Tonight Cake will be the first headlining act to step foot on the new stage of the Arkansas Music Pavilion. After receiving notice in January that the NWA Mall would not be renewing the AMP’s lease, a “lightning lease” was signed in a mere 8 days to secure a temporary location at the Washington County Fairgrounds.
Many new benefits have been cited for the new location, such as a lack of asphalt, contributing to a cooler atmosphere. The stage has also been upgraded, and the acoustics will provide a more consistent sound.
Within two months, the AMP is back and better than ever. The grassy lawn will add an additional 4,000 seats to the 2,500 sq. ft. enclosed seating area; and there is discussion of building another stage and using a larger portion of the grounds to accommodate a festival of sorts.
Brian Crowne, owner of the AMP and George’s Majestic Lounge on Dickson, said he hopes to “keep the momentum going and keep everyone excited about live music.”
