Weekly Lowdown: Bikes, Blues and BBQ Is Upon Us

TFW File Photo

One of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the United States is here and it’s taken over Fayetteville, with the nucleus in Dickson Street.

For many, this is a great time to go out and immerse in the revelry robed in patina leather with giant deep-fried turkey legs in hand, observing the masses and their metal ponies. While the many engines burst and rumble out of hot exhaust pipes, the poor souls who dwell downtown remain sleepless and steaming.

Still though, it’s a real rowdy time if you go with the flow. If you’re willing to give it a go, check out our list of events on this page.

Stay “tuned” for our second installment of the “Bikers of Bikes, Blues and BBQ” next week once the party is over. It’s our little version of the popular empathetic Facebook page “Humans of New York.”

ALTERNATIVES TO THE LEATHER AND LOUD NOISES PARADES

Students for Gender Equality Climax Party feat. DEERPEOPLE + RD MAUZY

• Friday, Sept. 25 @ JR’s Lightbulb Club, 19 N. Block Ave.

Starting at 8 p.m. at JR’s Lightbulb Club, the University of Arkansas Students for Gender Equality will be celebrating the end of Smart and Sexy Sex week with a bang.

The event will feature some stand up comedy, a burlesque performance, prizes and live music from DEERPEOPLE and RD Mauzy. DEERPEOPLE are an excellent sort of indie-pop rock band from Stillwater, Okla. RD Mauzy (lo-fi rock) will open the show.

And tonight, if you’re reading this on Thursday, be sure to attend the “Consent and Sexual Assault on College Campuses” lecture by Kristen Jozkowski (remember her Q&A from our sex issue in February?) at the Northwest Quad on the north side of campus in room B108 at 6 p.m. Also free.

Square Dance

• Friday, Sept. 25 @ Backspace, 541 W. Meadow St.

Did you know there’s a monthly, legit square dance that’s hosted each month in Fayetteville? I can’t think of a better date night idea, and for only a suggested donation of $5.

Led by May Bell Music’s Allison Williams, the traditional Ozark and southern square dances are taught and called to live old-time string band music. This month is featuring the fiddle work of Andrew Haught.

While a square dance may sound daunting if you’ve never been to one before, all of the dances are explained and are generally easy to pick up with no experience required. Also, you don’t have to bring a partner.

The event is BYOB, and you will definitely want to bring some water as it can really get hot and happenin’ after a while.

Sure, some people may prefer robot music set to flashing lights and fog machines, but if you’re in the market to see a Fayetteville institution keeping the history of these dances alive, get your boots on down to the Backspace Friday night. You will be glad you did.

Last Saturday

• Saturday, Sept. 26 @ Fayetteville Underground, 101 W. Mountain St.

If you’ve lived in Fayetteville for an extended period of time and haven’t taken the time to attend the ultra-free, ultra-fun Last Saturday that is hosted each month at the Fayetteville Underground, there’s an oasis of entertainment awaiting you.

The event is all ages (with the warning of possible adult language) and there will be a cash bar for all your libation needs. Set in the art gallery of the Fayetteville Underground on the downtown square, the event is all about showcasing the area’s best performance arts.

This Saturday is shaping up to be an especially good one. There will be bluegrass from The Vine Brothers, indie-pop from Paper Anthem, improv comedy from Jordan Haynes and cool jams from Aisle 24.

Along with those performances will be the Word War, an audience-judged spoken word competition open to the public. Each person who competes gets to attempt to entertain the audience with their own original poetry, comedy, singing, or any vocal performance. Entertainers will be judged Olympic-style by five randomly selected audience members, and the highest scores at the end of the night win $50. If you think you’ve got what it takes, give it shot.

What’s extra cool is the winner of this word war will represent Fayetteville in the World Poetry Slam competition.