Brick Fields: Blues Therapy – April 5 @ 7:00 – #LiveAtTheLyric!

Rough Winter?
The Mother of Ozark Gospel Blues is Bringing the Cure:
Brick Fields is Coming to the Lyric!
Friday, April 5 at 7:00PM

If the ‘official’ end of winter on March 20 finds you not quite recovered from it all, join us at ‘The Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks’ on April 5 at 7:00, because Brick Fields is coming to provide you with the Blues Therapy you need to have a healthy outlook for Spring—and the rest of the year! “An unleashed cleansing of the soul” is how the Nashville Blues Society described Brick Fields’ music, and the New Classic Music of Tomorrow music review blog makes it clear why: “Brick Fields is by far the most soulful artist I’ve heard in years!” 

Brick Fields is an Arkansas original musical group fronted by the ambrosial voice of Rachel Fields. With her husband, Larry Brick, who has spent over 40 years in the music business as a guitar player and songwriter (and was a worship leader during the California Calvary movement of the 1970s), there is a ‘two talents expressing one flesh’ vibe throughout the music—a unity of purpose in music and vocals that is neither forced nor self-conscious, but just is. Rachel cut her musical teeth first in the Arkansas River valley, by way of her Uncle Mike “Burger” Scoggins, then in the jam band circuit touring in the late ’90s east and west coast festivals, opening for acts like Government Mule and later singing on a tour with the Jerry Garcia Band. Together, they bring a true Americana Soul feel—weaving Folk, Gospel, and Blues together in such a way that former Buffalo River Concert Association president Rick Hinterheuer told Rachel, “You’re going to have a good time playing at the Lyric!”…because Rick knows what we like!

Brick Fields’ current core band is a treasure of solid creativity including Ben Sass, Kevin Bonner, Hoobie Daniels, and Chris Parker.

  • Ben Sass of Jerusalem, Israel is the vibrant enthusiastic steed on and off stage, possibly one of the world’s finest up-and-coming harmonica players on the scene.
  • Kevin Bonner is from Northwest Arkansas and honed his drumming chops in the Cate Bro’s garage; he has been the backbone for numerous of NWA’s most loved bands.
  • Bass player, Hoobie Daniels, of Southern Mississippi (via Austin Texas), joined Brick Fields in 2016 after retiring to the Ozark Mountains where he is continuing his musical journey.
  • Chris Parker adds his Tulsa guitar stylings with influences that largely play themselves out between Chet Atkins and BB King.

Comfortable with themselves and numerous surprise guests, it’s not unusual at a Brick Fields show for the night to end with a few or as many as 20 players on stage. As musicians’ musicians, Brick Fields has been called a magnet for other musicians and music lovers alike.  Ever evolving, this couple’s original music can charm venues in an intimate relaxed setting with the acoustic duo telling stories of musical roots or bring a full-on band experience that brings the house to its feet.

The Ozark Arts Council is pleased to welcome Brick Fields to The Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks, Harrison’s historic Lyric Theater, on Friday, April 5 at 7:00. Tickets are just $10 in advance, but $15 at the door; just click any of the ‘Get Tickets’ links here on our website and you’ll be taken to our ticketing page, or call Jules or Dill at (870) 391-3504 or visit Dill at the OAC office M-W-F 8:00–2:00 (or Jules by appointment).

OAC Ticketing Link

Leadfoot 65 – March 30 @ 7:30 – #LiveAtTheLyric!

Put the Pedal to the Metal and Keep on Rockin’ with Leadfoot 65!
Saturday, March 30 at 7:30PM

Join us on March 30 at 7:30, as Leadfoot 65 speeds onto the Lyric stage! If you heard them at last Summer’s Battle of the Bands or elsewhere, you know that they waste no time in getting your adrenalin flowing and keep it building throughout their set with both riffs and lyrics so solid that you not only can taste the music in the theater’s rarefied air, but chew on it all the way home and through the weekend. As the title track from their just-released second album says, there is “More than Meets the Eye” in the rock from Tomahawk!

