Fayetteville Free Weekly » Highlights

Highlights

nwaonline — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:11:44 +0000

Jonathan Tyler and The Northern Lights
It’s hard to stand out in the world of rock ‘n roll, but sometimes it happens. Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights are standouts. Although they’re a Texas band, they’re not one of the country-fried Texas bands that regularly plow through NWA. The music’s something you’d expect from heavy-handed singer-songwriters. It’s full of rock, some occasional funk and some nice swingin’-and-swayin’ ballads. And, Tyler has a voice supreme. The band enhanced their sound with a big full blown production that included horns and chorus on their debut album “Hot Trottin’” The album was produced by Chris Bell who has worked with the likes Erykah Badu and The Eagles. In fact, Eagles fans will like this band. This is a new band, hot out of the gate. It’s a band to watch. Catch them Friday night at George’s on Dickson Street.

moe.
Prog jam rockers, moe. will play George’s on Saturday night. The show has been moved from the Arkansas Music Pavilion. Also on the bill are string masters, the Del McCoury Band. moe. has played Radio City Music Hall on New Year’s Eve for the past two years and at festivals like Lollapalooza and Vegoose. They’re a band with personality and their music is clever and melodic.

Jazz at its best
Friday night the KUAF Summer Jazz Concert Series will showcase NWA’s best jazz composers and arrangers at the Composer’s Showcase at 8 p.m. at the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Concert Hall.
The show will open with two originals from upright bassist and veteran Bay Area musician, Walter Savage, who now calls NWA home. Savage will be joined by Al Gibson on trumpet, Ben Harris on guitar, and Darren Novotny on drums.
The remainder of the first set will feature the Fayetteville Little Big Band, a nonet performing an all original program with lush arrangements for five horns plus rhythm section The rhythm section will be: Claudia Burson, piano; Ben Harris, guitar; Jim Greeson, bass; and Darren Novotny, drums and percussion. The five-piece horn section will feature Gerry Sloan, trombone; Rick Salonen, baritone sax; C.J. Weatherford, tenor sax; Nathan McLeod, alto sax; and Al Gibson, trumpet. Original compositions by six of the nine band members make up the eclectic stew.
The second set will open with former Fayetteville native and UA graduate, Adam Collins, who has been pursuing his musical muse in Colorado. He will return to Fayetteville to present a cameo performance on vibes and marimba. The Fayetteville Little Big Band will then take the stage once again to explore the musical possibilities for nine musicians.
This is always one of the favorite concerts of the summer showcase and each year offers music lovers the rare opportunity to hear original jazz compositions, some for the first time.
Advance tickets are $12 general and are available at www.digjazz.com. Tickets at the door are $15 general. Reduced ticket prices for students and NAJS members. For information call 225-2306.

New Play Showcase
A breathe of cool fresh air blows through NWA every summer when the Boars Head Players stage their New Play Showcase. This weekend Clinnesha Dillion’s play “How to Get the Mango (when the lizard’s in the way)” will mount today, Friday Saturday and Sunday at the Walton Art Center’s Baum Studios.
Set in Louisiana, the play is about a woman who has supernatural powers who tries to normalize her life by escaping to the world of academia.
The play is directed by Kate Frank. The cast includes Christy Hall, Justin Cunningham, Aisha Okoroafor, Laura Harrell, Aspen Knight, Francis Humphreys, Liam Selvey and Ali Guthrie.
“The Man Without A Country” by Larry Mitchell, will premiere on July 31 and will run through Aug. 3 at Baum Studios. Directed by Jae-Hyeong Sim, the play is based on a short story by Edward Everett Hale.
Although the story is fiction, some of the characters have familiar names. The play follows Army Lt. Phillip Nolan who gets mixed up with Aaron Burr and ends up on trial for his life. Feeling betrayed, the 19 year-old Nolan makes a mistake that will haunt him for the next 55 years.
The acting company is: Will Grayson, Jacquelyne Jones, Asa Tims, Bristi Higgins, Derek Kolluri, Sarah Schultz, Morgan Ayres, Allison Redding and Caden Worley.
Tickets are $14 general with reduced prices for students and seniors. For reservations call 575-4752.

Highlights

nwaonline — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:13:14 +0000

Blues in the Natural State
The seventh annual Blues in the Natural State Festival will provide hours of fun and entertainment this Saturday and even a guitar workshop. The festival kicks off at 4 p.m. with an all-ages blues guitar workshop with Isayah Warford.
Headlining the festival this year is the “Arkansas Quadruple Threat” Michael Burks, Jimmy Thackery and Earl Cate with John Davies, R.J. Mischo and Terry Cagle and Oreo Blue with Brian Crowne.
Burks’ latest album, “Iron Man” features 12 songs, seven of them written by the Arkansas native. Burks is a true blues man, who knows how to handle a guitar and put out the kind of music that will make music history.
Starting off the music will be Isayah Warford’s All Stars at 4 p.m. followed by Delta bluesman John Horton. Revving things up will be an a cappella gospel procession led by those who know how to pipe it out—Ocie Fisher, Daryl Brooks, Liz Lottmann, Pamela Nelson, Gib Ponder and Jules Taylor. Blues fans will second line with the gospel singers following them outside to the Beer Garden Stage.
Blues in the Natural State is a fundraiser for the Ozark Blues Society, which provides support for Blues in the Schools educational programs. As usual, an autographed guitar will be given away during the festival. This year’s guitar was signed by Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Tommy Castro, Deanna Bogart, Ronny Baker Brooks, Magic Dick, Homemade Jamz Band and the 2007 Blues in the Natural State Festival performers.
Tickets are $5 at the door for the guitar workshop, $12 in advance for the workshop and performances and $15 day of show. Tables can be reserved by calling 527-6618. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.georgesmajesticlounge.com.

