Texarkana Entertainment Blog

If you haven’t been at the downtown ArtSpark next to the Regional Arts Center in a while, go check it out to see something different: the Great Wall of TRAHC. TRAHC updated the art panels there at the greenspace/community art wall a bit more than a week ago to include this collaborative project between TRAHC, Opportunities Inc., and the Liberty-Eylau Kiwanis Key Club students. The art panels are sort of a marriage between Western and Eastern art concepts with red, gold and black as featured colors. Chinese dragons, as well as a few more abstract representations, are included therein in this whimsical, colorful and creative work. I snapped some photos and include them down below. The project connects, in some sense, with Tuesday night’s Perot Theatre show by the National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China, but the art will be up on the art wall for several months for all to enjoy.

- Aaron Brand

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If you’re looking for live music, this weekend’s MoRH Better BBQ, Bands & Bikes Festival downtown offers four shows in two nights at the Friday night and Saturday night street concerts downtown at Front Street Festival Plaza.

Friday night brings a big draw with Shooter Jennings headlining (8 p.m.), along with openers Greg Gardner and Voodoo Cowboy (6 p.m.). I interviewed Shooter recently and he was a totally relaxed, fascinating guy to talk with, considering his name, lineage and talent — definitely one of the more unassuming, down-to-earth musicians I’ve interviewed on the beat. He’s looking forward to playing here in Texarkana, where he’s performed before. I’ve heard good things about his live show. On Saturday night (8 p.m.) the main act is one of last year’s headliners, Robert St. John Band, who certainly know how to ramp up the energy in their live sets. Before they hit the stage, the annual “Battle of the Bands” (6 p.m.) warms up the proceedings.

Elsewhere on the live music front, the band Honky comes to town to rock it at Fat Jack’s on Sunday night. The band features something of a famous bass player, Jeff Pinkus, a longtime member of a seminal Texas psychedelic punk band originating from the 1980s. Do an Internet search on his name and you’ll see the band name, I’m sure (keyword: Surfers). Should be a good show to check out, and our local rockers Giganto will be the opening act. Show starts around 10 p.m. after Know-it-All Trivia.

At Jack’s Friday night, LA Outlaw perform, while Hazy Jayne plays the Saturday night show. Over at Hopkins Icehouse Friday night, catch Acoustic Eden playing their unplugged “Rock of Ages” show, and then local favorites Trey and Dave perform Saturday night.

That’s just a bit of what’s happening in live music this weekend. Check Friday’s Best Bets for more options to see music live in the Texarkana area.

- Aaron Brand

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Satirical comedy that still leaves a smile on your face. That’s how I’d describe the play “Greater Tuna,” which TexRep just performed the past two weekends. A gentle social satire about some of the stranger folks you may find in Texas (in this play, it’s in the fictional town of Tuna, billed as the Lone Star State’s third smallest town), the play also creates stage characters who feel rather familiar, as if I’ve met them before while going about the daily business in town. That’s part of what makes the laughs work and mean something more. I caught one of last weekend’s “Greater Tuna” performances and congratulate Michael Cooper and Chris Polson on a fine show. They kept the humor humming along, crazy costume changes and all.

I wasn’t able to make the Travis Tritt concert that same day, but word is the estimated total attendance reached up to 4,000 to 4,500 people, a fantastic showing, especially when you consider it was the opening weekend of the fair. Friends who attended were impressed and had a great time. From what I gather, the folks at New Haven Golf Club intend to stage a Concert on the Green again, a welcome development. Congratulations to them on pulling this one off.

- Aaron Brand

Travis Tritt performs Saturday, Sept. 17, at Concert on the Green at New Haven Golf Club in Texarkana, Ark., in this staff photo by Christena Dowsett.

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Musicals and live music, festivals and more: a busy time now for Texarkana in the arts and entertainment scene. So much so, in fact, it’s been impossible for me to land back on this blog and jot down the news, but I am here to correct that. Let’s start with a live music rundown.