Sean Bing’s vocals are a good match for his guitar playing.  Even in something as ‘pretty’ as the introduction to “Black Smoke Rollin’” (and later, in the melodic solo), there is an edge and you know that at any moment it could become all edge; Sean can actually both sing and growl — with both instruments — and he knows when to do each (or both) for best effect. At the same time, Skip Reed’s drum work and Nathan Popejoy’s bass are singing their own deep and steady song for Sean to play off of. This is a great rhythm section and a guitarist that has a feel for how to keep attached to what they’re playing, not just go off and show off his chops in some barely-related way. If you like rock music that puts the emphasis on both the music and the rock, you will love Leadfoot 65.

Leadfoot 65’s two albums reveal a band that is bringing in what we might call ‘The New Mainstream of Southern Rock’. That is, they display a broad set of roots and influences that include the same background as the earlier wave of Southern rockers, plus all the music that has come since then. They move easily from a Molly Hatchet-like sound to one that is clearly akin to Pantera, without ever falling into the sometime-muddiness of Dixie Witch. Southern Rock with a power groove and the soloing sensibilities of melodic and neo-classical metal without losing the focus of the main musical and lyrical intent; Leadfoot 65 is clearly ‘coming of age’ and not to be missed.

The Ozark Arts Council is pleased to welcome Leadfoot 65 back to the historic Lyric Theater on Saturday, March 30 at 7:30. Tickets are just $5 in advance, but $10 at the door; just click any of the ‘Get Tickets’ links here on our website and you’ll be taken to our ticketing page, or call Jules or Dill at (870) 391-3504 or visit Dill at the OAC office M-W-F 8:00–2:00 (or Jules by appointment).

OAC Ticketing Link

New Kentucky Colonels – April 6 @ 7:00 – #LiveAtTheLyric!

135 Years of Bluegrass Excellence on One Stage! The New Kentucky Colonels!
Saturday, April 6 at 7:00PM

The New Kentucky Colonels are a premier bluegrass group with over 135 years of musical talent. They tour nationally across the US each year and have played internationally, as well. Leader Eric Lewis has been in love with country and bluegrass music ever since he heard the Grand Ole Opry in 1950 as a 7-year old. He began to play at music parties in the early 1960’s at people’s homes, and later in contests. In 1979 he joined the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association and formed his group, Southern Grass (later called, Southern Missouri Bluegrass) in 1981. In 2006, Mr. Lewis was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel and the group began booking as New Kentucky Colonels, They perform bluegrass, country, old time, gospel and the best in family comedy.

Over the past 38 years, a number of people have been part of the group and Eric has performed with many of the names in the business, has won several awards, has written and recorded several CD projects, and had his own live television show for several years in Arkansas and Missouri. Eric is an honorary member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, founded the George D. Hay Society at West Plains, MO (a historical society to preserve the Ozarks’ history and heritage). With his connection to the Grand Ole Opry, in 2005 he presented a lifetime achievement award to Louise and Earl Scruggs at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Current members of the band include Gary Shipley, Dennis Reese, and Corky Dow.

Gary Shipley was born and raised in Granby, MO. He began playing and singing at an early age and plays multiple instruments—guitar, banjo, and dobro. Gary sings lead and harmony with the group, having re-joined the New Kentucky Colonels in 2016.

Dennis Reese was born and raised in Mammoth Spring, AR and began playing the bass at an early age. He has played with several different people in his many years of music and is an accomplished musician and a great asset to the group, Dennis now resides in Alton, MO and has played for the group for two years.

Corky Dow was raised in Alaska and has played most of his life. He previously performed with the group, The Fabulous Back Roads Drifters. Corky plays mandolin, writes songs, and sings lead and harmony, having joined New Kentucky Colonels in 2016.

Saturday, April 6 is the date and tickets are $15 in advance ($12 for seniors), whether online or at the OAC Office (115 W. Rush, just to the left of the theater; hours 8–2, M-W-F; phone 870-391-3504) and $20 ($15 for seniors) at the door.

