Local music exhibition "The Tempe Sound" opens Friday with awesome free concert

Doors open at 5 p.m. this Friday for The Tempe Sound, the Tempe History’s Museum’s new local music exhibition.  

More than 2,500 square feet of exhibition space in the Tempe History Museum and 25 concerts, lectures and gallery openings will tell the story of music in Tempe, from the early days of Waylon Jennings and Chapito Chavarria to more current bands such as JFA, the Pistoleros and The Meat Puppets. 

The venues where local music played, such as The Sail Inn, Long Wong’s and the Sun Club, are also honored. The museum has created a replica of the Long Wong’s stage and has memorabilia from many of Tempe’s great clubs.

This exhibition would not have been possible without the Tempe music community. Nearly everything on display is on loan or was donated by Tempe’s music fans, bands and venues. They will be honored on opening night.  

No music exhibition would be complete without an opening night concert. The Friday Night Line-Up includes: 

5 p.m.: Tempe Police Pipe Band Rocks Out 
5:15 p.m.:  Opening Remarks by Museum Staff and Tempe City Council
5:30 p.m.: Group Photo honoring everyone who contributed items for the exhibition
6 p.m. Hans Olson
6:45 p.m.: Prophet and the Cowboys of the Apocalypse – acoustic set 
7:15 p.m. Dead Hot Workshop 

Shows at Tempe History Museum are family-friendly. This concert is outdoors. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the fabulous fall weather. Performances at the Museum sponsor Papa Murphy’s will sell pizza and drinks. Restore Arts will raffle off a guitar signed by Flogging Molly.Tempe Center for the Arts will have information about its local music programs on hand. While you are there, don’t forget to buy your Tempe Sound T-shirt with the names of all the bands and venues in the exhibition on the back.  Proceeds benefit programs at the museum. 

Artist Deon Doughty will open his AZ Rock Star Gold Series, too. Meet the artist and see the beautiful faces of Walt Richardson and others, including members of The Sugar Thieves, What Laura Says and Japhy’s Descent in Doughty’s paintings on display in the Community Room.

Admission is free for the Tempe History Museum and the opening night festivities. The museum is  located at 809 W. Southern Avenue, just west of Rural Road next to the Tempe Public Library. 

The exhibition runs through October 2015.