What Would Dick Renko Do?

Series continues to offer unique musical selection

Albert Cummings opens the 17th Artist Audience & Community Live! series.
Albert Cummings opens the 17th Artist Audience & Community Live! series.

When it comes time to book the next Artist Audience & Community Live! series in Fort Smith, Tom Ware admits he asks himself the same question every year: What would Dick Renko do?

The longtime music promoter, who died in 2013, started the series 17 years ago as "kind of a private party," Ware says, but also as a way to promote downtown Fort Smith -- which at the time was in need of a renaissance.

FYI

Artist Audience & Community Live!

2016-17 Season

Thursday — Albert Cummings: “Cummings effortlessly shifts from chimney subdued stylings to raucous roadhouse raunch to soaring yet stinging lead lines, driving his audience to frenzy in all the right places.”

Oct. 6 — The Peterson Brothers: “These two talented teenage brothers – Glenn and Alex Peterson – from Bastrop, Texas, play old-school blues, soul and funk.”

Nov. 18 — BeauSoleil avec Michael Ducet: “BeauSoleil is notorious for bringing even the most staid audience to its feet.”

Dec. 15 — Katy Giullen & the Girls: “Katy Guillen has been influenced by blues, flamenco, rock & roll, and folk. Her roots rock trio, comprised of Katy (guitar, vocals), Claire Adams (bass, vocals), and Stephanie Williams (drums), is one of Kansas City’s most exciting up-and-coming bands.”

Jan. 26 — Harpeth Rising: “Their music is as intricately arranged as a string quartet, lyrically rooted in the singer/songwriter tradition, and wrapped in three-part vocal harmonies reminiscent of both Appalachia and Medieval Europe.”

Feb. 9 — Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo: “Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo are both technically gifted guitarists and versatile jazz players with superb on-stage charisma.”

March 5 — Kathy Mattea: Featuring her longtime collaborator, guitarist Bill Cooley.

WHEN — Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; music starts at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE — 801 Media Center at 801 N. A St. in Fort Smith

COST — $40 per show or $250 for the series

INFO — aaclive.com

"Now we're a nonprofit, so we do some community outreach and charity work, go out into the schools," Ware says. "It's a way to try to involve the students in some music they might not otherwise be exposed to."

Ware admits there is more house concert competition these days, but "we still book an eclectic sort of roster of bands that ordinarily wouldn't be in Fort Smith." This year, he's especially looking forward to BeauSoleil, a Cajun band performing Nov. 18, and Kathy Mattea on March 5.

"I was on Mercury Records in Nashville with her back in the '80s, so that will be a special treat," he says.

Both season and single tickets are on sale prior to the series opener, blues musician Albert Cummings, who will perform Thursday.

-- Becca Martin-Brown

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NAN What's Up on 09/16/2016

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