Tonight at Wildwood Park – The Mulligan Brothers

tmb-final-proof-porch-2The Mulligan Brothers, based out of Mobile, AL, are an emerging band known for their lyrical Americana folk songs. They first brought their unique blend of Americana and folk music to Wildwood in 2013, and now they’re back on April 2 at 7pm.

Via Portland is the second album from the band that met playing in bars in Mobile and took a name that means second chances. Expectations are high for the follow-up to The Mulligan Brothers, their popular debut album released in June 2013 that created passionate fans across the country and was in the Top Ten of CD Sales at the 2014 New Orleans Jazz Fest.

The lyrics in Via Portland are built on lead vocalist Ross Newell’s poetic imagery and storytelling in a warm, sincere voice that is full of feeling whether it is relaxed or strained. Touring the country and playing together most nights of the week sharpened harmony, background vocals, and dynamics in the instrumentation.  New songs evolved in front of audiences, giving each musician time to develop his parts and how they fit together. “This album is honest and sincere from the ground up,” lead singer Ross Newell says.  “We stayed true to ourselves.

Other members of the band are Gram Rea (fiddle, mandolin, viola, harmonica and vocals); Ben Leininger (bass and vocals) and Greg DeLuca (drums and vocals).

During the concert, the lobbies of the the Cabe Festival Theatre will host a pop-up shop by Domestic Domestic, a local retailer specializing in goods only made in the United States.

DennyWest Music Festival at Wildwood Today

Wildwood-Park-for-the-Arts-e1352227810968What do Ukulele Bill, REAL Entertaining, Mister Morphis One Man Band, the Hartley Family Bluegrass Band, Posey Hill, the Mulligan Brothers, and BettySoo all have in common? On Saturday, October 5, they’re all playing an outdoor concert at Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road in West Little Rock. DennyWest, Wildwood’s one-day outdoor Americana acoustic music festival, features children and family entertainment from 1 to 5 pm. At 6:30 pm, Mister Morphis One Man Band & Reed Balentine, Voice of the Wind, lead off the evening’s entertainment, followed by Posey Hill and the Mulligan Brothers. Austin’s BettySoo and Canadian Doug Cox finish the evening with a duo concert from their “Across the Borderline” album.

Gates open for lunch and free hayrides around the lake at noon. Tickets for the afternoon events are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, and free for kids 5 and under. Evening tickets, starting at 5 pm, are $20 for adults, $10 for teens, $5 for children 12 and under.

BettySoo and Doug Cox conducted a free songwriting workshop at UALR on Friday afternoon. The UALR Department of Music co-hosted the workshop. BettySoo’s appearance and the songwriting workshop are sponsored in part by Mid-America Arts Alliance (MAAA.org), a regional arts organization that supports the arts and touring in Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. All the daytime artists, as well as Posey Hill, are supported by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. Bylites is providing sound and lighting for the concerts.

Event Schedule
11 am – Park Gates Open for lunch

1 – 5 pm – Children’s & Family Concert featuring
Ukelele Bill
REAL Entertaining
Mister Morphis One Man Band
Hartley Family Bluegrass Band

6:30 – 10 pm – Evening Concert featuring
Mister Morphis and Reed Balentine: Voice of the Wind
Posey Hill
The Mulligan Brothers
BettySoo and Doug Cox: Across the Borderline