Bluegrass fans, make plans for the upcoming weekend. Twice.
Two unique bluegrass festivals start Thursday, with the annual Eureka Springs Bluegrass Festival taking place in the town of the same name and the annual Northwest Arkansas Bluegrass Festival on tap just outside Harrison. Both events run through Aug. 16.
FAQ
Eureka Springs Bluegrass Festival
WHEN — Thursday-Aug. 16
WHERE — Various venues in Eureka Springs
COST — Some shows free; $12-$35 for ticketed shows in The Auditorium
INFO — Tickets at theaud.org
AND
Northwest Arkansas
Bluegrass Festival
WHEN — Thursday-Aug. 16
WHERE — Beacon Park, 5 miles north of Harrison on U.S. 65
COST — $10 Thursday or Aug. 15; $12 Aug. 16; $25 for three-day passes
INFO — 870-426-3477
And both feature more than a dozen bluegrass acts. Coming to Eureka Springs will be about 80 pickers, and festival organizer and bluegrass musician Joe McClung says he's excited about this year's roster.
"I've got a 16-year-old player who will knock your socks off with her playing and her voice," he says. He also mentions Tim Crouch, whom he calls "The Freak of Nashville," as someone not to miss. Dozens more will also join the festivities, and all of them have two things in common: They are family friendly acts, and they play traditional music.
The Eureka Springs event starts Thursday in Basin Spring Park with a free watermelon social and jam session. McClung estimates about 30 of the musicians will invade the park that night, clustered in four or five circles of music.
The events of Aug. 15-16 run parallel to each other. Free music takes place in the park both days, followed by ticketed events at The Auditorium later in the evening. Performers on Aug. 15 include Melvin Goins with Retro & Smiling, Buffalo City Ramblers and The Davanzo Brothers. On Aug. 16, acts such as Al Brumley Jr. and Friends, Tim Crouch and headliners Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show are scheduled.
Near Harrison, many other bluegrass bands will be on the stage at the same time as the events in Eureka Springs. Acts such as Sugar Creek Bluegrass, the Baker Family and the Batten Family all perform throughout the weekend. Many of the performers have come to the Northwest Arkansas Bluegrass Festival at some point during its 43 years, but this year features several new faces.
"I'm excited about the entire lineup," says event organizer Larry Martin.
Thursday opens with an all-gospel performance. Music continues with an evening set Aug. 15 and daytime and nighttime sets Aug. 16. The concerts take place in Beacon Park, a venue Martin describes as "a second-to-none outdoor amphitheater for this type of event."
-- Kevin Kinder
NAN What's Up on 08/08/2014