Local gospel greats, along with some of the nation’s most prestigious gospel singers, will headline the 47th annual WLOK Stone Soul Picnic this weekend.
Set for 3 p.m. to 9 p.m on Saturday (September 3) at the Overton Park Shell, 1928 Poplar Ave., the WLOK Stone Soul Picnic is one of the oldest and largest outdoor events in Memphis and the Mid-South, offering musical entertainment and fun for the entire family.Â
Admission is free and open to the public.
The six-hour event will feature gospel performers familiar to WLOK listeners, including The Mellowtones, Uncle Richard’s Puppets, The Spiritual Soldiers, and Charisse’.Â
Other star performers include Annie & the Caldwell Singers, the Melodic Truth, Roney Strong & the Strong Family, Josh Bracy & Power Anointed, Memphis Baptist Ministerial Choir, and the Sensational Wells Brothers.
“Generations have enjoyed WLOK Stone Soul Picnic since it began in 1974, mostly because it’s an event filled with music, fun, and fellowship tied together by the heartfelt and uplifting sounds of pure gospel,” said Art Gilliam, president and chief executive officer of WLOK Radio and the Gilliam Foundation.
Zacardi Cortex, a national gospel artist, will be the show’s headliner.Â
Food truck and entertainment for children will be at the Overton Park Shell throughout the event.
Sponsored by the Gilliam Foundation, where the chief operating officer is Dorrit Gilliam, the WLOK Stone Soul Picnic serves as a tribute to music-loving Memphians and their support for WLOK, which has graced the Memphis radio airwaves for nearly half a century.
WLOK is Memphis’ first Black-owned radio station and the city’s only Black-owned FM radio station.
(WLOK broadcasts a gospel format on AM1340 and FM105. For more information, contact Art Gilliam, 901-527-9565, or wlokradio@aol.com.)