Here are some previews of the 37th edition of Porretta Soul Festival (July 24-27, 2025). In 2025, it will be 60 years since May 11, 1965, when Wilson Pickett flew to Memphis from New York and entered Stax for the first time for a session that produced “In The Midnight Hour,” which in a few weeks became #1 on the Billboard R&B chart. The Stax house band included Booker T. & The MGs and The Memphis Horns. The song became a soul music standard and Memphis launched Pickett into an incredible career.

On December 20, 1965, Pickett returned to Memphis to record other songs that have become classics such as “Don’t Fight IT,” “Ninethy-Nine and A Half (Won’t Do)” and “634-5789.” Wilson Pickett entered the Memphis Music Hall Of fame in 2024 and the Foundation house band with front man Jerome Chism paid him a fitting tribute. We will repeat this tribute in Porretta.

The Memphis Music Hall Of Fame Band (12 piece band) directed by Kurt Clayton will be the house band with guests Jerome Chism (Tribute To Wilson Pickett), Jonté Mayon, Lil Rounds, Carlos Strong.

The first night of the Porretta Soul Festival, on July 24th will open with the “blues-rap” of Al Kapeezy aka Al Kapone, a veteran of the “gangsta rap” scene in Memphis. In 2005, the film Hustle & Flow took his career to a new level when three songs he wrote became key tracks on the film’s soundtrack. Songs like Rufus Thomas’ “The Breakdown” and other Stax classics will be covered by Al Kapone.

James Carr’s son, Vincent Carr will pay tribute to his father.

Andrew Strong and Dublin Soul (from The Commitments), Captain Jack Watson, John Németh, The Blackburn Brothers and many others will round out the cast.

Tickets on sale late January.