Indoor Stage
4 p.m. All ages guitar workshop with Isayah Warford
5 p.m. Isayah Warford’s All Stars
6 p.m. John Horton
7 p.m. Gospel procession featuring Ocie Fisher, Daryl Brooks, Liz Lottmann, Pamela Nelson, Gib Ponder and Jules Taylor

Beer Garden Stage
7:15 p.m. Kory Montgomery
8:15 p.m. Oreo Blue
9:30 p.m. Jimmy Thackery/Earl Cate Band
10:45 p.m. Michael Burks
Thrills and Spills
The 11th annual Eureka Springs Fat Tire Festival, the largest event of its kind in the central United States, lands in Eureka Springs on Friday for three jam packed days of boys and girls showing off their skills on mountain bikes. And really, what’s a better place for this than the steep hills of Eureka Springs? The event will include both competitive and non-competitive cycling events. All races and “fun” rides are free to spectators.
Competitive Cross-country (XC), Downhill and Short Track races are scheduled, as well as Observed Trials. Non-competitive events include a Trimble Ranch Ride, two children’s Fun Rides and two Black Bass Back Street Fun Rides.
Last year’s event drew over 1,000 participants and spectators from all over the country. This year’s festival will be “fatter” than ever according to event organizer David Renko.
“Word keeps spreading about what a fantastic place Eureka Springs is for mountain biking. And with $5,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, we expect ‘Fatty’’08 to be our biggest yet,” Renko said.
The event’s name is derived from the size of tires required for traversing the challenging mountainous terrain. Pre-registration for all events is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Harmon Park. Entry fees for participants range from $15 to $35.
Kicking off Fatty ’08 will be the non-competitive Black Bass Back Street Fun Ride kicks at noon Friday at Harmon Park. Casual riders can experience the seldom seen scenic, tree-lined back roads. Downhill practice and XC course pre-rides will follow that afternoon. The first competition, the Phat Tire Short Track race, will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at Harmon Park. Saturday’s competitive races are the Downhill at Lake Leatherwood Park at 9 a.m. and the Super Fat Trials at Harmon Park at 2 p.m.
Two non-competitive rides are also set for Saturday. The Children’s Fun Ride at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lake Leatherwood. At noon a guided ride on one of the newest “Fat” single track courses in Northwest Arkansas will be at Trimble Ranch in Berryville, east of Eureka Springs.
Sunday’s highlight is the crowd-pleasing, “photo-op”-filled XC Race to the Lake. That event begins at 9 a.m. at Basin Spring Park in downtown and concludes at Lake Leatherwood Park. A Children’s Fun Ride, hospitality tent and awards ceremony will follow at Lake Leatherwood.
For information (479) 422-7654 or visit www.fattirefestival.com.

Highlights

nwaonline — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:51:32 +0000

Dreadful Objects and other art
The ddp gallery will hold an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight for artists Shane Richey and Jason Clinton Barnes, whose “Dreadful Objects” exhibit is showing at the gallery through Aug. 9.
The show features works on paper and video by the two recent University of Arkansas masters of arts grads.
Both artists work in the medium of ideas, pushing the boundaries of the artist/viewer relationship while confronting the notion of fact.
Barnes’ analytical eye coupled with Richey’s pithy sense of delivery provides a startling showcase.
Barnes’ drawings—the largest is 8 feet by 8 feet—convey his struggle with American history as presented in textbooks. In his work, he combines American heroes with pop culture icons in a graphic retelling of the quest for the American dream.
Richey uses TVs, looped video feeds and sound to convey his belief that modern day communication, especially journalism, is influenced by agendas and advertising dollars. Some of the work is inappropriate for children.
ddp gallery is at 7 East Mountain St., between Fayetteville’s historic Downtown Square and North College Avenue.
Tuesday night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. there will be an opening reception at the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale, for artists La Donna Shub and Basil Seymour-Davies.
Shub, who is also a graphic designer, is showing her watercolors in a collection called “Between Here and There.” The work combines images and symbols using numbers, words and shapes.
Seymour-Davies’ series “Connections” travels deep into the psyche. He lays portrait images on irrelevant backgrounds that disassociates the two, compelling the viewer to stop and ponder the conjunction.