OAC Ticketing Link

Jack Williams – February 8 @ 7:00 – #LiveAtTheLyric!

Jack Is Back! Singer-Songwriter Extraordinaire, Jack Williams, Once Again “Live at The Lyric”!
Friday, February 8 at 7:00PM

Crooked Creek Concerts and the Ozark Arts Council are proud to welcome the mighty Jack Williams back to the Lyric Theater!

Jack Williams is a songwriter, singer, and guitarist with few (if any) peers. HIs songs are a literary record of the joy, brilliance, disappointments, and aspirations of our American experience. His live shows romp through the melodic and lyric wit of the Jazz Era, the sentimental strains of doo-wop, and the birth of rock and roll. This is all set against the backdrop of steamy South Carolina, the wilds of the Sonoran desert, and vast stretches of interstate… on and on he’ll go, until you find yourself in Mama Lou’s kitchen with her wood-fired stove, breathing in the scent of maternal love in the form of fried chicken.

Friday, February 8 is the date and tickets are $10 in advance, whether online or at the OAC Office (115 W. Rush, just to the left of the theater; hours 8–2, M-W-F; phone 870-391-3504) and $15 at the door.

It’s been said already, but I’ll say it again: Jack Williams is a national treasure. When it comes to pulling the
worlds of blues, country, rock and roll and jazz together on an acoustic guitar, I’ve never heard his equal.

— Luke Tom, The Washington Post

Jack is the best guitar-player I’ve ever heard.

— Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary)

OAC Ticketing Link

Screamin’ Freeman’s World Record 20th Anniversary Concert — Saturday, March 16 at 7:00pm — #LiveAtTheLyric!

The Lyric Celebrates:
20 years ago, Freeman Conner set a Guinness World Record and helped save his hometown’s historic theater. We say, “It’s high time for a party” with…
Screamin’ Freeman and the World Record Band!
Saturday, March 16, 7:00PM

 

In 1999, Screamin’ Freeman laid claim to providing “Non-stop fun! Non-stop rock! and Non-stop Screamin’ excitement!” that no one else could match—and then Freeman Conner and his World Record Band proved that claim to be true even to the satisfaction of the Guinness Book of World Records, which noted their non-stop performance (shown at right on the Lyric’s then-much-smaller stage) as the longest continuous performance by a musical group. The band’s goal wasn’t only the setting of a world record, though: it was to help the Ozark Arts Council raise both money and awareness to make it possible to purchase the theater and transform it into the venue for live music, drama, and education that we all love today—and now it’s time to celebrate that historic concert and all the entertainment that followed it these past 20 years!

“The ever intense Mr. Screamin’ Freeman Conner”—lead guitarist, lead vocalist, harp player, songwriter, arranger, schmoozer, original in every sense of the word—is clear on why he leads a band that is no less intense today than it was in the ’90s: “The energy of the three piece band and the adrenaline rush from playing non-stop is why I do it.” What keeps the band “electric,” Freeman says, is John “Metronome” Schaffer, whose unfailing beat keeps the band tight from start to finish. With John’s steadiness, “The artist known as Paul” Woolston’s Fender P-Bass drives the music with every bit of intense energy that Fender’s naming it “Precision-Bass” was meant to convey: Precision = Power! Powerful rock and blues classics and the band’s own compositions drive up the excitement all night long.

Of course, Freeman is not the sort of guy to do things at the ‘exciting’ level if he has the opportunity to do them at the ‘super, massively exciting‘ level, so he is bringing in four great acts to make sure the celebration is even more memorable! Joined by Ben Olson, James White, Burlington, and Runnin’ N Gunnin’, Screamin’ Freeman is once again bringing a massive party to the Lyric stage!

