Mariza, The Ace of Spayeds

Mariza

Called the “Queen of Fado,” Portugal’s Mariza will play the Walton Arts Center on Saturday. Fado is the music of Portugal. A true master of voice, Mariza easily goes from the traditional Portuguese music to beautiful ballads like “Smile.” She has received multiple Grammy nominations and a BBC World Music Award as Best European Act and has played Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Tickets are $18-$32.

Kelsey Joy and Gabriel Kopecky of the Nashville based six-piece band ‘Kopecky Family Band’

will play Teatro Scarpino Thursday, April 9.

The Ace of Spayeds
Like most bands, the Kopecky Family Band puts out music that crosses several different genres…indie, rock, maybe a little prog, a little roots. It’s been described as neo-classical, folk rock. Regardless of how you peg them, their sound and stage performance deserves attention. The six-piece band from Nashville will be playing their first show in Fayetteville, next Thursday night (April 9) at Teatro Scarpino. Tagged as the Ace of Spayeds, since it’s a benefit for Spay Arkansas, also performing will be the talented NWA singer Emily Knight. The Kopecky Family Band is composed of classically trained and self-taught musicians who play guitar, cello, vibes, fiddle. keys and drums. Tickets are $8 at the door.

Get Outside, Do Something Different
Saturday and Sunday the 21st annual Ozark Mountain Bike Festival will take place at Devil’s Den State Park south of Fayetteville. The rocks, crevices and boulders in the Ozarks, make these hills the perfect place for the rugged individuals who command their motor-less two-wheelers like horseracing jockeys. You can take your bike and enjoy some of the guided rides or just go and watch. Rides begin at 9 a.m. both days and continue throughout the day. Novices rides are three to five miles and advanced rides up to 15 miles. On Saturday night there will be a bike parts swap meet and free hamburgers. For a schedule call 761-3325 or email devilsden@arkansas.com.
1 p.m. Sunday at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, you can learn about growing organic herbs and veggies. Gardeners Leigh Wilkerson, Lisa Netherland and Janice Neighbor will show how to grow edibles in different kinds of spaces, like your backyard or balcony. The class is for beginners, but there will be new idea that even the more seasoned gardeners will appreciate. The cost is $10 or free if you join the BGO. Pre-registration is advised. Go to www.bgozarks.org/events. If you can’t make this event, check out the website. There are some great programs coming up.
Are you the quilting type or do you like to watch women on four wheels, thrash and elbow their way around a skating rink? If you’re curious about either, this week you have a chance to enjoy something different.
Friday and Saturday at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale, Quilters United in Learning Together are having a quilt show from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. At 3 p.m. Saturday you can bid on more than 80 quilts offered at the quilt auction. But don’t expect only your grandmother’s-style quilt. Quilting has evolved and among the traditional styles are more modern works of art that are small enough to hang on a wall. Hundreds of quilts will be on display and there will be a country store, classes and a lecture by renowned quilter Mary Sorensen. For info go to www.quiltguildofnw.org. Admission is $5.
If you’ve never been to a roller girls bout, you should check it out. The NWA Rollergirls will be going at it on Saturday with the Mo-Kan Roller Girlz from Baxter Springs, Kan. The fast-paced sport first captivated audiences in the 1930s. The NWA Rollergirls brought roller derby to NWA in 2006 as the flat track revival began happening across the U.S. The bout starts at 7 p.m. at Roller City in Springdale. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Children 12 and younger are free with a paid adult. For tickets go to www.nwarollergirls.com.
Finally, former president George H.W. Bush—that’s the first President Bush—will be in town to speak at 8 p.m. Monday at Barnhill Arena on the University of Arkansas campus. It’s free and should be interesting.