It sure has been exciting to see the multitude of exciting blues events lately
in NWA and nearby! Tonight the
legendary Bobby Rush is coming to Fayetteville to present a night of music and stories. His visit is to help highlight the awesomely cool "Juke Joint Project" blues exhibit has opened at The Pryor Center in downtown Fayetteville. Read
on below for all the information of how
to visit the exhibit and how to get tickets for the Bobby Rush event. Then for those up for a trip outside NWA, there are still
a few tickets left for Bonnie Raitt's tour stop on Monday in Little Rock.
It is also exciting to see the music calendar so nicely filled out with many local events! As you may be aware, we share not only blues events in the region,
but also select events at venues we
have partnered with in the past.
Returning articles this week include the information about the cool new exhibit
-A Cast of Blues- now open at the
CACHE Art Gallery at 214 S. Main
Street in Springdale as well as how to visit the "Juke Joint Project" in Fayetteville.
Also we are sharing the announcement of the 2021 winners in the International Songwriting Competition. You will also find the link to the 2022 competition as submissions are underway. Read on for more information about all of these.
Also of note, we will be ending the weekly "Support Local Artists" column after this edition now that live events have resumed a more normal schedule.
Always remember, this is YOUR newsletter! Please send feedback or suggestions our way. You can reach me by email at the address below. We appreciate our readers and want
to see your ideas included!
~Sandy McCann
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TONIGHT!
Bobby Rush
in Fayetteville
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Bobby Rush Performance
This event is presented by the the Music Education Initiative. Bobby Rush’s likeness is on display in “A Cast of Blues,” on exhibit at 214 By CACHE, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale.
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Public Exhibit of
The Juke Joint Project
in Fayetteville
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Some exciting blues oriented events are happening in NWA. In addition to the "A Cast of Blues" shared in an article below, a new exhibit is opening, this one in Fayetteville.
WHAT: The David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History in the U of A's Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is partnering with The Music Education Initiative to bring The Juke Joint Project: An Exhibit to the Pryor Center on the Downtown Fayetteville Square.
WHEN: The Juke Joint Project exhibit will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays through the end of June. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
The exhibit will  feature music on various times. On May 20th, the legendary
Bobby Rush will share a night of stories and songs at “The Juke Joint Project: An Exhibit” at the Pryor Center. Bobby is known for his Southern folk blues and suggestive wit and has worked with many blues greats,past and present. He is a two-time Grammy winner, Blues Hall of Famer, six-time Grammy nominee, and 13-time Blues Music Award winner. The octogenarian bluesman will perform in the replica of a Delta Juke Joint in the atrium of the Pryor Center on the Fayetteville downtown square.
Music Education Initiative Executive Director Orson Weems says that people are “going to be surprised to see that [“The Juke Joint Project: An Exhibit”] is actually something that they can touch and walk through.” Musical performances to accompany the exhibit will be posted to the Pryor Center’s website, pryorcenter.uark.edu, as information becomes available. “The Juke Joint,” built of period-aged cypress and tin, was originally created by designer Kaki Hockersmith.
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The Music Education Initiative
A CAST OF BLUES
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The Music Education Initiative OPENS A CAST OF BLUES
Blues music was born in Mississippi, came of age in Chicago, and went on to inspire generations of rock and rollers, ranging from the British invasion of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to contemporary groups, such as The Black Keys. As one of America’s contributions to the world of music, the blues took root in the fertile soil of the Mississippi Delta, a floodplain covering 7,000 square miles between the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers. Early blues greats in the Delta pioneered the strong rhythmic style of music, accenting the raw emotions of the lyrics by squeezing chords out of a guitar with a bottleneck or metal slide.
A celebration of Mississippi’s rich musical heritage, The exhibition A Cast of Blues features 15 resin-cast masks of blues legends created by artist Sharon McConnell-Dickerson, as well as 15 color photographs of performers and of juke joints by acclaimed photographer Ken Murphy. This is the first time that this exhibit has been in NW Arkansas. Now, visitors to the CACHE Art Gallery at 214 S. Main Street in Springdale, can experience the exhibition, A Cast of Blues, opening April 15, 2022.
During this seven week exhibit, The Music Education Initiative will offer in addition to the gallery viewing, educational programming, community outreach, lectures, guest artists and performances. The exhibition's compilation of casts and photos create a compelling portrait of the men and women who defined—and continue to shape—the tradition of Mississippi blues. Gallery hours are: Mon. – Sat. 10:00AM – 5:00PM. This exhibit is made possible by the generous support of the Tyson Family Foundation, CACHE, WhyteSpyder, MTI Consulting Group, LLC and John and Yvonne Lee, and is free to the public.