At the AMP
The AMP aka the Arkansas Music Pavalion, at the southwest corner of the Northwest Arkansas Mall parking lot, will be rocking with music this week when three big acts come to town.
Tonight will be Cross Canadian Ragweed with special guests Jason Isbell of Drive By Truckers and Stoney LaRue. Ween will drop in on Friday night and Pat Benatar on Saturday night.
The new “locals stage” in the lawn area of the AMP will showcase Wille Straddlin tonight, A Good Fight on Friday night and Lauren DeMiranda on Saturday night. These shows are prior to the headliners.
Gates open at 6 p.m. and headline concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to Cross Canadian Ragweed and Ween are $25 each. Tickets to Pat Benatar are $32 to $65. Go to arkansasmusicpavilion.com to purchase.

Big time young folk
Each year, the national radio program, Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” holds the “People in Their Twenties Talent” competition. This year, our friends from Newton County, Pat Villines and Mattie Speece took second place honors. Capturing the first place title were the Honey Dewdrops (Kagey Parrish and Laura Wortman) from Scottville, Va. Out of more than 1,000 entrants, the kids from the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Ozark Mountains won out. While competing for the prize in Minnesota, Pat and Mattie and the Honey Dewdrops became friends and as a result, the Honey Dewdrops are coming to NWA for the first time. They will be performing a series of shows with Pat and Mattie. You can hear them in the venue of your choice over the next week or so.
Friday night, they’ll be playing a laidback house concert show at GoodFolk, followed by shows at George’s Majestic Lounge on Tuesday night and at the Green Door with Skinny Squinty on Wednesday night.
If you’d like to head into Buffalo River territory in the heart of the Ozarks, the two groups will be playing at the Arkansas House in Jasper, July 17-18. And if you become smitten by these talented young folks, you can follow them to Virginia in August, when Pat and Mattie will be playing there in the the Honey Dewdrops home territory.

Highlights

nwaonline — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:46:03 +0000

Stars in the park
The Sugar Creek Astronomical Society will present an astronomy program and provide high-powered telescopes for visitors to gaze at night sky at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Hobbs State Park’s Hidden Diversity Trail parking lot on Townsend Ridge Road.
Viewers should see Mars setting in the west, with Saturn trailing. Saturn’s and some of Saturn’s moons should be visible and Jupiter will be rising in the east as the “evening star.”
This is the season when globular clusters of hundreds and even thousands of tightly packed stars can be seen.
Astronomical Society members will answer questions regarding night viewing equipment as well as about the planets and stars. Individuals are encouraged to bring their own telescopes. Binoculars are also excellent for amateur night sky viewing.
The program is designed for beginning astronomers and all ages are welcome.
Bring a flashlight with red material or an uninflated red balloon affixed over the globe, a folding chair and a star chart, if you have one.
To get there take Arkansas-12 from the Second Street intersection in Rogers and travel east for approximately 12.5 miles to Townsend Ridge Road. Turn right onto Townsend Ridge Road and go two miles to the Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail parking lot, which will be on the right. Driving time from the Arkansas-12 and Second Street intersection in Rogers is approximately 20 minutes.
The program will go on even if the sky is partially overcast, however rain will cancel. For information call 789-2380.

Red
Grammy nominated modern rock quintet, Red, will be in town Sunday night for a show at The Music Hall.
The Nashville-based band’s 2006 debut, “End of Silence,” is a maelstrom of metallic riffs and brooding atmospherics that includes the hit, “Breathe Into Me.”
Three of the band members got together in their small hometown in western Pennsylvania. When they came home from college in 2001, the trio headed to Nashville to pursue their musical dream. There they teamed up with the other two band members after discovering a common ground.
After getting together, the band locked themselves into the studio for the next two years, first working on fine tuning their sound and later teaming with producer Rob Graves to develop an orchestral sound.
The band is: Guitarist Jasen Rauch, twin brothers Anthony Armstrong on guitar and Randy Armstrong on bass, singer Mike Barnes and drummer Hayden Lamb.
Also on the bill are three heavy hitters from our town: the internationally revered Spoken, Silverstone, which is hitting it big on the nation tour circuit and up-and-comers Open Addiction.
The Music Hall is at 2147 N. College in Fayetteville. It’s one of those big shows in a little venue, that’s hard to find anywhere else but Fayetteville.

RTX
RTX, is coming to Fayetteville the day after their album RaTX debuts. The new album on the Drag City label out of Chicago, fosters a mix of psychedelia and a bombastic wall of metal. Yep, it’s something you’ve probably never heard before. The California band is fronted by Jennifer Herreman, formerly of Royal Trux. RTX will play the underground house concert series at The New Deli, 503 W. Prospect Ave. in Fayetteville. Sharing the bill will be Imaad Wasif, Two Part Beast, the counterlife and Anchors and Teeth. On July 7, The New Deli will host French Quarter, Trifle Tower and Teenage Cool Kids.

Woody Fest
Lots of NWA folks have become regulars at the free festival that honors the late Woody Guthrie in his hometown of Okemah, Okla. This year the festival opens on July 10, with the only ticketed event, a concert with County Joe McDonald. All of the other musical performances during the four-day festival are free, to honor Guthrie’s philosophy. The music goes from morning to late night, some at indoor venues, but with the biggest array of performers on outdoor stage at the Pastures of Plenty. Among the performers are: John Gorka, Judy Collins, David and Adam Amram, Jimmy LaFave, Ellis Paul and Joel Rafael. For information go to www.woodyguthrie.com. Kids, yes. Dogs, no.