The doors of the Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks—Harrison, Arkansas’s historic Lyric Theater—will open at 6:00 for a 7:00 performance on Saturday, March 16. Adult beverages and general concessions will be available throughout the concert, and tickets for this FIVE BAND 20th ANNIVERSARY EXTRAVAGANZA are available in advance for $15.00; at the door, they will be $20.

tickets

Earth Bone in Concert — Saturday, January 26 at 7:00pm — #LiveAtTheLyric!

Back for a full-length concert,
Runner up of the 2018 Battle of the Bands:
Earth Bone!
Saturday, January 26, 7:00PM

 

Earth Bone has an eclectic repertoire of multi-genre originals and uniquely played crowd-pleasing favorites that have been described as “Power Folk with a touch of funk.” From early rock classics to modern pop and rock, Earth Bone covers quite a lot of ground!

Armed with an incredible voice, Jerry Rowan has no fear in front of a microphone and always gives 150% every show. He is matched vocally by Susan Boone whose renditions of blues and ballads are exciting to hear to say the least. Dave Dore ties it all together with his vocals, keyboard and guitar. Wayne Angel’s conga, djembe and cajon riffs add a taste of the exotic to all of Earth Bone’s songs. The band is often joined by Denise Dore, who provides strong backup vocals.

Wow! You guys were phenomenal! We’re just reeling over how polished and smooth and truly fantastic you all were, and your choice of songs was perfect… all songs that hadn’t been done and that we were wanting to hear! Thank you!! It was such a great time!” 

Pam Fowler, The Buffalo Theater  
Jasper, AR

Most of the originals are written by Jerry, Dave and Susan and each song reflects a bit of what makes this group so exceptional.

Midnight Rider performed by Earth Bone

These guys are a blast!!! “Earth Bone”…They will be back very soon. Don’t miss it next time!!!”

Leslie Key, Meteor Guitar Gallery
Bentonville, AR

The doors of the Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks—Harrison, Arkansas’s historic Lyric Theater—will open at 6:00 for a 7:00 performance on Saturday, January 26. Adult beverages and general concessions will be available throughout the concert, and tickets are available in advance for $5.00; at the door, they will be $10.

tickets

Still on the Hill — Thursday, January 31 at 7:00 — #Live at the Lyric!

Still on the Hill
Returns to the
Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks!
Thursday, January 31 at 7:00PM

Still on the Hill will fill the Lyric once again with their beautiful melodies and lyrics. If you’ve never heard them before, don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy their stories, and if you have heard them before, then you already know: this concert is another must-see…especially since this is a free community concert at the Lyric Theater, 7:00 on January 31! Not only is the concert itself free, but they will be giving away CDs to the first 100 families through the door. (Doors open at 6:00.)

Kelly & Donna Mulhollan of Still on the Hill are award winning ‘story telling-song writers’. Different from most singer-songwriters, these “Ambassadors of the Ozarks” embellish their songs with a host of unique instruments made right here in the hills that we call home. Many of these were hand-made by old-timers and have amazing stories that come with them!

A free community concert at the Lyric Theater at 7:00 on Thursday, January, by Still on the Hill, who they will also be giving away CDs to the first 100 families through the door. (Doors open at 6:00.)

 

Sanctuary Benefit Concert — Saturday, October 13 at 3:00–8:00pm — #LiveAtTheLyric!

Benefit Concert for Sanctuary
featuring THREE great area bands:
The Hedley Lamar Band,
Earth Bone,
& White Fox Kill!
sponsored by
 Light Up Harrison, the OAC, and the Bands!
Saturday, October 13 3:00PM–8:00PM

 

White Fox Kill

Three bands that have consistently kept crowds coming back for more have banded together to support victims of domestic abuse by helping Sanctuary provide food and shelter. Sponsored by Light Up Harrison, which is committed not only to the lighting of the Square and streets of Harrison for the Christmas season, but to keep aglow the light of our area’s residents’ love for those in need, these excellent bands will perform to raise cash and food donations on Saturday, October 13, from 3:00–8:00.

