Tag Archives: South on Main

Tonight at South on Main – The Easy Leaves presented by the Oxford American! (With thanks to Ben E. Keith)

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the_easy_leaveshirescropped.jpg.1000x250_q80_crop_upscaleTonight at 7:30 PM—The Oxford American magazine is proud to present California-based Americana duo The Easy Leaves at South on Main! The event is free and open to the public due to the generous underwriting of Ben E. Keith Foods Mid-South. Seating is limited, so call ahead at 501-244-9660 to ensure your place at a table.

The Easy Leaves, songwriters Kevin Carducci and Sage Fifield, formed in 2008 immersed in a diverse set of flailing rockers, gospel skeptics, and country outlaws. Their initial intent was to establish an old-time string band. However, in love with too many disparate genres, The Easy Leaves’ sound was born as a modern acoustic duo. The pair keeps its roots close to the chest while tirelessly sprawling out in new directions that stretch the borders of the Americana genre in exciting ways. They headline large rooms in the Bay Area, including Great American Music Hall, and have appeared on the Outside Lands Music Festival several times.

Their new record, American Times (Omega Records), spans the breadth of American roots music from grassland stomps, minor swings and Honky Tonk grinds, to personal spirituals, and Rhythm and Blues. In addition to their new album, The Easy Leaves were recently a part of The 78 Project, a documentary by Alex Steyermark and Lavinia Wright that recreates Alan Lomax’s journey to capture important American Folk music on its home porches. The Easy Leaves were featured in the film (alongside Rosanne Cash, Sid Selvidge, John Doe of X, Loudon Wainwright III, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Justin Townes Earl, Richard Thompson, and other great talents). NPR, Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times have featured it, and The Smithsonian, Library of Congress, and the Alan Lomax estate are active advisors.

Inaugural Jazz on Main concert tonight – The Bad Plus at South on Main

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the_bad_plus_cropped.jpg.1000x250_q80_crop_upscaleJoin the Oxford American magazine for the inaugural concert in their 2014-2015 jazz series at South on Main featuring The Bad Plus! The OA jazz series is sponsored by the University of Central Arkansas College of Fine Arts and Communication. Doors open at 6:00 PM with dinner and drinks available at that time. The concert begins at 8:00 PM.

Ticket packages for the jazz series went on sale June 20 at www.metrotix.com, ranging from$120 to $80 and include a discount on service charges. Single tickets go on sale September 1at $30 for reserved seats at tables and $20 for general admission. Purchasing a reserved seat assigns you to a specific guaranteed seat at a table. However, seating at tables is family-style, and unless you purchase the entire table, you will be seated with other patrons. General admission tickets are good for barstools and standing room, available on a first-come first-served basis. For ticketing questions, please contact Metrotix at (800) 293-5949.

The Bad Plus has spent almost fifteen years redefining what a piano-bass-drums trio can and should be. They’ve reached audiences of all demographic stripes with an uncompromising body of original music (plus some ingenious, genre-jumping covers) and dedicated touring around the globe. On their eighth studio album, Made Possible, bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson, and drummer David King take their distinctive musical M.O. to captivating new heights, proving once again that the rules of musical convention are made to be broken.

“This band contains some of the most punk energy I’ve ever seen or felt as a musician — it just doesn’t need to do it so obviously,” King says. “That’s our statement. It’s a complex emotion.”

 Made Possible marks a palpable departure for The Bad Plus on a few fronts. Layers of synth and electronic drum sounds can be heard prowling amid the trio’s signature acoustic palette. Also, whereas the group’s new material typically gets a thorough road test before being recorded, these songs were brought in with looser expectations and even more potent possibilities. And for the first time since 2005’s Suspicious Activity?, the band chose to record far away from its Minnesota motherland, holing up instead at a remote studio in upstate New York.

“The Bad Plus are the Coen brothers of jazz: Midwesterners, both ironic and dead earnest, technically brilliant, beyond versatile, a little chilly sometimes, but funny, surprising, and pretty hard to pin down.”—The New Yorker 

Arts in Park and on Stages with ACANSA today

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acansaThe ACANSA Arts Festival moves into the weekend with a full day of activities.

