In it’s second year, the Arkansas Tent remains one of the best and most diverse concentrated helpings of local music you’ll find.
In a departure from last year, organizer Rob Bell’s grouped days into loose genres. And that probably makes sense. You’ve rhythm-oriented stuff on Friday. Country and roots on Saturday. And rock on Sunday.
I should have the complete schedule, including all the local acts playing main stages, sometime next week. In the meantime, here’s a rundown of all the big names coming.
At the Arkansas Tent:
FRIDAY 5/22
Gina Gee (6:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.) Central Arkansas’ most impressive soul singer backed by a live band.
Eclipse Glasses (8 p.m.-9 p.m.) Popular genre-bending supergroup. A lil’ bit of funk. A lil’ bit of Afrobeat. A lil’ bit of post-punk. Lots of grooves.
Cool Shoes (9:30 p.m.-11 p.m.) The popular monthly dance party takes a field trip. Now that’s it’s gone 21-and-up, this’ll be a chance for the kids to come back to the fold.
SATURDAY, 5/23
The Shelby Avenue Baptist Singers (2:30 p.m. -2:45 p.m.) Traditional hymns in winning folk arrangements from Searcy native Bonnie Montgomery and her husband Jim Yates.
Montgomery Trucking (3 p.m.-4 p.m.) Another set from Bonnie Montgomery. This time she performs her catchy original folk numbers.
Good Time Ramblers (4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.) Rowdy sing-a-long country-rock.
Amy Garland Band (6 p.m.-7 p.m.) After a long hiatus, one of Little Rock’s favorite singer/songwriter’s returns with an ace backing band.
Chris Denny (7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.) North Little Rock’s golden-throated folk singer comes with one of the tightest bands around.*
Dale Hawkins (9:30 p.m. -11 p.m.) The rockabilly legend who penned “Suzie Q.”
SUNDAY, 5/24
An Orangutan (3:30 p.m. -4:30 p.m.) Prog rock upstarts.
Kyoto Boom (5 p.m.-6 p.m.) A new wave/post-punk powerhouse.
The See (6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) Indie rock done right.
Kevin Kerby + Battery (8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.) Raucous, roots-tinged jams from one of Little Rock’s favorite singer/songwriters.