The Ozark Arts Council is delighted to host The Hedley Lamar Band, Earth Bone, and White Fox Kill, who have graciously chosen to play for us at this fundraising event, through which

The Hedley Lamar Band

Sanctuary will be able to continue in its mission of providing for those escaping abuse and Light Up Harrison will continue to show the world that our area takes seriously our duty to recognize and enhance all that is good, noble, and beautiful. The OAC remains committed to the contention that great art most often comes from great passion—which is, literally, great suffering, whether from agony or from ecstasy—so that the Arts help us to heal and to thrive, to turn victimization to survival and survival to triumph.

 

Midnight Rider performed by Earth Bone

The doors of the Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks—Harrison, Arkansas’s historic Lyric Theater—will open at 2:00 for a performance stretching from 3:00 to 8:00  on Saturday, October 13. Adult beverages and general concessions will be available throughout this concert, and there will be short (5–10 minute) intermissions between bands, as well. Tickets are available in advance for $2.50 and two food items* or for $5; at the door, they will be $5 and two food items.

Thieves in the Dark performed by White Fox Kill

The Benefit Concert for Sanctuary, sponsored by Light Up Harrison, will begin at 3:00 on Saturday, October 13, and run from 3:00–8:00. The doors of Harrison’s historic Lyric Theater will open at 2:00 and adult beverages and general concessions will be available throughout the evening.  Tickets are available in advance online, at (870) 391-3504, or 9–4 weekdays at the OAC office (door to the left of the theater) for $2.50 and two food items or $5.00*; at the door, they will be $5 plus two food items.

*Please just bring the food items with you and don’t try to send them through our ticketing page; last time, someone tried to send a jar of strawberry preserves and it really gummed up our server.

LaGrange performed by The Hedley Lamar Band

tickets

Smokey & The Mirror — Saturday October 6 at 7pm — #LiveAtTheLyric!

Chemistry + Talent + Energy =
Husband & Wife Americana Duo
Building Community Through Excellence
as Crooked Creek presents
Smokey & The Mirror!

Saturday, October 6 at 7:00PM

 

“Bryan and Bernice Hembree (Smokey & The Mirror) are making some of the best folk music today. The songs remind me of a time when Guy Clark was unknown and Ray Wylie Hubbard was still a folkie. Smart, cool and never pretentious.”

– Greg Johnson, The Blue Door

Crooked Creek Concert Association presents Fayetteville Roots Festival  founders, Smokey & The Mirror, who will perform at the Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks, Harrison, Arkansas’s historic Lyric Theater, on October 6 at 7:00PM. Tickets are available in advance for $10; at the door, they will be $15. 

Smokey & The Mirror is husband/wife duo Bryan and Bernice Hembree. Based out of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Smokey & The Mirror has toured nationally and internationally over the past decade. The band has supported tours for Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wood Brothers, I’m With Her, Elephant Revival, John Fullbright, and many of their musical heroes. They tour most often as a duo, but also play many shows as a four-piece band. Whatever the configuration, the interplay of their two unique voices coupled with engaging, accessible songs form the foundation of Smokey & The Mirror.

The Hembrees work tirelessly on many musical and creative pursuits.  They are committed to others’ music as much as their own.  They have found that the most satisfying path to longevity in music is to put others’ art in the spotlight or to inspire others’ to find their voice.  They believe that the future of music is not winning the “me first” battle, but rather building community. To this end, they are founders and co-creators of the Fayetteville Roots Festival and also spent a year (2017) with Austin-based international songwriting collaborative, House of Songs, to pilot House of Songs Ozarks in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Crooked Creek Concert Association presents Fayetteville Roots Festival  founders, Smokey & The Mirror, who will perform at the Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks, Harrison, Arkansas’s historic Lyric Theater, on October 6 at 7:00PMTickets are available in advance for $10; at the door, they will be $15. 

