Nearly three years ago, one of our parents, Zac Ives, created a concert series to benefit the Maria Montessori School. Affectionately called the River Series, the concert series puts on six concerts annually (three in the spring, three in the fall) at the Maria Montessori School Amphitheatre in Harbor Town.
Since it started, the River Series has grown into a beloved and well-attended concert series. Local, regional and national artists have come through, drawing crowds in the hundreds to enjoy live music in an intimate setting on the Wolf River Harbor. Previous artists include Coco Hames, Little Bandit, African Jazz Ensemble, Tobin Sprout, Robyn Hitchcock, and Reigning Sound, among others.
The event is free to concert goers, with a suggested $5 cash donation that is almost unanimously given. In recent years, Wiseacre and Miss Cordelia’s have joined the River Series as partners, selling food and beverages to concertgoers. Its unique outdoor, Sunday-afternoon setup is friendly to families and doesn’t often compete with other events around town.
The local media have come to recognize the event as a top-notch concert series in Memphis. ILoveMemphis Blog blog dubbed it a great “way to see local bands before your bedtime.” A Commercial Appeal writer noted that the Maria Montessori School Amphitheatre in Harbor Town was the “best-sounding venue in Memphis.”
The River Series is a great use of the Maria Montessori School Amphitheatre, which MMS offers as an event venue for local organizations. The space can comfortably seat a couple hundred people and is great for events in the warmer months!
The Spring 2018 River Series has wrapped, but stay tuned this Summer for the announcement of the Fall 2018 lineup! We hope to see you out at the next River Series concert!