6 minute read
THE TO-DO LIST
BY MARY HENNIGAN, STEPHANIE SMITTLE AND MARY RUTH TAYLOR
KATIE CHILDS
DISCOVER TRUST TREE
Since 2017, a group of musicians and educators has been holding a summer music and arts camp called Trust Tree — focused, in their own words, on “helping girls ages 8-18 overcome self-limiting beliefs and bring their creative visions to life.” (Hey, can we have one for adults, too?) Over time, the program’s grown and expanded, and we’ve watched Trust Tree campers start bands of their own, release albums and begin to develop promising careers in the arts. Maybe more importantly than whether its graduates stick with the arts, though, is the way the program’s become a bastion of affirmation and empowerment for Arkansas girls at an age when they’re otherwise bombarded with messages that are neither affirming nor empowering. See for yourself at this fundraiser, which features performances by Trust Tree campers, music to get the dance party started, a photo booth, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a signature “Girls Rocktown” cocktail from Rocktown Distillery and a raffle for a rainbow concert ukulele with accessories. All proceeds from the event benefit Trust Tree’s programming, scholarships and instruments for campers. Admission is free for people under 18; $20-$50 on a sliding scale for adults. SS
THE PHLEGMS, PEACH BLUSH, MOONMANE, BENADRIIL
FRIDAY 7/1. WHITE WATER TAVERN. 8 P.M. $10.
Born of a fortuitous meeting between Avery Lee and Grant Williams in 2012 while the two were studying at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, The Phlegms have been churning out straight-ahead rock anthems in DIY spaces and house shows since 2016, squishing eight-bar guitar solos and minimalist lyrics about queerness and alienation into two-and-a-half minutes the way God intended. They’re one of a handful of local acts booked at the upcoming Waltonpalooza-esque FORMAT Fest in Northwest Arkansas, and they’re joined at the White Water Tavern for this beach-themed show (bring your best shades) with a stacked lineup: Peach Blush (who’s releasing new music on tape at the show!), the ever-frenzied and fierce Moonmane and Benadriil, whose noise rock straddles elation and rage on the emotional dial. Defy you to go to this one and maintain the illusion that punk rock in Arkansas is dead. SS
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS
FRIDAY 7/22-SATURDAY 7/23. SIMMONS BANK ARENA. NOON FRI., 3 P.M. SAT. $10/DAY.
Lumberjacks are gonna lumberjack, and since the late 1800s, they’ve been doing it competitively. What started in Tasmania and Australia as a little casual competition between forestry workers — “the original extreme sport,” Stihl boasts — is now a fully souped-up stadium showdown with bright lights, Jumbotrons and vociferous sportscasters giving the play-by-play and starting the stopwatch countdown with a booming call: “Stand to your timber!” If you’re into watching svelte athletes grimace and groan as they obliterate hunks of poplar and pine, each trying to ax harder and faster than the logger before him (or her; though it’s pretty dude-centric nowadays, women have historically been competitive loggers, too!), this is your chance. SS
RACHEL TRUSTY’S “THE NEW SAINTS”
KURTIS CONNER
SUNDAY 7/24. ROBINSON CENTER. 7 P.M. $45-$75.
Saddle up, we’re going to KurtisTown … or, actually, KurtisTown is coming to us. Kurtis Conner is a Canadian comedian, YouTuber and podcaster whose videos primarily explore the more absurd offerings of the internet. Perusing his channel, you’ll find commentary videos on media trends scaling from bizarre to cringe, accompanied with a healthy side of ridicule. Conner’s been doing stand-up since 2014, but you may also remember him from Vine. If you’re into dad jokes, he’s your guy. Join him at Robinson for a night of fun-filled comedy. Really, he came all this way. And remember to be nice to him: It’s the law! MRT
SATURDAY 7/9. SIMMONS BANK ARENA. 8 P.M. $50$100.
If you’ve seen the show, you can only imagine what this tour will entail. Headlined by Natasha Bedingfield, “The Masked Singer” is bringing a squad of performers with hidden identities to Little Rock. This quirky television favorite will scoop up one local celebrity to perform undercover as the audience attempts to unmask them by deciphering clues — hope you’ve been brushing up on your talented Arkansans! Expect a unique two hours of singing and dancing from outrageous, oversized characters from the show. You can even get a photo with your favorite characters with a VIP meet-and-greet ticket. Tickets range from $50 to $100. MH
JOEL FRAHM
MONDAY 7/11. THE JOINT THEATER & COFFEEHOUSE. 7:30 P.M. $30.
What’s better than an evening of jazz, and on a Monday night? I can’t think of anything. Award-winning saxophonist Joel Frahm is coming to bless our ears with some smooth jazz. With three decades of the New York City circuit under his belt, appearances on more than 100 recordings and as an instructor at several universities, Frahm is moving his career to Nashville — but not before he stops in Little Rock. MH
ROYAL ARTIST GROUP
SHAUN MARTIN TRIO
WEDNESDAY 7/27. STICKYZ ROCK ’N’ ROLL CHICKEN SHACK. 7:30 P.M. $20.
Pianist Shaun Martin got word of his first Grammy win via text message while he was in church. Priorities! The gospel-anchored player and producer is behind the ivories of some of the biggest Kirk Franklin tunes to sweep modern American churches, but Martin’s known in jazz circles as one of many creative engines behind the touring supergroup Snarky Puppy (riyl: Chick Corea, Weather Report, being rendered dumbstruck at what humans can do with musical instruments). Listening to his solo work makes evident the seemingly impossible: that even in a room with the likes of Cory Henry and Mark Lettieri, Martin has made an indelible imprint on the band’s sound. He’s at Stickyz with his trio; eat first, because it’s gonna be hard to focus on chicken tenders when Martin’s band kicks into melodic overdrive. SS
THROUGH 9/25. THE MOMENTARY, BENTONVILLE.
Consider what you know about the American West. Maybe you imagine a lawless land, a vast expanse of rolling plains and towering mountains, untouched by civilization. Now forget all that, because the Momentary’s latest exhibit is rethinking the traditional frontier narrative. Nineteenth century painters liked to romanticize the beauty of the West, but in doing so left out the darker realities of settler colonialism. In the exhibit “A Divided Landscape,” seven contemporary artists are sharing the full story of the American West with paintings, drawings, sculpture and mixed media installations throughout the grounds of the Momentary. Their work will be featured alongside historical drawings and paintings from Crystal Bridges’ collection. Admission is free. MRT
SUICIDE COMMANDO, LUNA13
MONDAY 7/4. AREA 51, SHERWOOD. 8 P.M. $25.
There’s never a bad time to get creepy, right? The Belgian band Suicide Commando brings haunting, synthesized beats together to form eerie — but incredibly catchy — electric music. For 30 years, the band has shown innovation in the industry through its tracks “Hellraiser,” “Bind, Torture, Kill” and “When Evil Speaks.” Some may call it nightmarish mayhem, but others live and breathe the energy of these goth shows. If that’s you, you’ll be headbanging, screaming and dancing to these apocalyptic-sounding beats. To match the mood, Luna13 will open with its bonechilling hits. This one might not be for the faint of heart. MH