This weekend is a big one for local music – if you are a country fan, in particular. On the way are Travis Tritt on Saturday at New Haven Golf Club for the initial Concert on the Green series show, and then the night before, Friday night, Tracy Lawrence initiates the fair festivities with an opening night concert at the Four States Fair & Rodeo. The folks at New Haven are pulling out all the stops for the Travis Tritt concert, including a massive stage that should be arriving tomorrow morning. Joining Tritt on that stage (things kick off at 4 p.m., Tritt scheduled to start at 8 p.m.) are several local and regional acts, including Driven, a hot new country band from Texarkana, and Kosmic Girlz & Koltrane, who have found quite a following through their local live performances.

Over at Hopkins Icehouse: Friday night it’s Synergistic for another unplugged acoustic show, and then Saturday night Basic 5 bring the reggae and rock vibe to the charming Hopkins stage. Fat Jack’s has Greg Gardner & Voodoo Cowboy for Friday night, rockers Teazur for Saturday. At the Wagon Wheel, it’s 4 Wheel Drive on Saturday night.

That’s not all. James Otto performs Sept. 24 at Shooters Sports Bar, coming back to a venue where he performed a successful show a couple years ago.

By the Texarkana Museums System organizers of the MoRH Better BBQ, Bands & Bikes Festival, which is this year’s “Quadrangle,” some big music is being organized for both festival nights. We’ll be advancing that soon for a Friday Accent piece.

The MoRH Better BBQ, Bands & Bikes headliner? For Friday night, Sept. 30: Shooter Jennings (with Greg Gardner and Voodoo Cowboy as openers). Saturday night, Oct. 1 : Robert St. John Band (with a Battle of the Bands to start things off). Street concert tickets each night are $10, and there’s a whole lot more happening too: barbecue competition, best bike competition, and other activities.

The Road Map has been hosting a series of truly rocking shows. On Tuesday that continues with Gypsyhawk, a gang of straight-ahead California rockers who bring their hard but catchy riffs to town once again, and our very own metal monsters, Tha Mutha Load.

Local rockers The Inside bring it to The Branch Office for a show this Saturday. Hippys Texarkana (that used to be Off the Line) brings in Tennessee metal on Sept. 24 with the bands Pengea and Death Remains Silent. That same night, Paul Capps Jr. plays The Blues Iguana: blues, country and classic rock.

Local country singer Gena Roberts will play a benefit show at the Oaklawn Opry on Sept. 24 to help Hospice of Texarkana in its quest to bring a new patient care facility to Texarkana. Roberts will be joined by Lonnie Spiker and Joe Mack Bennett.

And last but not least for this rundown, the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra has an all-Beethoven evening coming up at the Perot Theatre; that show, featuring pianist Stephen Beus, is Sept. 24.

That’s just a taste of what’s coming up. Enjoy it live: music.

- Aaron Brand

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I can’t believe it’s the middle of August. Though temperatures still stretch way up to 100 degrees and above, kids are starting school and that means the summertime’s last legs are warming up, whether it feels like it or not. Maybe by October we’ll head down into the 80 degree range for a daytime high. Dare to dream!

No matter the temps, there’s still plenty to enjoy when it comes to live music, starting with Jawbone’s concert tomorrow night to benefit TRAHC. They’ll play at the Perot Theatre starting at 8 p.m. Should be a snazzy show and, given the historic theater surroundings, unlike any Jawbone experience before. I’m sure the hardworking folks at TRAHC would love a super big turnout to help out in tough financial times.

This weekend also brings live music to Fat Jack’s in the form of Doctor Doctor tonight and 1 Nite Stand on Saturday. Buffalo Child and Nude Beach perform a free show Sunday night at Jack’s.

Jay Kirgis performs tonight over at Lee’s Catfish, while Hopkins Icehouse has Kiley Bland of Junior fame on stage this evening for an acoustic set. Hopkins then welcomes Rising Red tomorrow night. Saturday night at The Blues Iguana features Paul Capps Jr. performing his blues, country and classic rock. Shooters Sports Bar brings The Enablers to town that same night. You can also catch Raj, Andi and Taz late Sunday afternoon and early evening over at The Road Map for more acoustic tunes.

Live music: love it and support it!

- Aaron Brand

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This afternoon I talked with the good folks over at the Four States Fairgrounds about what’s in store for this year’s rendition of a time-honored Texarkana tradition. One big piece of news is the 67th Annual Four States Fair & Rodeo headliner this year: Foreman, Ark.’s own bigtime country act in Tracy Lawrence. He performs Friday, Sept. 16, for the opening concert. General admission tickets are $25 in advance—no reserved seats. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. show start time.