A Cast of Blues artist Sharon McConnell-Dickerson has said, “a life cast is like a 3-D photograph to someone who is blind.” McConnell-Dickerson, who is visually impaired, continues, “It captures the flesh, muscle, bone, hair, and subtle expressions of emotion. I wanted
to discover the faces behind the
music I love, so I went to Mississippi to map out the visages of the real Delta blues men and women.”
Ken Murphy’s photographs are selected from the groundbreaking book Mississippi: State of Blues (published 2010 by Proteus/Ken Murphy Publishing). A longtime Mississippi resident, Murphy captures the essence of the blues through highly detailed, panoramic color pictures. The exhibition’s compilation of casts and photos create a compelling portrait of the men and women who defined—and continue to shape—the tradition of Mississippi blues.
The exhibition is fully accessible to all visitors, featuring braille labels and educational materials, as well as a music playlist for gallery use and a closed-captioned film about the Cast of Blues project. In addition, visitors are encouraged to touch the resin-cast masks. Says McConnell-Dickerson, “As a sculptural and visual art experience, feeling the life-made casts of these individuals and their facial expressions transfers their experiences directly to our fingertips.” The exhibition is also accompanied by the 2008 documentary film, M for Mississippi: A Roadtrip through the Birthplace of the Blues (94 minutes).
Organized and toured by ExhibitsUSA, a national part of Mid-America Arts Alliance, the exhibition was curated by Chuck Haddix, music historian, author, radio personality, and director of the Marr Sound Archives at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
About The Music Education Initiative:
Our unique perspective focuses on musical education in the interest of creating new writing, recording, performing artists, entertainers and industry personnel by exposing students and other interested parties to music and entertainment career paths at earlier ages. We engage, educate, elevate and prepare the next generation of professionals in the business of music and entertainment. We share the music and entertainment industry expertise, experience, empathy, relationships, professionalism, and first-class programs of our founding team and advisors, to develop and add value to the community, especially those of underserved communities, and quality of life in Northwest Arkansas.
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Announcement!
International Songwriting Competition (ISC)
2021 winners
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Alt Pop Artist Notelle Wins Grand Prize
in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC)
Judges Include Coldplay, Linkin Park, Tom Waits, Hozier,
The Lumineers, NEEDTOBREATHE, Trevor Daniel, and More
May 12, 2022 -- The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is pleased to announce its 2021 winners. Launched in 2002, ISC is considered the most prestigious songwriting competition in the world, receiving more than 21,000 entries this year from over 150 countries. Renowned for its panel of high-caliber judges, ISC has been called "the songwriting competition to take note of" by The New York Times. In celebration of its 20th Anniversary this year, ISC has increased its prize package to $225,000 in cash and merchandise to be shared by 71 winners in 23 categories. The overall Grand Prize package has also been increased to more than $70,000 and includes $25,000 (US) in cash, plus merchandise and services. The overall Grand Prize is ISC ‘s highest honor and this year is awarded to songwriter and performing artist Stephanie Middleton (aka Notelle) from Richmond, VA, USA for her song “Sufjan Stevens.” This award, selected by ISC’s panel of celebrity artists and music industry executives, is given to one songwriter in the competition who embodies the highest degree of excellence in the craft of songwriting. In addition to the Grand Prize winner, many other deserving songwriters also share in the prestige and kudos of winning their respective categories in ISC. These winners hail from all over the world (56% of this year’s winners come from outside the USA) and represent diverse cultures while ranging from talented amateurs to seasoned songwriting veterans. The 23 categories include all genres of contemporary music, from Pop to World Music to Country to Instrumental, and many more. In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, ISC also created two special awards this year: the Founder’s Choice Award and the Spotlight Award, both of which are in addition to the regular prizes and awards. The Founder’s Choice Award is selected by the competition’s founder and listening committee and is given to one artist who is awarded $10,000 in cash (US). The recipient of this special award is singer/songwriter Sean Murphy from Cork, Ireland for his beautiful and introspective song “The Troubled Tears Of Drury Road.” The Spotlight Award, presented by ISC and SOCAN, is given to one Canadian artist who exemplifies excellence in songwriting. The winner is the Juno award-winning Christian rock band The Color from Winkler, MB, Canada for their song "Bigger". The prize package consists of studio time at the renowned Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, TN; one-week lodging at the SOCAN House in Nashville; and a travel grant from the SOCAN Foundation. For a complete list of winners go to https://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners
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Support Options
For Local Artists
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PLEASE NOTE!