ARTISTS IN THE PARK
12:00pm to 6:00 pm
MacArthur Park
FREE

The Arkansas Arts Center will host a visual artist day at MacArthur Park from noon to 6:00 p.m.   This event is free and open to the public.  The first two hours are dedicated to children with a variety of art activities, and entertainment by Brian Kinder, a singer/ songwriter who performs rollicking goodtime concerts for kids.

Family entertainment by a variety of musical groups will begin at 2 p.m. Bands include the Clark Family Trio, the Greasy Greens, and SOULution.  Local food trucks will offer refreshments for purchase.

Artists will produce and sell art throughout the afternoon and will have the option to participate in a friendly Quick Draw Competition during the event.  Artists will be paired off to draw each other and the winner will receive a $500 prize!

The Quick Draw competition is open to anyone.  Know an artist who would like to participate?   Please have them contact Linda Newbern at lnewbern@ACANSAartsFestival.org.

Sponsored by: Arkansas Children’s Hospital, City of Little Rock & Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau

 

Acansa PuppetSUSPENDED ANIMATION
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Scottish Rite Masonic Temple
$20 to $50

In a cabaret presentation distinctly adult in its sophistication and artistry, internationally acclaimed marionette artist Phillip Huber is in full view of the audience as he controls incredibly compelling characters through a series of variety vignettes revealing humor, pathos, drama and grace.

Phillip Huber is most widely known for his work in the 3-time Academy Award nominated film “Being John Malkovich” and his work in the Disney film “Oz the Great and Powerful,” starring James Franco, Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis. Shimmering with nuance, sophistication and imagination, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to experience a world of sophisticated puppetry designed for entertaining discerning tastes.

 

Acansa DallasDALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
NLR High School East Campus Auditorium
$10 to $50

Dallas Black Dance Theatre celebrates its 36th season as the oldest, continuously operating professional dance company out of Dallas, Texas. The ensemble, a contemporary modern dance company, consists of 12 professional, full-time dancers performing a mixed repertory of modern jazz, ethnic and spiritual works by nationally and internationally known choreographers.

Sponsored by: Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, City of North Little Rock, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation, North Little Rock Visitors Bureau

 

acansa Mike Disfarmer 3DISFARMER
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Argenta Community Theatre
$30

Don’t miss this production of Disfarmer, written by award-winning Arkansas playwright Werner Trieschmann and directed by Bob Hupp of The Rep.  Disfarmer is a comedic portrait which tells the story of Mike Disfarmer, an eccentric photographer from Heber Springs, Arkansas who charged townsfolk and visitors a quarter to have their picture taken in the early forties—and caused a minor speculative mania decades later as New York gallery owners “discovered” his work and descended on the small Arkansas town.

Nothing speaks louder about Mike Disfarmer than his photographs.  Before the play, stop by  Argenta Gallery at 413 Main Street to enjoy an exhibit of Disfarmer photographs. In 1974, Peter Miller purchased the collection of Disfarmer glass negatives from Joe Albright. The Disfarmer prints in this exhibit have been archivally printed from the original Disfarmer glass negatives

Sponsored by: Peter Miller

 

Acansa St PaulACANSA Late Night II – St. Paul and the Broken Bones
9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
South on Main
SOLD OUT

This Birmingham, Alabama based soul band harkens back to the region’s classic soul roots while extending the form with electrifying potency.  Lead singer, Paul Janeway, takes the soul revival to an equally outrageous place with a voice that hovers between sexy sweet and flat-out dirty.  The horn-fueled Broken Bones re-create one funky groove after another, sounding more like the truth than any band since the Seventies.

Sponsored by:  DOWNSTREAM Casino Resort with staff provided by Oxford American

Farm to Church Gala Celebrates History and Looks to Future

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FarmtoChurchThere is no doubt that Little Rock’s cultural scene is brightened by the explosion in culinary artists over the past decade or so.  Many of these talented chefs, farmers and foodies are often partnering with museums, theatres, galleries and concert venues to promote healthy eating and an enhanced culinary experience.
Saturday, September 13, there is another example of this.  This time they are partnered with not only a historic structure, but with an outreach program to promote healthier habits.  As part of its year-long celebration of 175 years in downtown Little Rock, Christ Church is hosting a fundraising gala benefiting one of its newest ministries. Green Groceries is a Christ Church fresh food ministry serving low-income neighbors in need.
The event will feature extraordinary fare prepared by renowned chefs Lee Richardson, formerly of Ashley’s; Matt Bell, South on Main; Brandon Brown, Hillcrest Artisan Meats; and Justin Patterson, Southern Gourmasian.  In addition there will be offerings from Loblolly Ice Cream, Green Cuisine, Geek Eats, and Rock Town Distillery.
Saturday, September 13, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Bowen Hall at Christ Church.  Reservations are $100, available now at the church and online at christchurchlr.org