HIGHLIGHTS

nwaonline — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:05:54 +0000

Plus: Petrella and Apollos Creed
Opera in the Ozarks
Arriving at Inspiration Point, the home of Opera in the Ozarks, is at first unimpressive. It’s plain. The buildings are insignificant and there are no slick banners, billboards, lights or hoopla announcing the high-caliber talent. But, slowly as the evening unwraps, you realize that you’re holding a ticket for one of Arkansas’s, if not the country’s, best-kept secrets. Although, the humid Arkansas night is definitely a player and if you came without a cushion or chair back, you’ll wish you had. But then it hits you. This is not plain. The deep valley and miles of mountains behind the amphitheater stage, the talented performers in their exquisite costumes, all combine to deliver a night to remember, whether or not you are an opera fan. Those who have stayed away because they “don’t understand the language,” soon feel comfortable as the English subtitles are projected on a screen so that the story can be followed. Program guides offer a synopsis of the operas and biographies of the performers.
Since 1950, performers from around the world have come to Inspiration Point west of Eureka Springs for summer residencies. This year 43 performers will showcase their talent in three productions: Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” and Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte.”
Performances dates are: “Cosi Fan Tutte,” June 26, 29, July 3, 6, 10, 16. “The Mikado: June 27, July 5, 9, 11, 17, with a performance on July 30 at Arend Arts Center in Bentonville. “La Boheme,” June 28, July 2, 8, 15, 18, with a performance on July 12 at Arend Arts Center.
“Famous Opera Scenes” will be performed on July 7 and there will be a chamber music concert on July 14.
Inspiration Point is located at 16311 Hwy. 62 West. All shows are at 8 p.m. and all seats are reserved. Tickets are $15-$20 and can be purchased by calling 479-253-8595 or visiting www.opera.org.
Rodeo
If opera’s not your thing, how ‘bout some rodeo? The 64th annual Rodeo of the Ozarks opens Tuesday and runs nightly through July 4 at Parsons Stadium in Springdale. The PRCA and WRPA event is part of the Wrangler Pro Rodeo Tour, which means that some of the best competitors in the nation will be coming to NWA. Five hundred cowboys and cowgirls will compete in seven events. Special guests will be the women’s drill team, The Rounders.
New this year are country music concerts after the rodeo with Confederate Railroad on Tuesday, Sarah Johns on Wednesday, John Anderson on July 3 and Highway 101 on July 4.
On July 5, the Profession Bull Riders will take over the stadium for Buckin’ in the Ozarks.
There will be two rodeo parades, one at 3 p.m. on Tuesday and the other at 10 a.m. on July 4. The parades will begin at the stadium and travel through downtown on Emma Avenue.
Gates to the rodeo open at 6 p.m. with the Grand Entry parade at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information go to www.rodeooftheozarks.org.
Petrella
Jammin Java on the Town Center Plaza on the Fayetteville Square will host country soul singer Petrella for two shows this week. The Hot Springs based singer and songwriter will play a 4 p.m. happy hour show on Friday, followed by a 9 a.m. show Saturday morning during the Fayetteville Farmers Market. Petrella has appeared at the Country Music Fest and on Ernest Tubb’s Midnight Jamboree in Nashville. She received the Producer’s Choice Award at the King Eagle Awards Show and in April, her single “I Want to Know You Forever” from her sixth album, “100 Proof Woman,” was ranked number 15 on Billboard’s “Hot Singles Sales” chart.
Apollos Creed
Check out the up-and-coming NWA band Apollos Creed Friday night at The OPO at the Urban Table on the Fayetteville Square. The five-piece group that got together four years ago has been sharing stages around town for a while now, and will be releasing their first album this year. The band puts out an impressive mix of sometimes moody, sometimes upbeat pop. The musicianship is first rate. Band members are Daniel Nouguier on guitar and vocals, David Harrison and Patrick Moss on guitars, Josh Garrett on bass and Justin Danner on drums. Show starts at 10 p.m. $5 cover.

Highlights

nwaonline — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:41:18 +0000

999 Eyes Vaudevillian Freakshow
The sword swallower was driving the van from the woefully flooded Iowa City last Friday, while his passenger, Laurent the clown, talked to the Free Weekly by phone. The two were headed to Minneapolis, along with 11 other members of 999 Eyes Vaudevillian Freakshow for a show.
“They were happy to get us after throwing sandbags all day,” said Laurent, referring to the Iowa City audience, where the group performed on Thursday night.
After the Minneapolis show and several other stops on their three week Midwestern tour, 999 Eyes would play Arkansas for the first time ever.
“We really wanted to play Eureka Springs,” Laurent said.
The troupe will head north to Eureka Springs after shows in Hot Springs and Little Rock, before heading south to their home-base in Austin, Tex. The “unpolitically correct” sideshow will play Chelsea’s in Eureka Springs on Wednesday night.
The 999 Eyes began getting national and international attention last year after performances on the Jay Leno Show and on National Geographic’s “Taboo.”
“We’ve reinvented the freak show,” Laurent said. “We’re the only authentic human oddities freak show in the world. Some of the performers were born different that you and me. They are different than most.”
Rather than eschewing their heritage, the freaks of 999 Eyes have chosen to share and exploit their genetic anomaly through performance, subscribing to the theory that abnormality is something to be celebrated, not abominated.
“They are amazing performers,” Laurent said, speaking of the five freaks in the show.
The show is staged as a circus midway, complete with hand-painted sideshow banners and a six-piece band that plays eastern European gypsy music with the requisite accordion and banjo.
The Chelsea’s show will start at 8 p.m. Ticket prices had not been established as the Free Weekly went to press, but we were told that the cost would be very reasonable. Call Chelsea’s at 253-6723 for details.

