Category Archives: Music

The 2015 ACANSA wraps up with Gospel Brunch at Wildwood

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St Mark Baptist ChoirJoin ACANSA Arts Festival at Wildwood Park for the Arts for a Gospel Brunch with the award winning Saint Mark Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir.

Sunday brunches are a southern tradition.  Also on Sunday mornings in the south, African-American churches burst into song with the joyous sounds of gospel. Gospel brunches, a relatively new phenomenon, allow an audience to enjoy a sumptuous meal while appreciating this uplifting, soulful music on the day it was meant to be heard.

Price of $35 includes performance and brunch.

Brunch begins at 11:00am.

Other ACANSA events today:

A Little Poetry: The Art of Alonzo Ford will be on view until October 25, 2015 in the Arkansas Arts Center’s Sam Strauss, Jr., Gallery.

The Angela Davis Johnson Exhibit will be on display at the Argenta Gallery all day today (and through October 12). It has free admission as well.

On the fourth day of ACANSA…..

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Acansa day 4The fourth day of this year’s ACANSA Arts Festival offers dance, theatre, music and art!

 

The Urban Bush Women – 7pm (North Little Rock Middle School Auditorium) $20 (general admission); $50 (The Story Continues); $10 students/military

The Urban Bush Women (UBW) keep history alive by presenting dancers that tell stories from the perspective of women in the African diaspora.  This non-profit dance company, based in Brooklyn, New York was founded in 1984 by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.  This group of seven women have performed their diverse pieces across the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia.  UBW previously presented at Spoleto USA and other festivals and received a number of honors including the Capezio Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance and the Doris Duke Award for New Work from the American Dance Festival to name a few.

“Blood at the Root” – 8pm (Argenta Community Theatre) $30 (general admission) $15 (students/military)

Based on a true story of the Jena Six, Blood at the Root, written by Dominique Morriseau, is a play that touches on many social issues. Directed by Steve Broadnax, head of the Pennsylvania State theatre program, this play has received international acclaim on its tours through South Africa, Scotland and Australia. It is an exciting piece of work that breaks traditional convention. It speaks to where America is right now racially, economically, and socially. It is also a fun show with musicality, and an emphasis on movement. The inclusion of many different perspectives makes for an exciting, thought provoking performance. Please note: This performance contains strong language.

“Avant-Garde Late Night: Rocktown Distillery with Amasa Hines” – 9pm (Rocktown Distillery) $20 (general admission) 

Join ACANSA’s Avant-Garde at the Rock Town Distillery to dance to the music of Amasa Hines.  Amasa Hines is a seven piece, Little Rock, Arkansas based band whose sound is as big as their influences are wide. Their influences come from a diverse range of Soul, Afro-Beat, Psychedelic, Blues, Dub, and Indie Rock. Refreshments will be served including beer and wine.  Cocktails available for purchase.

A Little Poetry: The Art of Alonzo Ford will be on view until October 25, 2015 in the Arkansas Arts Center’s Sam Strauss, Jr., Gallery.

The Angela Davis Johnson Exhibit will be on display at the Argenta Gallery all day today (and through October 12). It has free admission as well.

 

Today from noon to 11pm, Legends of Arkansas in Riverfront Park

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LOA_logoLegends of Arkansas, the all-day, family-friendly live music and art festival, is Saturday, September 19, 2015. This is the third annual all-Arkansas, grassroots event to be held at Riverfront Park in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. We will celebrate some of the best artists and musicians in Arkansas, as well as independent businesses from around the state with free admission to the public.