Still Time to Purchase Tickets for Oxford American’s Jazz on Main

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oa_jazz_series_logo_hi-resJoin the Oxford American magazine for the inaugural 2014-15 jazz series at South on Main for four concerts featuring acclaimed artists! Doors for each show open at 6:00pm, with dinner and drinks available for purchase at that time. Concerts begin at 8:00pm.

The series includes:

Ticket packages for the entire jazz series range from $120 to $80. Purchasing a series package provides a discount on service charges. Single tickets to individual concerts are available beginning September 1 at noon at $30 for reserved seats at tables and $20 for general admission.

Additional information:

  • Doors open at 6pm, show at 8pm.
  • Reserved seating assigns you to the same table for all 4 shows. Choice of chairs at those tables is first-come-first-seated.
  • Seating at tables is “family style.” If you do not purchase all the seats at your table, you will be seated with other patrons.
  • General Admission seating is barstools and standing room only, no tables. General admission seating is first-come-first-seated.
  • The venue does not have an on-site box office. Tickets will only be sold at the venue on the night of the show, if any remain.
  • Will Call tickets will be available for pickup only on the night of the show.
  • Shows are all ages. Everyone must have a ticket to attend.
  • Free surface lot parking is available.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Mary Steenburgen

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Rock the TonysMarySteenburgenDec09MARY STEENBURGEN

Little Rock connection: Grew up in Central Arkansas, maintains a residence in Little Rock and is a co-owner of South on Main restaurant.

Tony Awards connection: Starred on Broadway in the Tony nominated revival of Candida.  She is affiliated with the Atlantic Theatre Company which has presented and produced the Tony winning The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only, Spring Awakening and the Tony-nominated The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Talk Radio and A Behanding in Spokane.

QQA 50th Spring Tour this weekend

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QQA_SpringTourLogo_COLORThe QQA will be celebrating its 50th Spring Tour this coming Mother’s Day weekend, May 10-11! This year, we’re holding the golden anniversary of the tour in the Governor’s Mansion Historic District. We’ve enlisted the help of Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe and P. Allen Smith as Honorary Co-Chairs to help us spread the word about our half-century anniversary. Shalah Brummett and Anthony Black will be leading our volunteer committee to make all the arrangements, and we’re excited to have the help of several other former Tour Chairs. The tour will include the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion and five houses within easy walking distance: the Cochran Cottage, Pierce House, Turner-Back House, Caruth-Cachran House and the Old Methodist Parsonage.

They have out of Candlelight Tour and Dinner tickets, as well as Sunday Brunch tickets. Tickets for tonight’s After Party and Sunday afternoon online, or by visiting Curran Hall at 615 East Capitol Avenue.

Saturday, May 10

5:30 – 7:30, Candlelight and Champagne Tour of Homes surrounding the Governor’s Mansion

Enjoy a leisurely stroll in this historic neighborhood with champagne, wine, and hor d’oeuvres while touring our featured homes.

7:30– 9:30, Dinner & Party at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion

Join us at the Governor’s Mansion for dinner and drinks with honorary co-chairs P. Allen Smith and First Lady Ginger Beebe.

9:30 onwards, The After Party at South on Main Restaurant, 1304 South Main Street

Help the QQA celebrate five decades of preservation work at a late-night party at South on Main with Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers.

Saturday night tickets are also valid for Sunday afternoon tour Sunday,

Sunday, May 11

11:00-1:00, Brunch and Garden Tour at Curran Hall, 615 East Capitol Avenue

Start your Mother’s Day festivities at Historic Curran Hall with a casual brunch buffet and mimosa bar and tour the Marjem Ward Jackson Historic Garden.

1:00-5:00, Spring Tour of Homes, Governor’s Mansion Historic District

50th Spring Tour of Homes with lawn games, kid friendly activities, live music, food vendors, trolley rides, and more!