Gonerfest is back for its 23rd edition and the multiday festival — staged by Cooper-Young-based retailer Goner Records — will take place at the WISEACRE Brewing OG location on Broad Avenue from Sept. 24-26, with a free finale at the Overton Park Shell on Sept. 27.
Promising “four days of relentless rocking with more than 30 bands from across the United States and all over the globe,” Gonerfest remains one of the Memphis’ signature music events.
Here’s what to know about the 2026 edition of the festival.
Two decades of rockin' fun
Back in 2005 Goner Records co-owners Zac Ives and Eric Friedl were planning an album release for one of their artists, The King Khan & BBQ Show. They intended to book a small show at the now-defunct Buccaneer Lounge, but so many people asked to play
on the bill, the one-night concert quickly grew into four days of music featuring more than a dozen bands.
The pair dubbed this accidental festival "Gonerfest." 21 years and 22 events later — there were two separate fests in year one — Gonerfest is still going strong.
Over the years, Gonerfest has developed into a niche but signature Memphis event, drawing hundreds of fans from around the world. Musically, the booking has evolved beyond Goner's trash and garage rock roots to take on a mix of styles and performers. It's also gained the support and sponsorship of companies ranging from FedEx to Apple Music while retaining its singular artistic spirit and communal vibe.
After a pandemic pause in 2020 — during which a limited version of the event went on as a streaming-only proposition — Gonerfest returned in 2021 as an in-person event at a new home in Midtown's Railgarten (while also being available as a streaming event, an option that continues).
In 2025 — following the closure of Railgarten — Gonerfest moved to a new home, WISEACRE's OG location at 2783 Broad Ave. in the Binghampton neighborhood, where it will once again be held.
In addition to the ticketed WISEACRE shows, the festival will close out with a free concert event on Sept. 27 at the Overton Park Shell.
Eclectic lineup highlights 23rd edition of Gonerfest
The roster of confirmed acts for Gonerfest 23 is led by Detroit proto-punk legends Death, Dead Moon's legendary bassist Toody Cole and New Mexico garage rock veterans The Drags. In addition, Chicago indie rockers Horsegirl, UK rock band Lotts and Powerpoint, and the international punks Carrion Kids from Mexico City will appear.
Also performing will be a pair of cosmic country acts, Indiana’s Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band and Western Massachusetts' Animal Piss, It's Everywhere. Others set to appear include Memphis acts Ibex Clone (whose new album will come out Nov. 13 from Goner Records), Spoonful and Frank McClellan. Also, Jeffrey Joe Jensen — of Memphis-connected comedy team Earles & Jensen — will be performing a set of music. Jensen will release a new album on Goner in November.
The Gonerfest free show at the Overton Park Shell will feature performances by Welsh guitar master Gwenifer Raymond, Oblivians/Compulsive Gamblers great Jack Oblivian, Memphis experimental rockers Cloudland Canyon and a headlining set by surf/space rockers Man or Astroman?
“What we always try to do with Gonerfest,” says Goner co-owner Ives, “is have a mixture of legacy shows that people may never get to see or never thought they’d see, and also bring in a lot of cool young up-and-coming bands we’re excited about. That’s the goal — to find that balance that people are gonna love.”
Gonerfest passes, single-day tickets still available
Currently, golden passes for Gonerfest — which include admission to all official events — are available for $175. Tickets for the Sept. 24 opening show are $60, and $70 for Sept. 25 and 26. While the Shell show is free, special party deck passes for the concert are also available for $50, which includes food and beer from WISEACRE.
For those who can’t make it in person, Gonerfest will be presenting its annual livestream of the event.
To purchase tickets or for more information, go to Gonerfest.com.
Bob Mehr is the music writer at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at bob.mehr@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Gonerfest returns to Memphis with 30+ bands and a free finale concert