The music starts at 12:00 p.m. and continues until 11:00 p.m. with more than twenty live bands on two stages; the History Pavilion and First Security Amphitheater. Artists include Adam Faucett & the Tall Grass, The Wild Flowers, Barrett Baber, Good Foot, Whole Fam Damily, Ducktronaut, Collin vs. Adam, Big Piph, Stephan James, Makenzie Jordan, Franko Coleman, Fisher DeClerk, Sarah Cecil, Chris Long Acoustic, Brian Nahlen, Chris DeClerk Solo, Charlotte Taylor w/ Matt Stone, Mothwind, Federalis, Sick Numbles, Groovecluster, S!Bass Cadet, and DJ DripFunk. The Master of Ceremonies will be Mr. Mike Poe with special guest appearances from Shoog Radio’s own Aaron Sarlo and Kara Bibb from KABF.

On the main stage, in between the music, there will be performing artists, pitch competition finals, a hip-hop workshop and award presentations. ReCreation Studios will perform live art around the park throughout the day with stilt-walkers, hula hoop dancers, aerial silk performances on the main stage, and a special fire performance after headlining act, Adam Faucett. Paul Prater will amaze once again with his fringe style performing art. There will also be different artist demonstrating their art throughout the park.

The walkways around the amphitheater will be lined with local art and craft vendors, including some Etsy Little Rock vendors. Small businesses, including some of the finest local food trucks, will be set up around the festival to promote and showcase their businesses, as well as nonprofits, to educate on their causes. Legends of Arkansas, local businesses, and nonprofits hope to show the public how easy it can be to spend and keep our money in our own community.

Legends of Arkansas is family-friendly and admission is free.

The Bo-Keys headline at South on Main tonight, sponsored by Oxford American and ACANSA

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acansa bokeysTonight at 10pm, ACANSA partners with the Oxford American to present Memphis soul band The Bo-Keys as part of the 2015 ACANSA Arts Festival! The concert starts at 10:00 PM with doors opening at 5:00 PM. South on Main will be open for normal dinner service prior to the concert. If you have tickets and intend to dine before the concert, you may make reservations for 8:30 p.m. or later by calling South on Main at (501) 244-9660.ACANSA logo

Tickets for The Bo-Keys are $15 each, and all seating is general admission. Seating at tables is limited and assigned on a first-come, first-seated basis when doors open. Purchase individual tickets to The Bo-Keys via Metrotix.com, or by calling (800) 293-5949. ACANSA Festival Pass buyers are also permitted entry to this concert. For more info on ACANSA passes click here.

The word “soul” has powerful resonance—musically, culturally and spiritually—and no contemporary band embodies the power of soul more than The Bo-Keys.

Through two critically acclaimed albums and four singles, as well as international appearances at major festivals and clubs, The Bo-Keys have kept the spirit of classic Memphis music alive, while also writing a vital new chapter for the sound and style that’s etched into the fiber of American consciousness.

The Bo-Keys’ multi-generational cast of players—some in their eighth decade—bring a high level of virtuosity developed cutting literally hundreds of hits during the ’60s and ’70s to those recordings. Or, in the case of younger members like Bomar, hundreds of hours digesting those records. But onstage, they embody the lively spirit of Memphis soul, digging in hard to deliver the deep grooves and wealth of emotions at the style’s core as they take the music around the world, making such prestigious stops as California’s Doheny Blues Festival, the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon, and Italy’s Poretta Soul Festival. The Bo-Keys have also supported the fabled soul singers Rufus and Carla Thomas, William Bell, Otis Clay, Sam Moore, Eddie Floyd, and Syl Johnson in concert.

