The Arts: Fayetteville Trail Mix Concert Tour

Between the May Festival of the Arts in Eureka Springs, and Fayetteville’s new Artosphere regional arts festival, there are numerous art events taking place in northwest Arkansas this spring. The Eureka Springs festival celebrates the arts throughout the entire month of May with events, activities, special exhibits, artist’s demonstrations, music and visual arts all represented. Artosphere is a new multi-week festival dedicated to celebrating artists who are influenced by nature and who help inspire people to live more sustainable lives. Created by the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, the festival includes more than 80 programs and events throughout the region. Join me and my “The Arts” blog to keep up with all the great arts and culture offerings over the next several weeks.

Jill M. Rohrbach
jillsjourneys@gmail.com

First things first – if you know any anti-rain dances, please get your groove on right now to help prevent the possibility of rain this Sunday, May 16, because that is the day of the Artosphere Trail Mix Concert Tour in Fayetteville. The event is free and consists of a series of six live concerts along the Lake Fayetteville Nature Trail from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. followed by Artosphere Family Day at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The concert tour begins at North Shore Park, circling Lake Fayetteville clockwise, and ending at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. You can hike or bike the 2.5-mile path. You can park at the Gardens and take a free shuttle over to North Shore Park. Snacks and water will be available along the trail.

The first music you encounter is Mexico City-native Rana Santacruz performing alternative folk music at the North Shore Park Paviliion.

Next is gypsy jazz quintet Swing Deville combining stringed instruments with a myriad of musical styles in front of the Lake Fayetteville Science Center.

The third stop features the Brazilian Voyage Trio, comprised of preeminent jazz and samba bassist Nilson Matta, New York guitar legend Vic Juris, and Brazilian percussionist Café.

Local artists fill the Singer-Songwriter Stage, which is the next stop. Fayetteville-based husband-wife duo, Chase Missy, are followed by folk singer Claire Holley with local guitarist Ben Harris.

Playing at the new Butterfield Coach Trail Monument is Plastic Musik. They utilizes traditional percussion techniques and all-plastic instruments to produce familiar melodies.

The tour ends at the main stage of the Garden with featured family artist Dan Zanes. But really it’s where everything starts again with a Farmer’s Market and plenty of family activities. See you there!