Highlights

Music
Wow! There’s a lot going on his week.
George’s is hosting a fine cast of Texas musicians. Tonight there’s Charlie Robison and Friday night is Rodney Parker and the Fifty Peso Reward (who’ll be sharing the night with the Cate Brothers, Eli Young Band and Zach Walther). George’s will also be hosting some top-shelf blues acts this week — the hot, funky swamp roots rock outfit JJ Grey and Mofro who will be introducing songs from their new Alligator Records album “Orange Blossoms” on Saturday night. Coming to town to share the stage with JJ will be new band, Hill Country Revue led by Grammy nominee Cody Dickinson’s of The North Mississippi Allstars.
Big time favorite Ingram Hill will play Froggy’s on Monday night. They’ll be rocking out with songs from their latest CD, “Cold in California,” some of the new tunes were co-written with the likes of Whisky Town’s Mike Daly and Better than Ezra’s Kevin Griffin. Also on the bill is Springfield, Mo. up-and-comer Josh Stewart, whose music you will fall in love with, if you haven’t already after seeing him on MTV.
On Saturday night music fans will have the rare opportunity to hear veteran Mississippi Delta jazz and blues piano man Mose Allison and his trio who will be doing shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at the Walton Arts Center’s intimate Starr theater.
And what a week to experience some of the best women singer songwriters working today. Sunday night, Fayetteville’s Emily Kaitz will play with Oklahoma City jazz divas Mary Catherine Reynolds and Louise Goldberg from the group, Miss Brown to You at Sunday Jazz at Nature’s Water at 7 p.m. All three are wonderful vocalists and amazing musicians. The “Emily connection” has been bringing fine musicians to our town for a few years now and this is an opportunity not to be missed. This is a small venue, so make reservations by calling 799-7140.
Wednesday night at George’s is “Sisters in the Round, which will showcase some incredible young Americana/bluegrass artists: Shannon Wurst, Bonnie Payne, Kasey Rauch and Bridget Law. And if you’re all fired up about bluegrass after this show, drop by Jammin Java on the following night for a bluegrass jam.

The Second City
Friday night, the legendary Chicago comedy improv theatre troupe The Second City will play the Walton Arts Center for one show at 8 p.m. Second City’s Deface the Nation is a political revue, which should be prime fun during this particular election year. We’re anxious to see if they’ll be “commenting” on Gov. Palin. There’s no doubt lots of “raw” material there and no topic is off limits for The Second City.
To clue you in on the caliber of this show, since the 1950’s The Second City has been a breeding ground for some of comedy’s best including: Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and countless others.
An evening with The Second City will give you the chance see comedy stars in the making. The cast is: Rachel Miller, Joey Bland, Anthony LeBlanc, Abby McEnany, Brooke Bagnall and Seth Weitberg.

Festivals
Two festivals are happening this week. The Fayetteville Arts Festival will continue with activities at the Walton Arts Center’s Nadine Baum Studios. There will be a kickoff party at 6 p.m. Saturday followed by an 8 p.m. performance of TheatreSquared’s production of the comedy, Moonlight and Magnolias. On Sunday, Ceramic Cow Productions will present Pearls of Wisdom at noon. At 2 p.m., the Arkansas Playwrights Workshop will present a selection of 10 minute plays, followed by an 8 p.m. performance of Moonlight and Magnolias, which will also be staged at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. Also on Sunday, the popular 24 Hour Play Festival will take place, with performances at 6 p.m. Following the 24 Hour Play Festival, TheatreSquared and Ceramic Cow Productions will present an exhibition performance of Splash Theatre.
The visual arts will be celebrated at the Pinnacle Hills Art Festival, a juried show and sale that has attracted many regional artists as well as local and regional artists. The outdoor event will take place at the Pinnacle Hills Promenade shopping area in Rogers. Think Kansas City’s Plaza Art Fair on a smaller scale. The festival is free and hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.