Music in Mena

Last November, Polk County voters made a historic step towards progress. Say what you will, but there is absolutely no doubt that the passing of the wet/dry issue is going to impact our town in more ways than one. Even the locally owned neighborhood convenience store will soon have beer for sale.

Though some may disagree, the benefits from the sale of alcoholic beverages will be many. One such positive result to come from this economic freedom is the opportunity for live music venues.

Music has a history in this town — dating back to 1977 when The Lum & Abner Festival was a week-long event with live country and bluegrass music every night and 200 plus concert goers in attendance. By the mid 1980’s, the event lasted four full weeks with two bands playing nightly.

Ever heard of T. Texas Tyler? Most likely not since he was born David Luke Myrick right outside of Mena in 1916. After a few recordings in the country boogie or pre-rockabilly genre, Tyler recorded the spoken word single, “Deck of Cards” in 1948 which became his most successful offering. He was a frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry and in 1950 he hosted his own television show in Los Angeles.

Music is a part of Mena’s roots. One cannot deny that.

My own desire to promote the local music scene goes back just a few short years to the proposed Janssen Park stage. At the time, my position with the Mena Advertising & Promotion Commission allowed me to be the person tasked with coming up with new and exciting ways to drive tourism to Mena. A stage in Janssen Park was not a new idea, considering there once was one, but a continuation of the history of entertainment in our most used public space. Because what does live music do? It brings folks together. I can picture it now. A balmy summer evening, blankets strewn across first week in October. Sales of souvenirs, snacks, and donations support the musical programs in the county’s schools. the lawn like a checkerboard, talented musicians giving it their all and leaving it all on the stage. Now imagine that every Friday and Saturday night.

When I moved on from the A&P, the dream of a permanent stage in Janssen Park moved on with me.

Let us consider our neighbor to the east, Mount Ida. In the late 90’s, the Mount Ida Chamber of Commerce established a courthouse square music program to bring people back downtown. With a little organization and leadership, the idea picked up steam and the musicians came. The need for a permanent stage and sound system was recognized and The Front Porch Stage was born. An all-volunteer staff operates the venue, with free “lawn chair concerts” the first Saturday in May continuing through the

However, my love for music, especially local music, never left. Upon meeting and marrying Nash, a longtime musician, my interest in promoting music locally was rekindled. This past summer two local establishments regularly hosted live music on the weekends. All of a sudden, we had choices! Some weekends, the lineups allowed us to see more than one performer in an evening. You could catch a show that started at 6 or 7 and, when it wrapped up at 9, the joint just around the corner would still be rocking till nearly midnight.

Live local music is not just regulated to bar type settings either. The Ouachita Little Theatre attracts musicians and gives smaller acts a place to hone their skills in a historic and beautiful setting. A handful of open-jam sessions have sprung up, and every time I turn around someone is brainstorming a potential business idea. My advice is this, if you have any inclination to start a business that will provide live music and cater to the folks that live to hear local musicians, do it now!

No column on local music would be complete without at least a short mention of the amazing music festivals that Arkansas offers. From massive three- and four-day concerts with multiple stages that draw thousands and thousands of attendees to smaller local events, there truly is something for everyone.

Right here in Mena we have the previously mentioned staple, The Lum & Abner Music and Arts Festival, the largest local festival to Polk County. The Chamber of Commerce launched their Music on Main concert series last year with a variety of genres, and the Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run has also added a few more acts to their lineup.

Are you a music lover like me? Then I invite you to give our local venues a chance. There are more options on the weekends than you may think. With that being said, I’m going to throw in a shameless plug. Go see Nash Moore on March 11 at The Ouachitas from 7-9 p.m.

After a long and drawn-out adolescence, Mena is finally becoming an adult. The impending bike trails, approval of alcoholic beverage sales, and fresh city council members guarantees that five years from now, you won’t recognize this town. Change isn’t coming, change is here.

(Eds. For more info refer to archived copy of the Pulse from Feb. 13, 2019).

By Richie Lawry

In the spring of 1981, my wife and I and our 22-month-old daughter made the 900-mile trip from Loveland, Colorado, to Mena, Arkansas, in our red, white and blue 1967 Toyota Stout pickup with our Shetland sheepdog curled up on the floor under my wife’s feet. As we drove through heavy rain most of the way, water trickled down behind the dash and pooled on the floor where our dog lay. After a miserable two-day trip, we finally arrived in Arkansas.

Our lives had changed dramatically in the previous six weeks. After visiting my family in Mena in February, we encountered a blizzard as we drove back to Colorado. When we arrived home, I asked my wife, “What do you think about moving to Arkansas?”

“Well, I suppose, if we can sell our house,” she answered, feeling that was a safe answer. Within two weeks, we sold our house, and six weeks later, we were pulling into the driveway of our new home on Karen Drive.

Even though I was excited to start a new life in Mena, I missed the mountains in Colorado. When we lived in Loveland, our favorite place to spend time was Rocky Mountain National Park. We would visit the park at least twice a month. Some of my favorite memories are of the beauty and majesty of the Rocky Mountains.

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the U.S., with elevations over 14,000 feet. Sixty mountain peaks over 12,000 feet tall result in breathtaking scenery. The park includes broad glacier-carved valleys and gorges, numerous alpine lakes, and plunging streams along with the mountain peaks. I loved the meadows and rolling moraines with their views of the peaks.

The spectacular grandeur of the Rocky Mountains gives me a feeling of awe and wonder that John Denver described this way. “Now he walks in quiet solitude, the forest and the streams, seeking grace in every step he takes. His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake and the Colorado Rocky Mountain high.”

The song “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver became a hit worldwide, and in 2007 it was officially recognized as a state