Highlights- June 7-14
Pat Metheny Trio, A Singer Songwriter Bonanza, Lots of Special Events
Pat Metheny Trio
Guitarist Pat Metheny holds 16 Grammy Awards in a variety of categories and he’ll be in Fayetteville on June 14 to kick off the North Arkansas Jazz Society’s summer concert series.
Joining Matheny in the Pat Matheny Trio are drummer Antonio Sanchez and bass player Christian McBride. Sanchez is among the most respected and in-demand drummers on the scene today. McBride has arguably become the jazz world’s most acclaimed acoustic and electric bassist.
McBride’s passion for musical diversity has led him to work with Chick Corea, Kathleen Battle, D’Angelo, Diana Krall, Bruce Hornsby, Quincy Jones and Sting.
Sanchez toured with the late Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra, Paquito D’Rivera, Danilo Perez, David Sanchez and John Patitucci Quartet.
Pat Metheny Trio at 8 p.m. June 14 at the Walton Art Center. Tickets $25-$45, available at the Walton Arts Center or at www.digjazz.com.
Have a big time
There are several special events happening in NWA this week-both indoors and out.
Springdale’s annual spring festival, Feather Fest, with food, entertainment, arts and crafts, car and bike shows and carnival rides takes place Friday and Saturday nights and all day Saturday in downtown. www.featherfest.com.
The annual Bat-O-Rama weekend will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Devil’s Den State Park. The mysterious mammal will be honored and secrets about the lives of bats revealed. Check out www.arkansasstateparks.com or call 761-3325. While you’re on the parks website, browse a bit and plan a getaway at one of Arkansas’ amazing parks. If you haven’t seen the newly remodeled cabins at Devil’s Den, you’ll say “wow” when you step inside.
Gander at some incredibly fit athletes by heading to Eureka Springs for the Off-Road Triathlon and Trail Run competition Saturday at Lake Leatherwood and watch the grueling race through the hills of Little Switzerland. www.eurekaspringsoffroadtriathlon.com.
If you want to opt for staying indoors, check out the Walton Arts Center’s highly anticipated Art of Wine event that runs today through Saturday. The Grand Tasting events on Friday and Saturday nights are packed with wine experts and wine lovers who go to taste hundreds of varietals. www.waltonartscenter.org.
This Friday night dress up and dance at the Northwest Arkansas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender fundraiser An Affair to Remember.” Proceeds will to help build a community center for those suffering from HIV and AIDS. The dinner, dance and silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. at the Fayetteville Clarion. 888-391-9222.
This week a singer songwriter bonanza
What a week for those who like kicking back for some inspired tunes from local and touring singer songwriters. There’s a ton of shows to try and catch.
Tonight at Gulley Park, the Maine to Austin, Tex. transplant, Slaid Cleaves, will play a free concert, thanks to the City of Fayetteville. We rate Cleaves as one of the best shows we’ve ever caught at Goodfolk and that’s saying a lot. Be sure and take seating.
Friday night is a busy night. At GoodFolk, Fayetteville’s award-winning songwriter Effron White will throw a CD release party for his album Paradiso Loco. He’ll be backed-up by the talented Dennis Collins, Susan Shore and Emily Kaitz.
Also on Friday night, a relatively new local trio will haul out washboard, accordion and dobro to entertain at Arsaga’s Crossover. Calling themselves Snake Eyes and the Bug Band, the trio is Jamey Hall, Mike Rickard and Mark McGee.
On Tuesday night, plan to stand in line to get into the Dickson Theater, for a show with Lucero’s Ben Nichols and the super cool Cory Branan.
There’ll also be another Corey in town this week, Georgia’s Corey Smith who’ll be at George’s on Wednesday night. There are singer songwriters, and there are singer songwriters who stand out—Smith is one who stands out. His songs demand that you listen and he has that honest delivery that instantly makes him feel like a friend.
After you’ve had your fill of singer songwriters—and this is only a sampling of some that you can catch in town this week—there’s a really big show Tuesday night at George’s when the amped-up bluegrass improv band Railroad Earth and San Francisco rock outfit Tea Leaf Green come to town. Get out your dancing shoes for this one.
