For anyone who was fortunate enough to see British folk-pop band Mumford & Sons play at Off Broadway last year, their second pass through town was also an adrenaline-inducing performance, but on a grander scale. The Grammy-nominated group played to a packed and demographically more diverse audience this go-round at the Pageant.

Before strumming their first note, Mumford and Sons, acknowledged their appreciation of St Louis and made a special mention that it wasn't too long ago that they were playing Off Broadway, and that the fine folks of St Louis welcomed them with open arms.

Last weekend marked my fourth journey to Memphis for the annual Beale Street Music Festival. After severe weather last year canceled nearly half of the scheduled acts, and on the heels of last week's violent storms across the South, we went prepared for anything.