This column was designed to run weekly to help artists and fans connect during the early covid19 shutdowns. With the return to live music pretty much fully functioning, this week will be the last week this column will run. Please take a moment and bookmark the links for your favorite artists!
*****
Brick Fields
We have released a single from the upcoming album. Here is a link to the video "Take Me To the Riverside"
We also have two stores on our website one for music merchandise and another for Blues Therapy handmade items such as essential oil blends, Jewelry, tie dyes, bath salts, body butters and more.
Thank you for your support.
I pray that each of you and your families are all doing okay through this.
Brick Fields
Booking Call: The Brick House 479-846-4668
*****
The Jeff Horton Band
**Read on for NEW information**
Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, the
Jeff Horton Band definitely has 
a passion for the Blues! For the last
10 years Jeff and the guys have done their part in sharing the Blues as much as possible, treating their fans to an enjoyable experience.
Jeff reports he has some exciting gigs coming up at Good Vibrations in Rogers. There will be a new jam every other Monday from 7-9pm, beginning December 27th. Additionally, he and the band will be hosting the New Year's Eve party
at Good Vibrations this year.
Lots of fun times ahead!
For more information on the Jeff Horton Band check out:
Jeff has also put together a Spotify playlist for NWA Blues. It can be found, HERE:
*****
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LIVE MUSIC
Music Calendar
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Please enjoy the following listings comprised of bands, venues, and/or organizations that support Ozark Blues Society. Always check with individual venues for event details and schedule changes. Submit weekly listings by emailing: SANDY
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5.20
- Full House for Happy Hour at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
- Elizabeth Bainbridge Jazz Duo at Levi's Gastrolounge in Rogers
- Fresh Grass at The Momentary in Bentonville
- Buddy Shute and the Motivators at Earth Note Underground in Tahlequah
5.21
- Jenna and the Soul Shakers at The Grove Comedy Club in Lowell
- King+Country and Dante Bowe at the AMP in Rogers
- Fresh Grass at The Momentary inBentonville
- Buddy Shute and Mark McGee at New Dehli Cafe in Eureka Springs
- Blew Reed and the Flatheads at Hiwasse Store in Hiwasse
5.23
5.24
- Adam Collins, Matt Beach and Garrett Jones for Jazz at the Undercroft Bar in Bentonville
5.25
- Buddy Shute and the Motivators at La Huerta on Crossover in Fayetteville
- Brick Fields Blues Therapy at Moranos in Fayetteville
- Ben Harris jazz guitar at Six-Twelve Coffeehouse and Bar in Fayetteville
- Richard Burnett at JJ's Grill and Chill on Steamboat in Fayetteville
- Jenna and Friends at Core Brewing in Springdale
- Halsey/Beabadoobee/Pink Pantheress at the AMP in Rogers
5.26
- Tony Redman and the Jeff Horton Band for the Turnbow Concert Series at Walter Turnbow Park in Springdale
- Jenna and Friends at JJ's Grill and Chill in Springdale
5.27
- Uncrowned Kings for Happy Hour at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
- Cody Jinks with Lukas Nelson/Promise of the Real/Whitey Morgan at the AMP in Rogers
- Funk Factory at the Meteor Guitar Gallery in Bentonville
- Keith Nicholson Trio at JJ's Grill and Chill in Bella Vista
5.28
- Keith Nicholson at JJ's Grill and Chill in Springdale
Mark Your Calendar
Stay tuned for more upcoming events!
Please Submit Dates for Regional Blues Artists and Group Events HERE |
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On this day
in Blues History
May 20
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Today’s show features music performed by Alberta Hunter and Sterling Magee
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“People all over the world have problems. And as long as people have problems, the blues can never die.”
B.B. King
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Blues Education Supporters
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Thanks to the following for their support of blues education.
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Check Out these regular local radio programs
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"The Generic Blues Show" hosted by Paul Kelso airs every Friday night at 9pm on KUAF 91.3FM
Rockin' Hog Radio presents "Sunday Morning Blues" from 8am to 10am every Sunday
LINK
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Get Involved with the Ozark Blues Society
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Annual membership levels begin at $15 and give you so much in return, including meeting new friends while enjoying the best blues artists in the area.
By being a member of The Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas, you are helping to support the Arts and to preserve the Original American Art Form known as The Blues.
Membership Benefits Include:
Weekly E-newsletter
Opportunities to win tickets to events
VIP seating at events (when available)
Discounts on OBS merchandise
Social networking – meeting other people who also love the blues
Opportunities to volunteer on OBS committees and at events
Ability to attend board meetings and vote on upcoming organizational issues and elections
Visit our Website to renew or join! Ozarkbluessociety.org
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