BECCA MARTIN-BROWN
bmartin@nwaonline.com
Jason “Big Hands” Lowery was a lot of things, begins musician and music promoter Amanda Rey, who loves a good story just as much as she loves a good song and loves a good person even more.
“He was the biggest supporter of metal music in our local community,” she says, noting that metal still isn’t as widely accepted as other genres, so “it needs loyal fans and supporters.” He was a “forever” roadie and stage hand and worked with Rey when she was organizing Springfest in Fayetteville. He was a vocalist on several projects. According to his obituary, he was also “a tremendous athlete, who excelled in basketball and loved to fish.”
“Aside from that, he felt like everybody’s big brother, and that’s why everyone is taking his death so hard,” Rey says. “When you spent any time with him, he made you feel like you were the only person in the room.”
Lowery died Feb. 1 at Windcrest Nursing and Rehab in Springdale, according to the obituary posted at legacy.com. He was 44.
His friends from the Northwest Arkansas music scene paid their respects Feb. 21 at Hell Yeah Fest, a celebration of his life Rey organized at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville. Backwoods Rags Screen Printing & Apparel continues to sell merchandise on its website with proceeds going to a memorial fund.
“I started planning the show as a response to an overwhelming outpouring of Big Hands’ fans who want to see some kind of permanent mural or memorial on Dickson Street or in the entertainment district,” Rey says. “I don’t know yet what that looks like, but we’ll put the money toward it. And I want to have a memorial metal show for him every year.”
“He gave a little bit of his heart to every person he met,” Rey says of Lowery. “He was usually the biggest guy in the room, but he always had the biggest heart.”
BENTONVILLE
• Arooj Aftab, 8 p.m. Feb. 25 ($30-$50); Daedelus with Russell E.L. Butler and DJ Afrosia, 8 p.m. Feb. 26 ($25), The Momentary, 507 S.E. “E” St. 367-7500, themomentary.org.
• Dawson Hollow and Good Morning Bedlam, 8 p.m. Feb. 25 ($10-$15), Meteor Guitar Gallery, 128 W. Central Ave. 268-1500, meteorguitargallery.com.
ROGERS
• Dirty Flannel Shirt, Feb. 25; Take Cover, Feb. 26; Keith Nicholson, Feb. 28, JJ’s Grill, 4500 W. Walnut St. Free. 372-4460; jjsgrill.com.
EUREKA SPRINGS
• Alyssa Galvan plays at 7 p.m. Feb. 25; and Whiskey Menders perform at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Wanderoo Lodge & Bar, 216 W. Van Buren. 363-6755; facebook.com/wanderoolodge.
• Lyle Lovett performs at 7:30 p.m. March 23 ($85); and the Marshall Tucker Band plays at 7:30 p.m. March 25 ($79-$89) at the Eureka Springs City Auditorium, 36 S. Main St. 253-7788; theaud.org.
FAYETTEVILLE
• It’s Dungeons & Dragons night at 4 p.m. Feb. 25; Project 1268 plays at 8 p.m. Feb. 25; and Rachel B Band performs at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at Six-Twelve Coffeehouse, 3980 W. Wedington Drive. 856-6382; facebook.com/sixtwelvecoffeehouseandbar.
• Ultra Suede plays happy hour at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 ($8); Aaron Kamm & The One Drops play at 9 p.m. Feb. 25 ($10-$12); and Funk Factory plays at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 26 ($15) at George’s Majestic Lounge, 519 W. Dickson St. 527-6618; georgesmajesticlounge.com.
• The performance March 4 by Darrell Scott is sold out; the Clark Gibson Quintet plays at 7:30 p.m. March 5 ($33 and up); and the Joey Alexander Trio plays at 7 p.m. April 7 ($10) at Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St. 443-5600; waltonartscenter.org.
• Matt Berge is on stage Feb. 24; Feats of Strength plays Feb. 25; and Mike & Grady play Feb. 26 at JJ’s Grill, 1271 Steamboat Drive. 443-0700; jjsgrill.com.
FORT SMITH
• Our Town Celebrates Excellence with music by Larry B 70s Soul & Fun Experience & culinary arts by Chef Jasmine at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 ($25) at The Majestic, 817 Garrison Ave. 551-2424; majesticfortsmith.com.
• Ray Wiley Hubbard’s Feb. 24 performance has been rescheduled to 8 p.m. March 11 ($29-$49); Tab Benoit plays at 8 p.m. March 10 ($30-$39); and Candlebox performs at 8 p.m. March 17 ($25-$39) at Temple Live, 200 N. 11th St. 222-6186; fortsmith.templelive.com.
• Lyle Lovett brings his acoustic show to Fort Smith at 8:30 p.m. March 22 at ArcBest Performing Arts Center, 55 S. Seventh St. 788-8932; fortsmithconventioncenter.org.
SPRINGDALE
• Route 358 plays at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Black Apple Hard Cider, 321 E. Emma Ave. Free. 751-0337; facebook.com/blackapplehardcider.
Send info about your upcoming concerts and events to Becca Martin-Brown, Features editor, at bmartin@nwadg.com and Monica Hooper, music editor, at mhooper@nwadg.com.
