to enjoy. September will bring a bevy of big names into the Bluff City and its suburbs.

This will include performances by hot hip-hop acts and standup greats, soul queens and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers, veteran roots bands and Christian pop stars alike.

From free concerts to high dollar shows, from outdoor amphitheaters to arenas, here are a dozen acts worth checking out in September.

Memphis Powerpop Festival, featuring The Baseball Project: Sept. 2, Overton Park Shell

The first weekend of free fall shows at the Overton Park Shell kicks off with a Sept. 2 concert presented by the Memphis Powerpop Festival. The Baseball Project will headline the show. The all-star alt rock group, featuring Peter Buck and Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5/Young Fresh Fellows), Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate) and Linda Pitmon (Filthy Friends, Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3), formed in late 2007 at a party for R.E.M.'s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction when Wynn and McCaughey both confessed a longstanding desire to write and record an entire album of songs that would dig deeper into the national pastime and characters of the game. The band will be playing in support of its latest album (and first in a decade), “Grand Salami Time!” from Omnivore Records. The Sonny Wilsons will open the show. Tickets: Free. For details, go to Overtonparkshell.org.

RiverCity Jazz and Music Festival: Sept. 3, Cannon Center

Downtown’s Cannon Center for the Performing Arts will play host to the RiverCity Jazz and Music Festival on Sept. 3. The lineup will feature performances by Lalah Hathaway, Leela James, saxophonist Paul Taylor and jazz guitarist Adam Hawley in what’s being touted as “the smooth jazz, R&B and neo soul event of the fall.” Tickets: $81-$156; go to Ticketmaster.com.

Lauren Daigle: Sept. 6, FedExForum

Grammy Award-winning Christian singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle will kick off her national Kaleidoscope Tour on Sept. 6 at FedExForum. Daigle — known for hits like “You Say,” “Rescue” and “Look Up Child” — will be supporting her recent self-titled album, which is the first of two planned volumes set for this year that move her into more mainstream pop territory. Tickets: $52-$222; go to Ticketmaster.com.

Southern Heritage Classic Concert with Gladys Knight: Sept. 7, Orpheum

Grammy-winning R&B singer, Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer and soul music legend Gladys Knight will headline the annual Southern Heritage Classic Concert on Sept. 7 at the Orpheum. Knight's six-decade career began in earnest in the 1960s as she scored a variety of hits along with her backing group the Pips (“Every Beat of My Heart,” “Letter Full of Tears,” “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” and “If I Were Your Woman”), before an even more successful 1970s run with “Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye),” “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination,” “Best Thing to Ever Happen to Me” and the chart-topping “Midnight Train to Georgia." In addition to her four Grammy awards, Knight & The Pips were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2004, Knight received a BET “Lifetime Achievement Award,” and in 2022, her contributions as an artist and philanthropist were recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors. Tickets: $81-$114; go to Ticketmaster.com.

Lil Baby: Sept. 7, FedExForum

Platinum and diamond certified hip-hop star Lil Baby will be touring in support of his latest hit album, "It’s Only Me." The Atlanta rapper’s It’s Only Us Tour will come through the Mid-South, stopping at Downtown’s FedExForum on Sept. 7. Lil Baby’s Memphis show will feature support from local stars GloRilla and GLOSS UP, as well as performances by Rylo Rodriguez and Hunxho. Tickets: $49-$276; go to Ticketmaster.com.

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Cheap Trick: Sept. 8, Graceland Soundstage

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers, power pop greats and tireless road warriors Cheap Trick return to the Mid-South. The veteran band — led by singer Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson — will headline a concert at the Graceland Soundstage on Sept. 8 as they mark 50 years together as a band. Tickets: $29.50-$125; go to Gracelandlive.com.

Old 97s: Sept. 13, Minglewood Hall

Texas-rooted alt country greats Old 97s will bring their spirited sound to the stage of Midtown’s Minglewood Hall on Sept. 13 as part of a concert presented by Mempho. The group, led by singer-songwriter Rhett Miller, has been delivering its irresistible twang-pop over the course of 30 years and dozen studio albums. Louisiana-bred, Nashville-based rocker John Holler will open the show. Tickets: $35.90; go to Ticketmaster.com.

City and Colour: Sept. 15, Graceland Soundstage

Popular Canadian indie-rock band City and Colour will come to the King’s estate, playing a Sept. 15 show at the Graceland Soundstage. The project of singer-songwriter-guitarist Dallas Green, City and Colour has released multiple platinum and Juno-winning albums in their native country. Critically acclaimed Kentucky artist Evan Patterson’s band Jaye Jayle will open the show. Tickets: $41; go to Gracelandlive.com.

Goo Goo Dolls: Sept. 20, BankPlus Amphitheater

Pop hitmakers Goo Goo Dolls come to Southaven for a concert at the newly renovated BankPlus Amphitheater. The group, featuring founding members singer/guitarist Johnny Rzeznik and bassist Robby Takac, will bring its “The Big Night Out Tour” to the venue on Sept. 20. Los Angeles indie-pop outfit Fitz and the Tantrums will open. Tickets: $54-$94; go to Ticketmaster.com.

Chris Tucker: Sept. 22, Orpheum

Comedian Chris Tucker is back on the road, doing his first major standup tour in more than a decade. Tucker, who got his start in the early ‘90s as a standup comedian, before moving onto films, is best known for his role in “Friday” and the “Rush Hour” action-comedy film franchise. He recently starred in “Air,” alongside Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Viola Davis. Making his return to the road, Tucker will launch "The Legend Tour" in September and it will make his way to Memphis, playing Downtown’s Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 22. Tickets: $51-$185; go to Ticketmaster.com.

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Jerry Seinfeld: Sept. 29, Orpheum

Jerry Seinfeld is set to visit Memphis for a standup comedy concert Sept. 29 at the Orpheum. The historic Downtown Memphis venue is a familiar stage for the 69-year-old comedian, who also played the Orpheum in 1993, 2002, 2012 and 2015. That first Orpheum show occurred in the midst of the groundbreaking 1989-98 run of "Seinfeld," the innovative NBC situation comedy that remains one of television's most acclaimed and popular programs. Seinfeld also has written books, directed films and continued to pursue his career as a standup comic, which provided a foundation for the "Seinfeld" series. Tickets: $80-$284; go to Ticketmaster.com.

Moneybagg Yo: Sept. 30, FedExForum

Chart-topping Memphis rapper Moneybagg Yo’s Larger Than Life Tour is heading to his hometown. The 23-date run across the U.S. kicked off in August and will culminate in a homecoming show at Downtown Memphis' FedExForum on Sept. 30. Moneybagg recently released a new mixtape, “Hard to Love,” which features collaborations with Future, Lil Durk and fellow Memphian and CMG labelmate GloRilla, among others. A slew of guests are expected to appear at the homecoming show at the Forum, with Finesse2tymes, Sexyy Red and Big Boogie among those confirmed on the bill. Tickets: $62-$294; go to Ticketmaster.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Lil Baby to Moneybagg Yo: 12 must-see September concerts in Memphis