A few other changes are in store: One, the fairgrounds will be promoting its own demolition derby this year. Two, there will be a different carnival at the fair, so expect to see some new rides and such when you bring the kids to see the cotton candy, colorful lights and wild rides along the midway. This year’s fair runs Sept. 16-25. We’ll have a preview of some of these changes in our Friday Accent page next week, so be sure to check it out.

- Aaron Brand

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Anyone looking to discover work from a young, interesting artist should get on down to Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s Bringle Lake campus and walk up to the main student center building. Take the elevator to the third floor. Once you step inside the John F. Moss Library, you’ll find a few dozen pieces by artist Shana Hoehn adorning the walls. Hoehn explores the visual world through a variety of mediums: photography, painting, drawing. She also creates some interesting sculptural works, but they’re not included in this show. Hoehn is a student at Maryland Institute College of Art, and just came back to town to teach for a month and hang her art. We featured her for a story in today’s Accent page and you can see more of her work at ShanaHoehn.com. Check it out; it is worth a look.

It’s also nice to see new gallery space take off here in Texarkana (something sorely needed), as is the case with this library art space at TAMU-T. As someone who loves art and a diverse art scene, I hope to see it continue.

- Aaron Brand

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Hey, Netflix users. We want to find out what local video consumers (online and DVD) will do with Netflix rates set to change. Will people change monthly plans or ditch Netflix altogether? Will people keep the plan they currently have because they’re happy with the service? Netflix’s announcement last month about a September price change created a lot of hullabaloo, but, now that the initial ruckus has died down, do people intend on changing how they access videos online or with DVDs? What are your video viewing habits?

If you have something to say about this, send an email to abrand@texarkanagazette.com. I want to interview you. Thanks!

- Aaron Brand

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Last year one of the most unbelievably fun features I did involved checking out the weekly Stanhope’s Art, Framing & Stationery Art & Libations event. Artists sign up to attend as they wish; it’s casual. They each recreate or “redo” the same painting together during an evening art session, each student painting with their own approach and color choice and brush strokes. They learn along the way. Artists may bring a beverage of his or her choice – hence the “libations.” It’s a social, somewhat informal way to learn how to make art and, most importantly, enjoy art at Merilynn Johnson’s State Line Avenue shop.

Stanhope’s has a neat special project planned for the last two Thursday evening Art & Libations events in August. It’s a group project for Opportunities, Inc., which serves both adults and kids with disabilities right here in Texarkana. One large piece will be created from all of the smaller art pieces that people make. Johnson hopes to collect 25 to 30 canvases to make this big piece to be given to Opportunities, Inc. Artists interested need only sign up for one Thursday night session. To get involved or find out more info, call Stanhope’s at 870-774-5352.

- Aaron Brand

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I’ve been discovering new music this summer. That’s been a pretty conscious effort on my part because earlier this year I felt that I generally obsessed over the “same old, same old” bands and musicians, so I’ve ventured forth, armed with my iTunes and headphones, to find bands new to me (not new to others, I’m sure). One great thing about music is that there’s always more to discover.

Tops on the list of my new music loves are Mumford & Sons, a band I should have added to my listening rotation much, much earlier. Sometimes when bands gain tons of popularity quickly, as happened with the Mumfords and their smash success “Sigh No More,” I resist following the crowd. My bad on this one, that’s for sure. The album, which justly brought them Grammy noms, is a charming thing of beauty and depth, songs fat with wisdom that stick in my mind all day. Amazing to think this band is only four years old or so.

More new discoveries are First Aid Kit (sweet-sounding, folk-rocking-out young damsels from Sweden), Fleet Foxes (sublimely beautiful Seattle folk rockers), Freelance Whales (uh, a lot of bands starting with the letter “F” up in here) … and I must admit I finally fell in love with Arcade Fire. Right now I’m listening to African Internet Radio. My music tastes are all over the map and it’s a big map (the kind you find in old National Geographic mags).

What have you been listening to this summer? What do you recommend?

- Aaron Brand

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