Music
This is one of those weeks when it’s easy to realize what a diverse live music scene in happening in NWA—everything from jazz, blues, indie, bluegrass, metal and great singer songwriters.
Tonight, Austin, Tex. folk duo, Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus will be playing Arsaga’s Crossover along with NAMA winners Effron White and Justin Brasher.
The curious may want to head to Eureka Springs tonight to catch Tommy Ramone—former drummer for punk trailblazers the Ramones—who now sings and plays guitar, dobro, banjo and mandolin in the bluegrass duo, Uncle Monk, with Claudia Tienan. Uncle Monk will play the Gavioli at 80 Mountain St. Doors at 6:30 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 by calling 888-855-7823.
Sunday night at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks. The Firefly Festival sounds like lots of fun. There will be music by David’s Pegasus, Memphis Pencils, Cletus Got Shot, Adam Posnak, Beat Bachs and Luminfire, which are all fantastic local players, several have been featured performers at NAMA. But that’s not all. There will be film installations, giant puppets, break dancers, belly dancers, jugglers, fire spinners and fairies. A family-friendly event that runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $6 or $20 for families.
Paul Boatright will be playing and hosting his Wednesday night gig at the Green Door this week with guests Mark Bilyeu (Big Smith) and Pat Villines and Mattie Speece, the husband a wife duo from Newton County who made it to Prairie Home Companion this year. Show at 8 p.m. Tickets $5.
Boatright is also on board along with The Good Fear, The Majesty and a crew of other local performers for the Wade Ogle CD release party June 26 at the Dickson Theater. This is Ogle’s first release in seven years and it is impressive.

More fun
The international collegiate solar powered boat competition is underway at Lake Fayetteville and runs through Sunday. Teams for all over the world will be competing for top prizes in Solar Splash 2008. The boats are built by the competing teams and time trials will be happening through the daylight hours. Viewing is free.
If you’re looking for a way to enjoy the air conditioning and have some laughs, you can get both at the Boar’s Head Players production of “I Hate Hamlet” at 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the University Theatre on the UA campus. The play follows a TV star who does not relish the role of Hamlet, but he rents an apartment where the pompous and drunkard ghost of John Barrymore also resides. The two battle their way though women, success, art, and of course, the pros and cons of playing Hamlet. For tickets call 575-3946.

Highlights

nwaonline — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:29:31 +0000

Choctaw Bingo and other things James McMurtry wants to tell you about
If James McMurtry hadn’t been baptized in the muddy red waters of Texas, his music would be filed right next to Lou Reed. But McMurtry is Texas. It’s in his blood. His crusty, provoking songs have the same emotion as the words penned by his famous father, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Larry McMurtry.
Back in the late ’80s, the younger McMurtry may have used his father’s connections to help launch his career, but for the past couple of years, he’s earned his place in the sun, although his way of shining is different than most musicians. McMurtry puts more value on words and music than he does on success. After all, who these days would try and make it to the top with songs that pointedly criticize big music seller Wal-Mart, George W. and Dick Cheney? McMurtry may be playing ball outside the big commercial realm, but he’s making it on the charts, anyway.
He likes to ruminate on places and social conditions in a fine-tuned Texas way that’s more similar to The Boss than the wild Texas rowdy many Texas musicians are floating on these days. Backing him up is the very talented duo of Ronnie Johnson on bass and vocals and Darren Hess on drums.
McMurtry’s newest CD, Just Us Kids, was released in April and is a follow-up to the 2005 Childish Things. Childish Things and “We Can’t Make It Here” won the Americana Music Awards for album and song of the year, respectively in 2006
James McMurtry is making the theme music for our times. Although some of his songs broach national issues, others rock on a local level. Listen to Choctaw Bingo and you’ll understand. Not everyone knows about bingo, blue cats and cherry cokes, but we all do.
McMurtry hasn’t always been as good as he is now. Head to George’s on Friday night to check him out. You’ll be glad you did. Expect a crowd.Choctaw Bingo and other things James McMurtry

Deadbird on the fly
Fayetteville heavy metal masters, Deadbird, will be kicking off a national tour tonight at The OPO at Urban Table on the Fayetteville Square. The multiple NAMA nominated band will be rightly primed to push off the release of their latest album, Twilight Ritual with a sonic blast. The band will play cities in the Midwest, Texas and the East Coast, including a night at The Knitting Factory in New York. Deadbird is: the Schaff brothers—Chuck on guitar and vocals and Phillip on drums and vocals; Jay Minish on guitar; and Reid Raley on bass and vocals. Expect a thick wall of sound that will keep you going until they get back home.