Skip Pitts, a funk-soul innovator whose numerous credits include cutting the wah-wah guitar introduction to “Theme From Shaft,” was Scott Bomar‘s partner in founding The Bo-Keys along with trumpeter Marc Franklin. Franklin cut his teeth touring with Bobby “Blue” Bland before becoming a first-call R&B session player, and today tours with Gregg Allman. Joe Restivo replaced Pitts after his death in 2012. Restivo also plies his exceptional soul and jazz guitar vocabulary as leader of the all-instrumental band the City Champs. The Bo-Keys’ remaining elder statesmen include drummer Howard Grimes, who drove Stax and Hi Records hits for Ann Peebles, Al Green and others. Organist Archie “Hubby” Turner was also part of the Hi Rhythm Section, playing on historic sessions for Green, Peebles, O.V. Wright, and more. Trumpeter Ben Cauley was a charter member of the Bar Kays. That band cut the smash “Soul Finger” for Stax and toured behind Otis Redding. Cauley was the sole survivor of the plane crash that claimed Redding and his bandmates. He continued to record at Stax with Isaac Hayes and the Staples Singers. And vocalist Percy Wiggins has a long and storied history in gospel and soul music. He began performing at age thirteen with his brother Spencer and sister Maxine in the New Rival Gospel Singers, and went on to cut sides in the ’60s for the RCA and Atco labels with a band that included a pre-fame Jimi Hendrix. The Bo-Keys horn section includes relative youngsters Kirk Smothers and Art Edmaiston on saxes, plus Franklin on trumpet. Edmaiston is also a member of Gregg Allman’s band.

 

Day 3 of ACANSA offers A Little Poetry and a lot of music, theatre and art

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Acansa day 3The third day of this year’s ACANSA Arts Festival offers theatre, music and art!  Four different stages offer opportunities to experience unique performances.

A Little Poetry: The Art of Alonzo Ford – 5:30PM reception (Arkansas Arts Center)

The exhibition will be on view September 15 to October 25, 2015 in the Arkansas Arts Center’s Sam Strauss, Jr., Gallery.

Alonzo Ford, grew up on farm in the Southland Community near Lexa, Arkansas. His figurative drawings focus on his memories of a life lived on his family farm. Ford enjoys creating with color and drawing landscapes that depict farm life and old buildings and active portraits. Stark figures engage in the daily activities Ford recalls from childhood leaving one with a sense of the activity, simplicity, and intimacy of mid-century rural life in Arkansas.

The Exchange – 7pm (Albert Pike Memorial Temple) $20 (general admission); $50 (A Capella Lounge); $10 students/military

In just the past year, The Exchange, debuted their original EP, toured with the Backstreet Boys, and had a featured spot on NBC&The Sing Off.; The bands explosive energy is ignited by their diversity in music styles ranging from rock to hip-hop to opera. This amazing A Capella group blends different styles and instrumentation, but its sound will always be defined;by the raw, soulful power of the human voice.

The A Capella Lounge – “Meet the Artists” reception after the performance.

 

“The Dork Knight” – 9pm (Arkansas Rep Black Box, 550 Main) $20 (general admission)

Jason O’Connell brings an iconic interpretation of his relationship with Batman through the years. His impersonations are so lifelike that if you close your eyes, you would swear you were in the room with Christian Bale or Jack Nicholson. O’Connell keeps audiences in rapt attention, at times laughing hysterically or mesmerized in complete silence and he takes you with him on this journey with Batman.

“Blood at the Root” – 8pm (Argenta Community Theatre) $30 (general admission) $15 (students/military)

Based on a true story of the Jena Six, Blood at the Root, written by Dominique Morriseau, is a play that touches on many social issues. Directed by Steve Broadnax, head of the Pennsylvania State theatre program, this play has received international acclaim on its tours through South Africa, Scotland and Australia. It is an exciting piece of work that breaks traditional convention. It speaks to where America is right now racially, economically, and socially. It is also a fun show with musicality, and an emphasis on movement. The inclusion of many different perspectives makes for an exciting, thought provoking performance. Please note: This performance contains strong language.

 

The Bo-Keys – 10pm (South on Main) $20 (general admission)

The Bo-Keys are a soul/jazz band from Memphis, formed as an homage to the city’s rich musical tradition. They keep the sound of classic Memphis R&B vital and contemporary.Featuring legendary singer Percy Wiggins and led by Grammy nominated producer-bassist Scott Bomar, group also includes historic session musicians from Stax and Hi Records studio bands

Earlier in the day – at noon, there is a Lunch and Learn at the Argenta Branch of the Laman Library.  It will feature a discussion of Arkansas art pottery by David E. Gifford. This program is free.

