Analyzing the Wakarusa lineup
January 23rd, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Fitz and the Tantrums are coming to Wakarusa. The name of the song, “Moneygrabber,” is not a commentary on the band or the festival.
In my rush to get the full Wakarusa lineup online last last week, I didn’t take the time to make sweeping, rash judgments about the quality and quantity of the artists coming this way.
And what’s a blog for if not for making generalizations?
Actually, I did some of that in print edition recently.
Here’s a brief rundown of my thoughts: The festival is very electronica friendly this year, a lot of the bands will be passing through Fayetteville in the months before the festival and the Avetts Brothers are great, because, well, they’re the Avetts, and I’m a big fan.
Read more of my thoughts courtesy of the Listen Here! column, an occasional feature in What’s Up! [Note: Subscriber content].
Some of you have already commented, and I appreciate that. For those who haven’t, what’s your take on this year’s lineup?
Cooking up some country fun: The music of Elizabeth Cook
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:03 am
Look up Elizabeth Cook online and it will tell you she’s a country artist.
That’s true — and she plays at the Grand Ole Opry (one of country music’s oldest establishments) to prove it.
But she’s also a fearless songwriter who is not afraid to talk about family troubles (her father spent time in prison).
Her songs fall beyond traditional country radio stations, but she falls neatly into the category of road-weary nontraditionalists alongside country music past. Or, to say it another way, even with blonde hair and makeup, she’s much more Johnny Cash than Taylor Swift.
Cook, chatting before a gig in Colorado, told me about her place in the country music world in a recent interview. You can read that story here. [Note: Subscriber content.]
Cook is busier than ever, both on the road and off. She’s the host of a show called “Apron Strings” on Sirius XM satellite radio’s Outlaw Country channel and she tells me she is working on acting on voice roles. All this while she continues to tour, like she will when she passes through Arkansas for two gigs: one Wednesday (Jan. 25) at Second Street Live (7:30 p.m., $25) in Fort Smith and Thursday (Jan. 26) at George’s Majestic Lounge (9 p.m, $10) in Fayetteville.
See you at the show.
Bonus — Here’s Cook doing “All The Time”:
Poncho Sanchez and the art of the conga drum
January 20th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band
The Cuban word for conga player is conguera. Start talking about the world’s best congueras and it won’t take long before Poncho Sanchez‘s name comes into the discussion.
The artist has decades of playing the drums and leading bands, and he leads his Latin Jazz Band to the Walton Arts Center for a performance tonight (Jan. 20).
Sanchez chatted with me several weeks ago and discussed his craft and the music of Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo, the two men he credits with inventing his favorite genre. Sanchez recently released a tribute album, “Chano y Dizzy,” featuring songs written by both artists.
A story resulting from my interview can be found via Nwaonline.com. You’ll have to be a subscriber to our print or digital products to see the full interview.
Tonight’s show at the Walton Arts Center begins at 8 p.m. As part of the venue’s 10×10 concert series, tickets begin at $10. Call 443-5600 or visit the venue’s website for tickets or details.
The weekend in music, with Daymoths and more
January 20th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Daymoths
Ah, yes, the weekend. I can think of about 30 ways to celebrate. I don’t have time to get into all of the ways here, but just know you should enjoy yourself if you aren’t working. It’s unseasonably warm, the Razorbacks play a ranked basketball team at home and there are plenty of concerts to see.
Let’s get to the latter, shall we?
Indie rockers Daymoths is the husband and wife pair of Emily Dantuma and Ollie Dodge. They first started performing together in the band Vox Vermillion, then forged ahead as a duo. Daymoths recently released the album “Back in Time.” The group performs Saturday (Jan. 21) at Paradygm Shyft in Fort Smith. The 18-and-up show begins at 8 p.m. The cover charge is $5.
The same evening in Fayetteville, Stoney LaRue returns to a town he’s performed at many times.
The Red Dirt country musician has placed his emphasis on the road, playing about 200 live dates per year and releasing two live albums in the past decade. In August, however, he released just his second studio recording in the past six years, “Velvet,” a Top 15 country album. LaRue will return to the area for a show Saturday at George’s Majestic Lounge. Admission to the 9 p.m show is $15.
Elsewhere, Walter Savage plays jazz tonight (Jan. 20) at Hjem Restaurant and Boom! Kinetic takes over George’s Majestic Lounge the same evening.
We’ll see you around, and have an awesome weekend.
Wakarusa announces third round of artists, which completes lineup
January 19th, 2012 at 11:07 am
No doubt about it, The Avett Brothers are performing at Wakarusa. Above is their song “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise.”
With two of the three Wakarusa lineup announcements already made, the biggest question that remained was in regard to the artist that will fill a vacancy near the top of the list, ranked just below Pretty Lights and just above Primus.
Well, as of a few minutes ago, we know that other headliner: The Avett Brothers, who are wrapping up work on a new album.
The folk rock act from North Carolina will visit Mulberry Mountain near Ozark sometime between May 31 and June 3. Those are the four days that Wakarusa will invade Franklin County for its fourth annual event in Arkansas.