Showing off the bloomers
Eureka Springs is showing off her bloomers. The town that has been praised for the historic homes tour at Christmas, has scheduled a garden tour of Victorian gardens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, that promises to rival the wintertime event.
The self-guided tour includes several gardens designed by Glen Wallis, the creative force behind the revitalization of Eureka’s parks in the 1980’s. Along with the gardens, tour guests will be treated to a Victorian home tour, and the chance to see work by local artists, sculptors and craftsmen. DonE Allen and Steven Foster will share gardening tips. Allen is the city gardener and Foster is the author of 15 botanical books. Organizers will be dressed in their finest straw hats and Victorian duds and invite others to dress up, too. Tickets are available for $10 in advance or $15 day of the tour. Proceeds benefit the Eureka Spring Preservation Society Advance tickets are available at the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce (800-6EUREKA) or the Historical Museum (253-9417).

Wingout
Love those wings? Then set your course to the Northwest Arkansas Mall on Saturday, to sample the best wings from area restaurants who will be competing in the fourth annual Wingfest. From 4 to 8 p.m. and for a $5 admission fee, you can munch on wings, enjoy the fun of the wing eating finals and listen to music by Gary and John. The highlight of the day for one lucky person, will be the prize of Harley-Davidson.

Highlights

nwaonline — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:37:15 +0000

Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen at George’s
Texas rockers Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen will be in town Wednesday night for a show at George’s. The two are doing an acoustic tour this summer that they’re calling the Songs and Stories Tour. Expect a laidback night with a living room feel.

Kids’ Day at Farmers Market
The kids looking for something fun to do. Parents are looking for safe and affordable activities. One way to have both while celebrating the bounty of the season is to join the folks at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market for Kids’ Day from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday on the Fayetteville Square. Galen Hart will showoff his juggling antics. Geoff Oelsner will play music and there will be a variety of educational activities ranging from recycling fun with Washington County Solid Waste and Recycling to caterpillar adoption with the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Storyteller, Oda Mulloy will be telling tales and there will be a fire truck and farm tractor for viewing. The Little Mountain Bindery will explain bookmaking. The Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks will have a helmet give-away and the Master Gardeners will share their knowledge of plants. The usual tasty local vegetables, fruit, fresh flowers, plants and Ozark crafts will all be available.

Battle of the Bands Round 2
Northwest Arkansas Battle of the Bands, Round 2 is set for Wednesday night at the new Froggy’s on Dickson Street. Froggy’s is officially opening that night in the old Gypsy location. Round 1 of Battle of the Bands pitted pop groups together. Round 2 will feature metal bands. Competing on Wednesday night will be: Silverstone, Burnt by Design, Pile of Dead Women and Kind. The winner of Round 2 will advance to the grand finale. The grand finale winner will open for a national act arranged by H Bros Entertainment, the NWABB sponsor.

Wine a lot at the Grand Tasting
If you doubt that there are wine lovers in NWA, think again. For almost a decade now, the Walton Arts Center has hosted the “Art of Wine” event as a major fundraiser for it’s programming. The event is one of the most packed events in NWA. Thousands, of folks ante up $70 for one night of the Grand Tasting, which will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. If you’ve never been, expect about 500 or 600 folks each night tasting hundreds of wines poured by wine experts and winemakers from around the country. Six hundred wines from 300 wineries will be poured. This can be a bit overwhelming. Before you go, you might consider making a game plan…say go for a certain kind of wine, try only Chardonnays or Pinots or try only wines from Oregon or France. Heck, go try and taste all 600 if you want, but if you’re a first timer, know that trying to taste even 20 is a fete. And if you’re game, another way to approach it is to pay an extra $45 for entry into the reserve room where the wines with the really big price tags are poured. Oh, and did we mention there will be food from several local restaurants? You will get a wine list and map of where to find the various labels, which will help guide you through the various stations. You’ll be able to rate the wines you taste, so you can look for them next time you shop. Get tickets at the Walton Arts Center box office.

Open Gardens
Four fine sounding garden events are happening this week: The OMNI Peace Garden tour, the Through the Garden Gate Tour and Mozart and Beethoven in the Garden and the Days of Wine and Roses, both at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.

The OMNI tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday features six gardens ranging from a tiny flower-filled downtown front yard, to a bamboo grove garden and a country wildlife habitat. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at any of the gardens. The most convenient garden to downtown is Emily’s Kaitz’s garden at 5 E. Davidson, one block north of Maple, off of College Avenue. For a map and a list of the gardens go to http://peacegardens.blogspot.com.

Also on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Through the Garden Gate tour will feature six gardens. Tickets are $15 and can be bought at any garden. The garden most convenient to downtown is the garden of Janice Ryan at 424 N. Willow Ave. in Fayetteville’s Washington Willow Historic District.

Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks enjoy a free live concert of the music of Mozart and Beethoven. Bring seating.

