The Arkansas Tent (again sponsored by Arkansas Times) is back for its third year, holding within it a range of local sounds from gospel to country to shredding bar rock. The Men of Praise & The United Voices (6:30 p.m.) featuring Friendly Womack — yep, that’s Bobby’s brother — lead off on Friday. It starts the festival off with an opening prayer, so to speak.
They’re followed by Kemistri featuring Nikki Parish (6:30 p.m.), a seven-piece nu-R&B outfit fronted by a local R&B diva with as good of a set of pipes as you’ll find all weekend.
Headlining on Friday is Michael Burks (9:30 p.m.), the Camden-raised “Iron Man” himself, who shreds the blues in an inimitable, untamed style. One part Albert Collins, one part Slash, Burks’ world-traveled guitar handiwork has earned him a spot as one of the most imposing figures in contemporary blues.