Sarah Woolf of Follow the Woolf has your guide to Arkansas’ music scene. This week, go see Amy LaVere, Amanda Shires and more!

Around Little Rock

Thursday 1/24
Koe Wetzel with Stephen Neeper & The Wild Hearts/ Revolution Music Room – 300 President Clinton Ave /Doors open at 7, show at 8:30 / $15 advance, $18 day of show
The current word is this event is headed for a sell-out as Texas Red Dirt Country/ Americana artist Koe Wetzel and his band prepare to come to rock the Rock.  Opening the show is Little Rock’s own Southern rockers Stephen Neeper & The Wild Hearts. Get your tickets here.
Friday 1/25
Vino’s Benefit: Terminal Nation, NHTW, Go For Gold, Colour Design/ Vino’s Pizza-Pub Brewery – 923 W. 7th St / 7 – 11 / $10
Let’s get together and help rebuild the stage. A lot of us, myself included, have some great memories of the bands, both local and touring, we’ve seen in that back room, and after 30+ years the wear and tear has become great.   Come on out Friday night and let’s help build a new stage for the next 30+ years, so that future generations can have their own memories of this Little Rock treasure. Four local bands are joining forces for this show. Enjoy the metal of Terminal Nation, punk rock of Go For Gold, Indie-alternative-shoegaze of Colour Design, and the solid rock of My Hands to War.
Arkansas Sounds: A Celebration of Art Porter Sr./ CALS Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave / 7 / Free, but reservations are encouraged
Arkansas Sounds and AETN are proud to present this special celebration of Arkansas pianist, composer, conductor, and teacher Art Porter Sr. as we celebrate his musical legacy on what would have been his 85th birthday. Make your reservation here.
ClusterPluck/ Four Quarter Bar – 415 Main St, NLR / 9 / $8
A grassroots, Americana and folk band from Southern Illinois, ClusterPluck returns to Four Quarter Bar for a good time this Friday night.  Dogfish Head Brewery will be there to tap the limited release, pale ale American Beauty they made in partnership with The Grateful Dead.  Come on out for a pint of this limited brew and enjoy some feel good tunes from ClusterPluck. Keg tap at 8, music at 10.
Amy LaVere & Will Sexton/ South on Main – 1304 Main St. / 9 / $8 advance, $10 at the door
A bass-playing singer-songwriter outta Memphis, Amy LaVere has become a favorite of music lovers in Central Arkansas whether she’s solo, playing as a member of Motel Mirrors, or performing an intimate, cozy show with her husband guitarist Will Sexton. Amy will quickly win you over with her sweet soprano, and playful stage presence. Mojo Magazine describes her as “Norah Jones with an added Cyndi Lauper element.” Get your tickets here. Call 501-244-9660  for reserved seating.
Big Silver & Adam Faucett/ White Water Tavern – 2500 W 7th St. / 9
With a combination like this, you can’t lose!  Hear some rock & roll from Little Rock’s Big Silver, while singer-songwriter Adam Faucett opens the show.
Tribute to Maurice White of Earth, Wind, & Fire/ Revolution Music Room – 300 President Clinton Ave. / 10 / $15
The crew at Drummerboy Infinity is at it again with another stellar tribute show.  On Friday, back by popular demand, they pay tribute to the legendary Earth, Wind, & Fire, and their late front man Maurice White who passed away from Parkinson’s Disease on February 4, 2016.  This show is the ultimate experience, complete with a full horn section, strings, and some of the best vocalists in Central Arkansas. This show is headed towards a sellout, get your tickets today!
Saturday 1/26
Jason Lee Hale and The Personal Space Invaders/ Dugan’s Pub – 401 E. 3rd / 8:3
They’re a little bit country and a whole lotta rock & roll.  Central Arkansas guitar man Jason Lee Hale and The Personal Space Invaders land their rock & roll spaceship at Dugan’s Pub for a good time Saturday night.
Grazzhopper/ Fassler Hall – 311 E. Capitol Ave. / 9
Rockin’ bluegrass from Oklahoma and $4 Marshall and Prairie beers: sounds like the perfect combination for a great Saturday night.
Flatland Cavalry with The Salty Dogs/ Stickyz Rock N’ Roll Chicken Shack – 107 River Market Ave / 9 / $12
A Country-Folk-Americana band out of Lubbock, Texas, Flatland Cavalry comes to Stickyz in support of their latest album release Humble Folks. Opening the show is a Central Arkansas favorite, playing both country & Western, The Salty Dogs. Get your tickets here.
Handmade Moments with River Kittens/ White Water Tavern – 2500 W. 7th St. / 9
A Little Rock favorite, originally from Fayetteville and currently living in New Orleans, Handmade Moments is a duo that blends folk, soul and hip-hop in the most fun and unique way. Sharing the show, from St. Louis, MO, is the River Kittens, bringing  the soulful folk harmonies of River Kittens.
Trap Jazz Giants/ South on Main – 1304 Main St. / 10 / $10 advance, $15 at the door.
A night of jazz like you might not have heard before as premier saxophonist Phillip “Philli Moo” Mouton and songwriter/producer/mulit-instrumentalist Quincy “QNote” Watson blend contemporary and jazz standards with the baseline and core of traditional hip-hop to form the new genre known as Trap Jazz.  Come out for a special night of music and here these Trap Jazz Giants show you what it’s all about. Get your tickets here.
Ed Bowman & the Rock City Players/ Four Quarter Bar – 415 Main St. NLR / 10 / $7
Classic soul and R&B from Central Arkansas’ own Ed Bowman and the Rock City Players.
Sunday 1/27
Chris DeClerk/ The Rail Yard – 1212 E. 6th St. / 4
The Rail Yard’s Sunday afternoon music series continues with Little Rock singer-songwriter Chris DeClerk for a solo acoustic performance.  Kids and pups are welcome.  Enjoy the fire pit, local brews, and tasty BBQ from Count Porkula as Chris DeClerk serenades you on a winter Sunday afternoon.
Amanda Shires with Thomas Csorba/ Revolution Music Room – 300 President Clinton Ave / 8 / $17 advance, $20 day of show
Celebrating the release of her fifth album, To The Sunset, singer/songwriter/violinist Amanda Shires comes to the Rev Room for a special Sunday night show.  Opening the show is Thomas Csorba, an Americana singer-songwriter from Waco, Texas. Get your tickets here.

