Stoney LaRue, the Red Dirt rocker scheduled to perform at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville on Saturday (Nov. 7), has postponed the appearance.

According to a message sent out by George’s last evening, the show is being postponed due to “the death of a close friend” of LaRue’s.

LaRue says the following on what appears to be his Twitter page:

“Say a prayer for the family of Todd Ashby if yall would.. Biker buddy from Houston. I pray the family has support from within to keep on.”

In terms of rescheduling, George’s offers the following advice, via the message announcing the postponement:

“We have been assured the reschedule date will happen quickly. Please hold your tickets and we’ll post the new date as soon as possible.”

Instead, Saturday night’s show will feature free performances by Matt Stell and Emory Quinn.

We’ll update you when the date has been rescheduled.

Filed under: Concert Announcements, Concert Reminders, Music Industry News, NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: November 6, 2009 at 9:05 am
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Kayhan Kalhor, second from left, and Brooklyn Rider

Nicholas Cords didn’t know much about Persian music. A professional viola player, he had received instruction at some of the best schools — The Juilliard School among them — but they didn’t teach much of it, either.

It wasn’t until he met master kamancheh player and Iran native Kayhan Kalhor that he received a proper introduction.

Since the two players met in 2000 as part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, the two have formed a friendship that extends into their joy of music. Cords and his bandmates in Brooklyn Rider, a noted string quartet in its own right, have been playing with Kalhor off and on since that meeting.

It finally resulted in an album, “Silent City,” in 2008, a combination of Western and Eastern philosophies and tunes.

The partnership between Kalhor and the American string quartet continues, with Cords calling the kamancheh player “a natural fifth member” of their group.

Cords, calling on a rare day off from touring, recently chatted with us about the first time he met Kalhor, the knowledge of Eastern culture he has gained through his friendship with him and how it has influenced his playing. Read more about that story here.

Kalhor and Brooklyn Rider will visit the Walton Arts Center tonight (Nov. 6). Tickets are $18.50-$32.50 and are available at the venue, by calling 443-5600 or at the venue’s Web site.

Filed under: Concert Reminders, Music Industry News, NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: November 6, 2009 at 6:03 am
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Pretty Lights

Those who went to the local Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival may have heard about Pretty Lights, whose set there drew a large crowd. Pretty Lights is producer Derek Smith and, in a live setting such as the one that will take place Thursday night (Nov. 12) at George’s Majestic Lounge, a drummer. Pretty Lights has given away nearly half a million copies of their electronic-based music online and that was before a third album, “Passing By Behind Your Eyes,” was released for free on Oct. 6. Tickets to the show at George’s, located at 519 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville, are $15 and are available at the venue or its Web site.

Filed under: Concert Reminders, Music Industry News, NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: November 6, 2009 at 6:01 am
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Behind the sheen of his aviators, there is some soul in Leon Russell. The noted classic rock pianist and songwriter is coming back to Fayetteville.

A quick check of the Walton Art Center’s new events page yielded a few interesting nuggets this morning. Specifically, that on consecutive evenings, Leon Russell and Joe Nichols will be performing there.

Russell, who has toured with Joe Cocker and got his start as a top songwriter, will perform on Dec. 18, a Friday. Tickets are $30.50-$50.50 and are already available through the venue’s Web site.

Nichols is a Rogers native who has achieved country music stardom with songs such as “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and “Brokenheartsville.” He released his latest album, “Old Things New,” in late October. His performance takes place Dec. 19, a Saturday. Tickets are $20.50-$35.50.

Filed under: Concert Announcements, Music Industry News, NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: November 4, 2009 at 2:10 pm
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The marquee is down. The parking lot is always empty. Activity has ceased.

So, we’re guessing that The Gypsy on College, which opened in October 2008, has closed.

Anyone have any idea what happened?

Filed under: NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: November 2, 2009 at 12:50 pm
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George Winston

George Winston must not have been content mastering one style of piano.

So he learned three of them.

The pianist is accomplished as a stride player (think Fats Waller), on New Orleans piano (think Dr. John or Professor Longhair) and a pop style of his own creation he likes to call rustic folk.

He has recorded solo piano albums under each style, which he said are so distinct it is almost as if they were played on three different instruments. He will demonstrate each when he performs at 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 1) at the Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St., in Fayetteville.

Winston has been playing for nearly 40 years, but it wasn’t always on piano. He started as an organ player, inspired to pick up the instrument after falling in love with the psychedelic rock band The Doors.

Winston chatted about hearing The Doors for the first time, his evolution as a player and the artists that have influenced him in a recent chat with the Northwest Arkansas Times. Find the story that resulted from the conversation here.

Tickets to the show are $30.50-$42.50 and are available at the WAC box office, by calling 443-5600 or through the venue’s Web site.

Filed under: Concert Reminders, Music Industry News, NWA Music News, Read More Here by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: October 30, 2009 at 6:03 am
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Bill Hearne

Legally blind since birth, Bill Hearne is not a typical musician. He is largely self-taught, and his picking style was one he developed all his own. While in Austin, Texas, Hearne met his wife, Bonnie, and the duo toured together for years. In 1997, they were signed to Warner Bros. Records and their first album for that label, “Diamonds in the Rough,” climbed to No. 5 on the Americana music chart. Hearne now travels the country with his son, Michael, and together, with a backing band, the two musicians will appear at 8 p.m. today (Oct. 30) at GoodFolk Productions, 229 N. Block Ave., in Fayetteville. Admission is $15. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling 521-1812.

Filed under: In the Spotlight, Music Industry News, NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: October 30, 2009 at 6:01 am
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One of the many Halloween related music events. Get scared.

It’s almost Halloween. Almost.

There is still a week to get your costume together. There is still a week to carve a pumpkin (and bake and eat the seeds after you do. Delish). There is still time to buy candy for the visiting kiddos.

When that’s all complete, don’t bother searching for places to go. We’ve got that taken care of for you.

With Halloween falling on a Saturday (and the Hogs’ homecoming game on that evening, too) it’s bound to be a frightfully good time on Dickson Street in Fayetteville next weekend.

We have a more detailed list in today’s What’s Up! section, but you can click the ‘more’ link below for a compilation of the Halloween-related music events coming to downtown Fayetteville next weekend.

(more…)

Filed under: Concert Reminders, NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: October 23, 2009 at 6:03 am
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Lollipop Factory

The name Lollipop Factory might be a little bit of a misnomer. The Alabama-based duo of Bekah Manning and David Tweed don’t make confectionery treats. Instead, they make tasty metal music. The group, currently touring the South, will trek through Fayetteville and will stop for a 10 p.m. concert today (Oct. 23) at Smoke & Barrel Tavern, 324 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. The two-piece group has often received comparisons to duos such as The White Stripes and The Kills but have a darker sound that pulls from metal bands such as Black Sabbath. The concert is free. Local act Perpetual Werewolf opens.

Filed under: Concert Reminders, In the Spotlight, Music Industry News, NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: October 23, 2009 at 6:01 am
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Although there was no indication that the festival would be going away after a successful first year in this area, this was comforting this morning:

Wakarusa is coming back to Mulberry Mountain. The dates for 2010 were announced this morning.

The festival will take place June 3-6.

In a word, YES.

As artists are announced, we’ll update you here. We don’t expect to know any of the major acts until early next year.

We’ll see you down there.

Filed under: Concert Announcements, Concert Reminders, Music Industry News, NWA Music News by Kevin Kinder. Posted on: October 22, 2009 at 9:40 am
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