Monica Hooper

Features Writer/Music Editor[email protected]

Recent stories by Monica Hooper

BentonvilleCon promises day of ‘pop culture’ Saturday FAQ - BentonvilleConWHAT -- A chance to meet comic book legends, wrestling and TV actors with cosplay contests, an all-day Smash Bros. tourney, door prizes and more than 100 vendors with comic books, ... June 2, 2023

LIVE Music: Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors play Rogers, Blues Party in Eureka Springs Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors bring their "Find Your People" tour to the Butterfield Stage in downtown Rogers on Sunday. Dawson Hollow opens the show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$49.50. See r... June 2, 2023

Onstage in Fayetteville: ‘Madagascar the Musical’ promises fun for kids, career for puppeteer A silly animated tale about following your dreams is getting a live-action makeover -- and then there are the penguins."We have some brand new songs that are inspired by moments of the film, [so]... May 28, 2023

Eureka Springs Blues Party hosts Ray Wylie Hubbard, others during festival weekend Gina Rambo, director of marketing and communications for the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa and Basin Park Hotel, couldn't be more excited. Four days of the blues is coming for Eureka Springs.&quot... May 28, 2023

Marcia Ball warms up for Ray Wylie Hubbard June 2 at blues fest in Eureka Springs You can hear the nearly half-century of singing in Marcia Ball's voice when she speaks. The gentle cracks, the even dynamics, her easy laugh. Her voice is well-worn but strong.When it comes to the... May 28, 2023

LIVE! Music: Joe Nichols headlines at TempleLive; Duo Divinas play live series Tickets are on sale now for Joe Nichols and Dillon Carmichael who play at 6:30 p.m. June 9 at at TempleLive in Fort Smith.The Rogers-born, Grammy-nominated country music artist Nichols released his la... May 28, 2023

LIVE! Music: Ozark quartet Dandelion Heart headlines in Fayetteville; Sunday music begins at FPL Dandelion Heart plays their first headlining show June 3 at George's Majestic Lounge.The four-piece string band with Lacy Hampton, Korey McKelvy, Willa Thomason and Chase Hart will share the stage... May 28, 2023

LIVE Music: Shannon Wurst kicks of Siloam Springs concerts, Smokey & the Mirror play Johnson Square series The Shannon Wurst Band kicks off the May Fourth Friday tonight in Siloam Springs with her Ozark Americana sound at Chautauqua Amphitheater in Memorial Park. Music starts at 7 p.m. The evening also inc... May 26, 2023

A REVIEW: ‘It’s a sad song, but we sing it anyway’: ‘Hadestown’ cast raises cup to the ‘world we dream about’ on opening night The narrator of "Hadestown" closed the opening night of the award-winning musical by acknowledging the elephant in the room.During an extended standing ovation, Nathan Lee Graham raised a cu... May 25, 2023

LIVE! Music: Fayetteville welcomes UK-based shame, Stone La Rue plays River Valley, Dave Matthews Band in Rogers UK-based "shame" performs at George's Majestic Lounge with opener Been Stellar at 8 p.m. May 28 in Fayetteville.Now on a tour of the U.S., the quintet recorded their noisy, riff-laden &q... May 21, 2023