Also joining the bill are Matisyahu, The Travelin’ McCourys, Ghostland Observatory, Slightly Stoopid and many more.
Four-day event passes are $149. Prices for camping or day parking vary according to distance from the main stage area. Other price packages, such as VIP tickets, are also available through the ticketing website.
Now that we know the full lineup, what do think? How does Wakarusa 2012 compare to other years?
The wonderful, wacky world of the Waka Winter Classic
January 18th, 2012 at 9:53 am
The temperatures outside may not say winter, but the marquee at George’s Majestic Lounge will on Thursday (Jan. 19) night.
The Dickson Street venue is the home for the Waka Winter Classic, a battle of the bands competition that will send the winner to Wakarusa for a performance there.
Competing in the local version of the event are: The 1 Oz. Jig, Groovement, Candy Lee, Jon Shorter and the Gateway Band and Cadillac Jackson.
A vote by the crowd will determine the winner.
Eric Church: From Honky tonks to headlining gigs
January 17th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Eric Church photo by John Peets
Eric Church tells me he use to play anywhere that would have him. That meant he and his band plugged in at dive bars, honky tonks, metal clubs and more.
Now, the days of playing small clubs are over for Church, a North Carolina native and a rising country music star.
On the strength of his Grammy-nominated 2011 album “Chief,” Church has graduated to bigger halls and will launch the brand new “Blood, Sweat and Beers” tour with a show in Fort Smith on Thursday (Jan. 19).
Church chatted with me recently about his rapid ascension after many years spent on the road and his excitement in having a headlining tour of his own. The resulting story published Friday in our What’s Up!, entertainment section. You can read more about Church here, if you’re a subscriber to our print or digital products.
Church will be joined on Thursday at the Fort Smith Convention Center by Brantley Gilbert and The Cadillac Black.
Tickets are available by calling 800-745-3000 or via Ticketmaster online. Prices are $29.50-$39.50, plus Ticketmaster fees.
On the way (and a ticket alert): Umphrey’s McGee and Rain
January 16th, 2012 at 11:09 am
It’s ‘Rain’ing down shows! Two of note have been recently announced: A two-date run by Umphrey’s McGee at George’s and a show by Beatles tribute act Rain, who perform “Got To Get You Into My Life” above.
Tickets go on sale Friday (Jan. 20) for two shows coming to Fayetteville later this spring.
Announced late last week is a show by Rain, a touring production that offers a faithful tribute to The Beatles. The stage show includes video boards, costume changes, historical footage and more. Tickets for the group’s May 7 show at the Walton Arts Center go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday.
Tickets will be $38-$54 and can be purchased by calling 443-5600 or through the venue’s website.
Also, it appears that less than six weeks before their show at the nearby Wakarusa festival, jam rockers Umphrey’s McGee will perform at George’s Majestic Lounge on two consecutive nights. The shows, listed on the venue’s website, will be 8 p.m. April 17-18.
Tickets, according to the venue’s ticket website, will go onsale at 1 a.m. Friday. No price is listed.
On the way: Bret Michaels, March 3 at the Kiss a Pig Gala
January 16th, 2012 at 5:03 am
Bret Michaels is still ‘Riding Against the Wind.’ And riding his way back to Northwest Arkansas, too.
Poison frontman and reality television star Bret Michaels returns to Northwest Arkansas in early March, but for a different kind of event than fans might be use to seeing from the veteran rocker.
Michaels — himself affected by diabetes — will perform at the annual Kiss a Pig Gala, which raises money for diabetes research and treatment. The event takes place March 3 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.
He has previously headlined at the Arkansas Music Pavilion.
As a charity fundraiser, dinner and wine tasting, tickets exceed that of a normal concert-only event. Individual tickets are $150.
For details, visit the Kiss a Pig website.
The weekend in music, with Cool Shoes and more
January 13th, 2012 at 7:53 am
Wolf-E-Wolf
Is it a coincidence that a performer named Wolf-E-Wolf has a gig in Fayetteville on a Friday the 13th? Maybe. Just maybe.
Whatever, the reason, Wolf-E-Wolf comes from Little Rock with as part of a new-to-the-area dance party.
Already popular in Little Rock, a new electronica event in Fayetteville hopes to capture the vibe established in the state capitol. A monthly event in Little Rock, the party known as Cool Shoes debuts tonight (Jan. 13) at Rogue Pizza Co. in Fayetteville. Artists scheduled to perform are Wolf-E-Wolf, pictured, Beat Bachs, Baby Armie and Cam Holifield. The event lasts from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and is open to those 18 years of age and older. There is $5 cover charge.
A little farther up the road is an award-winning country singer.
Performing at the fabled Grand Ole Opry when she was just 13, Lorrie Morgan has continue a career in country since her in the early 1970s. She has sold more than 6 million records and recorded hits such as “What Part of No.” The vocalist and songwriter will visit Downstream Casino near Joplin, Mo., for a show tonight. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $20-$50 and are available at the casino or through the venue’s website.
Elsewhere this weekend, bluesman Joe Pitts has the stage at both tonight and Saturday (Jan. 14) at Legacy Blues. Both shows start at 9 p.m. and there is no cover charge.
What’s on your musical agenda?