Highlights
Jungle Jack Hanna
Whaddya need when you’ve had all the gloom and doom you can take because of the downturn, depression or whatever it is? A big roll of cash falling from the sky would be nice or even some good old laughs provided by Jungle Jack Hanna. The wacky talk show visitor and exotic animal handler who sometimes seems to lose control of a big snake or hyena, will be at the Walton Arts Center on Saturday. The show’s at 3 p.m. and tickets are $15-$25.
Beat Bachs Halloween Dance Party and other Halloween treats
We’re predicting that the best Halloween costumes in town will be found at Beat Bachs Halloween Dance Party Friday night at the OPO at the Urban Table on the Fayetteville Square. Produced by the team that put on The New Years Blue Masquerade, Disco Ballin’ and the Midsummer Horror, the party will have two floors of Halloween fun with four of Fayetteville’s top dance party DJ’s, (Luminfire, Beat Bachs, Tanner Beam and Robe Flax) spinning tunes. The OPO will be aglow with Halloween themed video installations, props and lighting. Doors at 9 p.m. Tickets $8 at the door, or $10 without a costume. Ages 18 and up.
Other notable Halloween night events are: The Punkinhead Reunion show at the Green Door. This will be the chance to hear what Fayetteville music used to be like in a world of rock/funk/punk. This will be their first show in 12 years, but we hear they’re primed and ready. Punkinhead Reunion will play George’s on Saturday night.
Although Blind Melon cancelled the Halloween show at George’s because of illness, stepping up to make it a fab night will be Matt Jones’ Soul Revue. He’ll be following Full House at Happy Hour. In the lounge there’ll be a Rave-A-Licious DJ dance party at 10 p.m. following blues rockers, the Eoff Brothers.
Lagniappe
If you’ve got 50 bucks to blow, a good way to toss it will be “The Oxford American” party at 8 p.m. Saturday night at the UARK Bowl on Dickson Street. The reason for the party is the release of the pubs’ annual music edition. Award-winning blues band Ocie Fisher and the Hipp Dogs will entertain. Tickets at Sound Warehouse or at the door. Should be fun.
If you’re looking for some Saturday night fun on the lowdown, head to the grand opening of Mayapple in the old Quonset hut on the Prairie Trail bike path. The official address is 546 W. Center St., but it will be best to park in the Walton Arts Center parking lot and walk Prairie Trail to the venue. Mayapple is the brainchild of Seattle transplant Roxie Hunt and her pal Nikki Jacoby. Roxie’s a hairstylist, but she’s also a performer. Nikki’s a jewelry designer, so the new space is a combination of their interests. The grand opening party on Saturday night will showcase art by Greg Moore, Sage Billig, Ben Buoniuto and photographs by Olivia Corrado. Hosta and Roxie’s band Sea of Freaks will begin playing at 7 p.m. And it’s free.
The Fayetteville Public Library will host two events on social entrepreneurship. At 2 p.m. Sunday, there will be a showing of the documentary, “Latin American Social Entrepreneurs,” about how the flower industry in Ecuador and the coffee industry in Guatemala and Mexico were improved by using environmentally sound practices. Following the film, Gladys Tiffany, co-president of the Omni Center will host a discussion.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the library will host a panel discussion on trade and agriculture. Representatives from the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, Ozark Natural Foods, Arsaga’s Espresso Café and the University of Arkansas’ Applied Sustainability Center will discuss social entrepreneurship on the local level. Topics will include sustainable practices in business and agriculture including the purchase of fair and free trade certified goods and purchasing from local businesses. Free.
Enjoy a variety of choral music from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the University of Arkansas Invitational Choral Festival will bring 11 choral ensembles to the Walton Arts Center for performances. The non-competitive event will feature high school and college choral groups. Free.
In the Clubs
EOTO, the duo of Michael Travis and Jason Hann of The String Cheese Incident, will bring their improv project to George’s tonight. Hann covers percussion, layering glitchy samples, live auxiliary remixing and playing the drums to provide the rhythmic backbone. Travis blends bass, guitar, keyboards, hand percussion and mixing to add tonal ambience. All of the music is produced at the show, which means that no two shows are ever alike.
Tonight at Froggy’s, The Doctor and The Deal (Blaine Mosley, P.J. Redmond and Tyler Wright) will pump up the costumed crowd with zydecajun dance funk.
Saturday night, the old Dart Room on College will reopen as The Gypsy. The space has a long history as one of Fayetteville’s original night clubs.and has recently been renovated. Stomp band Bonepony will be there on opening night.