The thing I love most about this band and the evening with them is not only the powerfully beautiful voice of bass player, Bernice Hembree, or the well-written songs of Bryan Hembree, sung with his rustic, true American voice – it’s the energy they bring on stage and to the audience! You can tell when they are performing; they truly treasure what they do. They feed off each other to the point it’s sometimes hard to tell where the guitar stops and the bass starts!”  – 

– Chris Roberts, Red Arm Music

 tickets

Comedy with Sam Adams — Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7:00 — #LiveAtTheLyric!

Way Smoother than the Beer…It’s Time for Comedy with Sam Adams!
Friday, December 7 at 7:00PM

Join us on December 7 at 7:00pm, for sports writer, TV personality, author, motivational speaker, Pop-a-Shot record-setter, and…oh, yeah, massively funny standup comic!…Sam Adams!

Smooth. Clever. Hilarious. These words are used often to describe Sam Adams on stage. His energetic, comically-insightful act is 100 percent profanity-free and filled with observations about every-day encounters. Sam is a headline performer, and also has shared stages with national-touring comedians and music recording artists.

In 2009 Sam entered the Great American Comedy Festival held annually in Johnny Carson’s childhood hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska. Sam left the festival as its most unique winner still to this date. Entered in the festival initially as an amateur, Sam won that competition. Later he was asked to compete with the professionals after one of the entrants fell ill. In a field of experienced comedians with national comedy club tours and late-night TV show appearances on their resumes, Sam took second place. It was an impetus for him to pursue a professional career in stand-up comedy.

Sam’s book is a great read that moves from ‘sports’ to ‘more’.

Sam has been described by many in the entertainment field as a Renaissance Man. In addition to performing comedy on stage, Sam also is booked as a Keynote Speaker for his motivational “Laughter Is Good Business” presentation, where he brings comedy and business to an intersection by showing ‘How To Spell Success With The Letter P.’ Sam also has served as Master of Ceremonies for numerous high-profile events and has appeared in several TV commercial ads seen nationally.

Sam’s an author, too, with a book titled If You Don’t Believe Me: Lessons Learned from Listening To The Greats. In the book, Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway offered the following tribute: “Through the ups and downs of an NFL career, I developed great trust, respect and appreciation for him. Blending an uncanny ability to mix humor with keen insight and knowledge, Sam is a one-of-a-kind storyteller.”

Off the record, Sam has nearly 25 years of experience as a newspaper sports journalist. His work, as a staff writer and columnist, has appeared in The Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News and The Charlotte Observer. In 2003 Sam received the Print Journalist of the Year award from his peers in Colorado. He also is credited with television appearances on ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS and NFL Network, and has covered championship events at all levels — most notably four Super Bowls, two Olympiads, two NCAA men’s basketball Final Fours, one Stanley Cup Finals and one World Series. In 2014 Denver’s NBC affiliate KUSA-9NEWS added Sam as a regular contributor to its sports programming, with weekly appearances on the station’s Sports A to Z and Broncos Game Day Live shows.

There were two stars on the night…….Host Sam Adams….not the beer guy…..who was hysterical in a PG way that reminded us of Bill Cosby. They should have let him do the whole two hours. The other big winner was the funnel cake fries which were sweet and delicious and served in a big basket. Sam Adams, in my opinion, is a spectacular talent waiting to be discovered on a national stage. If you see him on the list of performers, you should go. — Review of Comedy Works of Denver

Sam has appeared with the likes of Daniel Tosh, Mike Epps, Jake Johannsen, Wendy Liebman, Greg Warren, and Frank Caliendo, as well as opening for musicians and bands like The Guess Who, Three Dog Night, Al Jarreau, Air Supply, Al Stewart, and Starship. A world class entertainer—and a classy guy in general—the Ozark Arts Council is thankful for the sponsorship of Jeff Crocket Properties that allows us to bring Sam Adams to the Lyric stage for the affordable price of just $15 per ticket.

Comedian Sam Adams #LiveAtTheLyric Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7:00. Tickets available on our ticketing page or by calling (870) 391-3504; $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

OAC Ticketing Link