On June 12 at 6 p.m. at the BGO, will be the Days of Wine and Roses, with live music, wine and appetizers. Tickets are $20. For information on the BGO events call 750-2620.

HIGHLIGHTS

nwaonline — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:36:48 +0000

Eureka Springs Blues Weekend

Blues lovers will be grooving on three days of get-down music this weekend, when Eureka Springs rolls out the red carpet for the Eureka Springs Blues Weekend.

One of the best things about Eureka Springs music festivals, is that almost all of the venues are in walking distance of one another, which means you can park the car and wander from one rockin’ spot to the other. Another great thing about this festival is you can hear some fab music and not spend a dime. Of course, you can also spend some bucks and hear the top shelf headliners.

The big bucks shows take place at The Auditorium tonight and Friday night, with bars and venues around town pulling in a slight cover for some shows. The free music will be in the Basin Park in downtown on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And if there’s one thing to remember, it’s Basin Park 5 o’clock—more about this later.

Tonight’s show at The Auditorium will be blues legend and Grammy winner Koko Taylor and Her Blues Machine. This will be a show to remember. Opening will be the 2008 International Blues Challenge winners and Albert King Award winners Trampled Under Foot.

Friday night at The Auditorium you can hear three outstanding musicians: the respected Rory Block, the powerful Indigenous and West Coast player Phil Berkowitz and his band who will be doing a tribute to Louis Jordan.

Earlier we mentioned 5 o’clock at the Basin Park and now we’ll tell you why. There will be free music in the Basin Park from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and although the stage will be filled all day with some truly fine musicians, we’re picking the 5 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday as the not-to-miss gigs.

On Friday at 5, R.J. Mischo will take the stage at the Basin Park. This fireball player recently moved to NWA from the San Francisco Bay Area and has been gigging with the likes of the Cate Brothers and Jimmy Thackery. If you haven’t heard him yet, here’s your chance.

On Saturday at 5, catch the unknown—but we’re predicting not for long—star talent Anna Horton. The crystal voiced Horton has released a sultry, smooth jazz album with a 100 percent “wow” factor. The arrangements are flawless, thanks to some of the area’s best players backing Horton—Darren Novotny, Clare Starr, Gus Smith and Jerry Yester.

Sunday is also a day to be in Eureka for really great free shows from noon to 4 at the Basin Park with Austin blues singer LZ Love, new dynamo 1 Oz. Jig, Stella Blue & Maddog and Kosmik Debriz. At the local Sunday afternoon hot spots, the impeccable Patrick Sweany Band will be at Chelsea’s and cookin’ acoustic blues player singer and songwriter Rich Berry will be at The Piped Piper.

For tickets and information go to www.eurekaspringsblues.com.

Eureka Springs Blues Weekend
Today
The Auditorium
6 p.m. Koko Taylor, Trampled Under Foot

Chelsea’s
9 p.m. The Ariels

The Pied Piper
7 p.m. & 11 p.m. Rich Berry
8 p.m. Patrick Sweany

Friday
The Auditorium
5 p.m. Rory Block, Louis Jordan Tribute with Phil Berkowitz, Indigenous

Basin Park
Noon: Kariann
1 p.m. Rich Berry
2 p.m. Joe Pitts Band
3 p.m. Michael “Hawkeye” Herman
4 p.m. Delta Highway
5 p.m. RJ Mischo

Basin Park Hotel Ballroom
6 p.m. LZ Love
9:30 p.m. Larry Garner

Chelsea’s
5 p.m. Lil’ Dave Thompson
10 p.m. Patrick Sweany Band

Eureka Live
4 p.m. Local jam
9 p.m. Underground Mafia

Lumberyard Bar and Grill
9 p.m. Joe Giles and The Homewreckers

Jack’s Place
9 p.m. Fatz 59

The Pied Piper
4 p.m. Brian Martin and Rich Berry
8 p.m. Pope County Bootleggers and Delta Highway

Rowdy Beaver
8 p.m. Penelope and The Unusual Suspects

Shawbees
9 p.m. Vance Orange Project

The Tiki Torch
9:30 p.m. Rockin’ Jake

Saturday
Basin Park
10 a.m. Michael “Hawkeye” Herman
11 a.m. Penelope and the Unusual Suspects
Noon Gera and Black & Blues
1 p.m. Adam Raven
2 p.m. Eureka Street Buskers
3 p.m. Jeff Lee
4 p.m. The Ariels
5 p.m. Anna Horton

Basin Park Hotel Ballroom
7 p.m. Deborah Coleman
9:30 p.m. Michael Burks

Basin Park Hotel Ozark Room
6 p.m. LZ Love

Center Street Pub
8 p.m. Penelope and The Unusual Suspects

Chelsea’s
2 p.m. Jug Band
5 p.m. Lil’ Dave Thompson
10 p.m. Patrick Sweany

Eureka Live
4 p.m. Local jam
9 p.m. Underground Mafia

Jack’s Place
9 p.m. Fatz 59

Lumberyard Bar and Grill
3 p.m. Gary Hutchison Duo
9 p.m. Oreo Blue

The Pied Piper
Noon Tablerockers and Spent
4 p.m. Brian Martin and Pope County Bootleggers
8 p.m. Delta Highway and Rich Berry

