Courtesy Photo
The Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers is the music venue bringing the biggest stars to the area. Not a bad seat in the house and lawn tickets can be extremely affordable even for students. Country superstar Brad Paisley brings his “Weekend Warrior World Tour” to the AMP with guests Dustin Lynch, Chase Bryant and Lindsay Ell on Sept. 1.
Perfectly situated between Tulsa and Memphis, Kansas City and Dallas, Northwest Arkansas may not have the biggest cities, but it’s drawing more and more performers as they travel the country and is winning them over with its charm. From the tiny to the 10,000-seater, venues for live music abound in the area. Here are just a few open to 18 and older or to all ages.
Backspace
WHAT — This DIY venue supports community arts programming across mediums and hosts local, regional and nationally touring musical acts. Over 21 can BYOB
WHERE — 541 W. Meadow St., in the corrugated metal building along the Frisco Trail in Fayetteville
HOW MUCH — Tickets for shows vary, but many are $5 donation for the artists
INFO — facebook.com/backspacearts
George’s Majestic Lounge
WHAT — The King of Dickson, George’s Majestic Lounge boasts two stages and 90 years of history as Arkansas’ longest-running club. Catch local players during free music happy hour on Fridays or grab a ticket to touring up-and-comers and regional favorites across genres.
WHERE — Corner of Dickson and Powerhouse Avenue in Fayetteville
INFO — 527-6618
WHY IT’S COOL — A staple of the entertainment district, George’s was also named one of 100 Greatest Venues in America by Consequence of Sound.
JJ’s Beer Garden & Brewing Co.
WHAT — North Fayetteville’s new brewery and music venue is a great hangout spot with lawn games, a sand volleyball court, full menu plus food truck and free shows with touring musicians on Thursdays during the summer.
WHERE — Corner of Steele Boulevard and Van Asche Drive in uptown Fayetteville
INFO — 435-6502
BONUS — JJ’s also has live music many nights a week at its restaurant locations: on Dickson, on Steamboat Drive in Fayetteville, in Rogers, in Bella Vista and in Fort Smith.
Meteor Guitar Gallery
WHAT — A restored 100-year-old movie theater that has been turned into a guitar store with more than a thousand instruments and amplifiers, one of kind art pieces from many local artists and one of the coolest live music/movie/party venues in Bentonville.
WHERE — West Central Avenue off the Bentonville downtown square
INFO — 268-1500
Nomad’s Music Lounge
WHAT — Known as much for its locally sourced food and fresh cocktails as for its entertainment, Nomad’s Music Lounge is doing its part to Keep Fayetteville Funky with performances from quirky to rowdy.
WHERE — Corner of South School Avenue and West 15th Street in south Fayetteville
INFO — 435-5606
Stage Eighteen
WHAT — Downtown’s new intimate space melding music, theater, the arts and a full bar — getting guests up close and personal with the artists.
WHERE — 18 E. Center St. just off the Fayetteville downtown square.
INFO — facebook.com/stage18live
Perfectly situated between Tulsa and Memphis, Kansas City and Dallas, Northwest Arkansas may not have the biggest cities, but it’s drawing more and more performers as they travel the country and is winning them over with its charm. From the tiny to the 10,000-seater, venues for live music abound in the area. Here are just a few open to 18 and older or to all ages.
Backspace
WHAT — This DIY venue supports community arts programming across mediums and hosts local, regional and nationally touring musical acts. Over 21 can BYOB
WHERE — 541 W. Meadow St., in the corrugated metal building along the Frisco Trail in Fayetteville
HOW MUCH — Tickets for shows vary, but many are $5 donation for the artists
INFO — facebook.com/backspacearts
George’s Majestic Lounge
WHAT — The King of Dickson, George’s Majestic Lounge boasts two stages and 90 years of history as Arkansas’ longest-running club. Catch local players during free music happy hour on Fridays or grab a ticket to touring up-and-comers and regional favorites across genres.
WHERE — Corner of Dickson and Powerhouse Avenue in Fayetteville
INFO — 527-6618
WHY IT’S COOL — A staple of the entertainment district, George’s was also named one of 100 Greatest Venues in America by Consequence of Sound.
JJ’s Beer Garden & Brewing Co.
WHAT — North Fayetteville’s new brewery and music venue is a great hangout spot with lawn games, a sand volleyball court, full menu plus food truck and free shows with touring musicians on Thursdays during the summer.
WHERE — Corner of Steele Boulevard and Van Asche Drive in uptown Fayetteville
INFO — 435-6502
BONUS — JJ’s also has live music many nights a week at its restaurant locations: on Dickson, on Steamboat Drive in Fayetteville, in Rogers, in Bella Vista and in Fort Smith.
Meteor Guitar Gallery
WHAT — A restored 100-year-old movie theater that has been turned into a guitar store with more than a thousand instruments and amplifiers, one of kind art pieces from many local artists and one of the coolest live music/movie/party venues in Bentonville.
WHERE — West Central Avenue off the Bentonville downtown square
INFO — 268-1500
Nomad’s Music Lounge
WHAT — Known as much for its locally sourced food and fresh cocktails as for its entertainment, Nomad’s Music Lounge is doing its part to Keep Fayetteville Funky with performances from quirky to rowdy.
WHERE — Corner of South School Avenue and West 15th Street in south Fayetteville
INFO — 435-5606
Stage Eighteen
WHAT — Downtown’s new intimate space melding music, theater, the arts and a full bar — getting guests up close and personal with the artists.
WHERE — 18 E. Center St. just off the Fayetteville downtown square.
INFO — facebook.com/stage18live
FYI
Music Festivals
Summer may be on its way out, but there are still plenty of events to keep local festies satisfied.
• Fayetteville Roots Festival, Aug. 23-27
• Bikes, Blues & BBQ, Sept. 20-23
• Byrdfest 15, Sept. 22-24
• Hillberry Harvest Moon Music Festival, Oct. 12-15
• AMP Fest, Oct. 14
• Ozark Folk Festival, Nov. 3-4
• Ozark Mountain Music Festival, Jan. 19-22
JOCELYN MURPHY
jmurphy@nwadg.com