Around Arkansas

Hot Springs Village

Thursday 1/24
Ten Penny Gypsy / Woodlands Auditorium – 1101 Desoto Blvd / 7 / $15
The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association presents Central Arkansas folk duo Ten Penny Gypsy as part of their “Winter in the Woodlands” series.
Samantha Crain with Michael Lenard Witham / Maxine’s Live / 9 / Free
Choctaw-American singer-songwriter Samantha Crain (winner of 2009 Native American Music award for Folk Album of the Year & Songwriter of the Year) comes to Maxine’s for a special Thursday night show.  Opening the show is Michael Lenard Witham, a singer-songwriter from Little Rock.
Saturday 1/26
Amy LaVere & Will Sexton/ Kollective Coffee & Tea – 110 Central Ave / 8 /  $10.12 – $33.46
A bass-playing singer-songwriter outta Memphis, Amy LaVere has become a favorite of music lovers in Central Arkansas whether she’s solo, playing as a member of Motel Mirrors, or performing an intimate, cozy show with her husband guitarist Will Sexton. Amy will quickly win you over with her sweet soprano, and playful stage presence. Mojo Magazine describes her as “Norah Jones with an added Cyndi Lauper element.” Get your tickets here.

Fort Smith

Saturday 1/26
Deep Sequence/ Harry’s Downtown – 509 Garrison Ave / 9 / $5
Little Rock’s Deep Sequence brings their Psychedelic Power Funk to Harry’s Downtown for a very groovy Saturday night. Ozark soul rock band Oddparty will be opening the show and Isaac Palmers is providing a professional light show for a psychedelic experience you don’t want to miss.
Mountain Sprout/ Hero’s – 1002 Garrison St. / 9
Those wild men from the hills of Eureka Springs are coming to Hero’s for a rock n’ rowdy Psychobilly Saturday night!

Conway

Saturday 1/26
Akeem Kemp Band with Rikki D/ King’s Live Music – 1020 Front St. / 8:30 / $5
A night of in-your-face rock & roll blues from two of Central Arkansas’ best: Akeem Kemp and Rikki D.

El Dorado

Thursday 1/24
Trey Johnson, Jason Wilmon, and Josh Lawrence/ Griffin Restaurant – 101 E. Locust St. / 8
Thursday Night Live brings you a night of feel-good rock & roll blues from Trey Johnson with Jason Wilmon & Josh Lawrence that’s sure to get your toes tappin’  and warm you up on this cold winter night.
READ MORE: Heather Baker’s Weekend Plans