Music festivals in Hot Springs and El Dorado kick off the festival-heavy month of October, which could easily be renamed Festivalania.
Hot Springs
The Hot Water Hills Music & Arts Festival takes place Friday-Sunday in Hill Wheatley Plaza, 629 Central Ave., Hot Springs, just south of Bathhouse Row. Admission is free for all noon-4 p.m. Saturday, otherwise $10, free for children 12 and younger.
Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday. The music begins at 5 with the Hot Springs Music Festival Chorus, followed by the Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts Folk Music Class at 6; the Hot Springs Hot Spots songwriter showcase with Kevin Kerby, Jacob Flores, Mandy McBryde and Joshua Asante at 7:30; Banditos at 9; and Amasa Hines at 10:30.
Gates open at noon Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's lineup includes folk singer Laura Lee Williard with a kids concert at 5 p.m., followed by another Hot Springs Hot Spots songwriter showcase with Joe Measle, Jamie Lou Thies, Marty Shutter and Reece Sullivan at 6; Swamp Bird performs at 7:30; with Dana Falconberry at 9; and Rude King headlining at 10:30.
Sunday's schedule begins with the Hot Springs Jazz Society presenting the ATM Jazz Combo featuring Fedette Lady J Johnson at 12:30 p.m., followed by Cutthroat Trout at 3; Dana Falconberry at 4:30; and the Van Allen Belt at 6.
The festival will also include children's activities, an art fair and the Retro Rummage sale, plus workshops and activities each day. Call (501) 282-9056 or visit hotwaterhills.com.
El Dorado
The 27th MusicFest El Dorado on Friday and Saturday will feature more than 30 acts.
Saturday admission is free before 3 p.m.; otherwise, tickets are $20 each day, free for children 12 and younger with a paid admission. A $30 weekend pass is available through 9 p.m. today at El Dorado Brookshire's locations online at musicfesteldorado.com. Call (870) 862-4747.
Friday's mainstage acts include LeBryant Crew at 5 p.m.; Shock G from Digital Underground at 7:15; Coolio at 8:30; and Salt N Pepa at 9:30.
The Murphy USA stage will open at 6:30 p.m. with Stephen Neeper & Wild Hearts, followed by the Eskimo Brothers at 8; and Dash Rip Rock at 10. On the PJ's Coffee stage, the Neal Street Strummers perform at 5 p.m. and Da Unit at 11.
Saturday's main stage acts: Backroad Anthem at 5:30 p.m.; David Fanning at 7; Brothers Osborne at 8:30; and Jerrod Niemann at 9:45. The Murphy USA stage opens with Three Times Denied at noon, followed by Southern Koast at 1:30; 32 Strikes at 2:30; Shari Bales Band at 4; the Bluebirds at 6; Moonshine Mafia at 8; and Da Unit at 10.
Various school stage acts open the lineup on the PJ's Coffee stage at 9 a.m., followed by Monty Russell at noon; Age of Man at 1 p.m.; Buddy Flett & Dave Almond at 2:30; and Dauzat St. Marie at 4:30.
The Train Car at Corrine Court stage will open at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with the Donald Miller Trio, followed by Darril "Harp" Edwards at 2 p.m.
Weekend on 10/02/2014