The Angela Davis Johnson Exhibit will be on display at the Argenta Gallery all day today (and through October 12). It has free admission as well. A reception will take place this evening.

Day 2 of ACANSA offers Laughs, Learning, Thrills and Thought-Provoking Moments

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Acansa day 2The second day of this year’s ACANSA Arts Festival offers theatre, dance, music and art!  Four different stages offer opportunities to experience unique performances.

The Hot Sardines – 8pm (Clinton Presidential Park Lawn) $20 (reserved seating), $50 (includes Jazz Cafe), $10 (lawn only)

Take a blustery brass lineup, layer it over a rhythm section led by a stride-piano virtuoso in the Fats Waller vein, and tie the whole thing together with a one-of-the-boys front woman with a voice from another era, and you have the Hot Sardines. (We haven’t even told you about the tap dancer yet.)

“The Dork Knight” – 9pm (Arkansas Rep Black Box, 550 Main) 9pm

Jason O’Connell brings an iconic interpretation of his relationship with Batman through the years. His impersonations are so lifelike that if you close your eyes, you would swear you were in the room with Christian Bale or Jack Nicholson. O’Connell keeps audiences in rapt attention, at times laughing hysterically or mesmerized in complete silence and he takes you with him on this journey with Batman.

“Blood at the Root” – 8pm (Argenta Community Theatre) $30 (general admission) $15 (students/military)

Based on a true story of the Jena Six, Blood at the Root, written by Dominique Morriseau, is a play that touches on many social issues. Directed by Steve Broadnax, head of the Pennsylvania State theatre program, this play has received international acclaim on its tours through South Africa, Scotland and Australia. It is an exciting piece of work that breaks traditional convention. It speaks to where America is right now racially, economically, and socially. It is also a fun show with musicality, and an emphasis on movement. The inclusion of many different perspectives makes for an exciting, thought provoking performance. Please note: This performance contains strong language.

PUSH Physical Theatre – 7pm (North Little Rock Middle School Auditorium) $20 (general admission), $10 (students/military)

Seeing award-winning PUSH Physical Theatre is like watching a live-action movie. This talented group of performers inspires awe with physical illusions and gravity-defying, dance-infused, acrobatic high-jinx.

PUSH’s repeated sold-out performances have established them as the masters of physical storytelling.

Earlier in the day – at noon, there is a Lunch and Learn at the Albert Pike Memorial Temple.  It will feature a tour of the building and a chance to learn about its history. This program is free.

The Angela Davis Johnson Exhibit will be on display at the Argenta Gallery all day today (and through October 12). It has free admission as well. A reception will take place this evening.

Sounds in the Stacks series starts tonight courtesy of Arkansas Sounds and CALS

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arkansas_sounds_2013Three Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) branches will host Sounds in the Stacks, a Fall Concert series, as part of Arkansas Sounds and CALS Adult Programming. The concerts are free and open to the public.

Local keyboardists with different musical backgrounds will play different types of music on the Yamaha C6 7-foot semi concert grand piano provided by Piano Kraft for this series. Piano Kraft is the exclusive piano provider for Arkansas Sounds.

 

Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Rd.

Thursday, September 17 – 6:30 p.m.

Sam Carroll, keyboardist for Rodney Block & The Real Music Lovers

Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle

Thursday, October 8 – 7 p.m.

Chris Parker, keyboardist with Walter Henderson and John Bush Quintet

Rooker Library, 11 Otter Creek Ct.

Thursday, November 12 – 6:30 p.m.

Carl Mouton, keyboardist and Director of Bands at Maumelle High School

 

Arkansas Sounds is a project of the Butler Center focusing on Arkansas music and musicians past and present. For more information, visit www.arkansassounds.org or call 501-918-3033.