Rowdy Beaver
8 p.m. Oysters Rockefeller

Shawbees
1 p.m. Full House
9 p.m. Vance Orange Project

The Tiki Torch
3 p.m. Scott Holt
10 p.m. Scott Holt

Sunday
Basin Park
Noon LZ Love
1 p.m. 1 Oz. Jig
2 p.m. Stella Blue & Maddog
3 p.m. Kosmik Debriz

Chelsea’s
2 p.m. Patrick Sweany Band

Eureka Live
Noon Local jam

The Pied Piper
4 p.m. Rich Berry

The Alty Awards
A relatively new awards show that honors local youth actors is happening this weekend. Arts Live Theatre’s, second annual Arts Live Theatre Awards or the ALTYs will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Fayetteville Town Center. The theme of this year’s event is “An Evening With The Stars.” Actors and students who have appeared in Arts Live productions and have participated in Arts Live classes will be recognized for their outstanding contributions. The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Arts Live, Northwest Arkansas’ only dedicated children’s and youth theatre company. Tickets are $10 for 18 and under and $15 for adults and can be reserved by calling 521.4932 or at the door.

Highlights for May 22-29, 2008

nwaonline — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:19:08 +0000

Bang Camero, Claire Holley, hot picks

Bang Camero
Flashback to the time of air guitar and head banging, music when a Camaro, not a Smart Car, was the ride. Flash forward to today, when a band called Bang Camero is bringing back that hard driving sound that sent herds of fans to the clubs of the ‘80s.

If ‘80s rock is your thing, hang on, because Boston’s five piece band, that claims it has up to 20 lead singers, Bang Camaro, will be at George’s on Saturday night to demonstrate why Rolling Stone, Blender and Spin have all given them some ink.

The Boston Phoenix described them as “Headbanger’s Ball meets Polyphonic Spree” and the Boston Music Awards gave them the Outstanding Rock Band and Best Local Song awards.

Bang Camero’s song “Push Push (Lady Lightning)” put the band on the map when it was included in the Guitar Hero II ™ package. They were also tapped to film a segment for American Chopper and the MTV video game Rock Band.

Word on the street is that some local singers will be joining the band for their NWA performance, but we couldn’t confirm who or if it was really happening, so you’ll just have to go to find out.

Claire Holley
The urge to make music hit Claire Holley at a young age when she was growing up in Mississippi. She took a ukulele to church and ruined her dad’s classical guitar by replacing the nylon strings with steel strings while charting her path.

Holley left Mississippi for Chicago and during her college years there began performing at coffeehouses and writing songs. She next moved to North Carolina, where she recorded “Sanctuary,” a collection of traditional hymns and gospel songs in 1999.

Since then, Holley signed with the venerable Yep Roc Records, moved to Los Angeles and added some sweet country rock to her acoustic folk style. Her songs have appeared on TV’s “Men in Trees” and she earned a nomination fro Best Original Music from the LA Weekly music awards.

She has just released a new album, “Hush,” and it’s a good one. Holley is a true, clear-voiced soprano who can hit the high notes without a whine.

Claire Holley will play GoodFolk at 229 N. Block Ave. in Fayetteville on May 29. Call 521-1812 for tickets.

Local picks
There are a couple of noteworthy shows by local musicians happening this week. A relatively new singer songwriter hitting the scene, Brad Hahn, is definitely worth getting out for on Friday night. He’ll be at Arsaga’s on Crossover.

Hahn says his formative years were heavily affected by cattle yards, mobile home explosions, 18-wheelers, frequent moves and Dr Pepper. He left NWA In 2000 for Los Angeles, but came back to NWA and was the front man for the alt-rock Pleasure Seeking Animals. He dropped out to work on his solo career. Hahn’s first solo album, “Two Halves of Nothing” came out in January, and you can pick up at the show. Anyone who names Mark Sandman and Woody Guthrie as major influences, is A-OK in our book.

Also, on Friday night, Max Recording artists The Good Fear will host a CD release party at George’s. This is one of the very best bands coming out of NWA these days. The band is made up of former members of Lucero, All American Rejects, Paper Hearts, Fulton, Woods Afire, The New Amsterdams and others. Putting it all together are: Zach Holland, Tim Campbell, Jason Rich, Bryan Brown, Dustin Bartholomew and Todd Gill. We guarantee you will be impressed if you’re not already a fan. Take money to buy this CD. Also on the bill are more great NWA players: The Odds and Memphis Pencils and Texas country rocker Wade Bowen.

At the Green Door on Wednesday night, singer songwriter Paul Boatright—formerly of Punkinhead (and what is this we hear about a Punkinhead reunion..somebody please tell us!)—will bring in two talented ladies: Singer and saxophonist Opal Fly who’s been ringing bells in Eureka Springs for a while now and the velvet voiced Tiffany Christopher, a recent transplant from Springfield, Mo. These three could be wowing audiences on national stages, so get out and find out what fabulous musical talent is brewing right here in NWA.