Much was new in Northwest Arkansas in 2014. But, as Trout Fishing in America says in "Old Things," "you're not getting any younger, and I'm getting older, too!"
Ezra Idlet and Keith Grimwood have been playing together as Trout Fishing in America for 35 years, putting them square in the middle of regionally venerable institutions celebrating anniversaries in 2014. In those years together, they've earned four Grammy nominations, three National Indie Awards, multiple Parents Choice and NAPPA Gold awards and the American Library Award, released more than a dozen albums for children and adults and played all over the country -- and this year, in Idaho.
Here are some of the other "old things" Northwest Arkansas treasures:
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Tontitown Grape Festival -- The granddaddy of the entertainment offerings on our list, the Tontitown Grape Festival turned 116 in 2014. The August event pays tribute to Italian immigrants that founded the community west of Springdale and the grape industry that helped them build it.
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Old Fort Days Rodeo -- Billed as the "Pawnee Bill Rodeo" and featuring the real Pawnee Bill from Pawnee, Okla., the first rodeo took place at Andrews Field, close to the Arkansas River near downtown Fort Smith, in 1933. Beginning each year on Memorial Day, the rodeo still offers one of the largest prize purses in Arkansas.
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Rodeo of the Ozarks -- Coming in just behind its River Valley cousin, the Rodeo of the Ozarks, founded by a group of Springdale men and women led by Shorty Parsons, turned 70 in 2014. The rodeo is consistently ranked in the top five outdoor rodeos by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
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Fort Smith Little Theatre -- Founded in 1947, the community theater troupe turned 67 in 2014. In its 2015 season, the company will present six regular season productions, each with a run of 12 shows, and three off-season productions.
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Arts Center of the Ozarks -- Still an icon of the arts in Northwest Arkansas -- and an innovator in 2014 with the Sensory Iconoclasts art, music and food experience on the A&M Railroad -- the Arts Center of the Ozarks kicked off its 48th season in July with "The Sound of Music." ACO also brought a new Main Street Music Nights series to downtown Springdale in 2014.
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Frisco Festival -- Remembering the railroad that built Rogers, the Frisco Festival turned 30 in 2014. "Frisco Festival is probably the longest running downtown event in this area," Dana Mather, Main Street Rogers director, said in 2014. Jenny Harmon, the Main Street Rogers director who founded the festival, estimates about 1,500 people attended the first year. Of course, only about 17,000 people lived in Rogers at the time.
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Rogers Little Theater -- Poised to celebrate 30 years in 2015, Rogers Little Theater has grown from a tiny troupe presenting theater wherever there was space to a downtown anchor with performers strong enough to stage "Les Miserables" to rave reviews in 2014. Look for big news when the 30th season is announced on Jan. 15.
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The Lightbulb Club -- In the 25 years the Fayetteville club has been hosting live music, it's welcomed names as big as Jack White of The White Stripes, The Postal Service, The Mountain Goats, TV on the Radio, The Dismemberment Plan and Lucero. Among bands celebrating 25 years with the club in September were The Good Fear, The Airplanes and Doctor Nod.
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The Little O' Oprey -- The Little O' Oprey, at home in an historic structure at the corner of Main and Campbell in West Fork, also celebrated its silver anniversary in 2014. Over the years, the stars on its stage have included Joe Nichols and Jenee Keener Fleenor, but more often its hometown musicians playing mountain music for hometown fans every Saturday night.
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VORE -- The longest continuously playing metal band in Arkansas, VORE was the recipient of the 2009 Northwest Arkansas Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award and celebrated 20 years with a concert in June at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville.
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Ultra Suede -- Last but not least on the anniversary list, Ultra Suede celebrated its 20th anniversary with a Halloween show. The party rock band -- formed by Rhonda Dillard, Chaddie Platt and Susie Q Winn -- first performed on Oct. 31, 1994, and over the years opened for The Pointer Sisters, The Gap Band and The B52s. Ultra Suede gigs now often take place at corporate events or quarterly at George's for happy hour, but Dillard says the musicians are still doing what they set out to do: "We just wanted to have fun on the weekends."
-- Becca Martin-Brown
NAN What's Up on 12/19/2014