Sarah Woolf of Follow the Woolf has your guide to Arkansas’ music scene. This week, go see the Summer Solstice, Trevor Noah and more.

Around Little Rock

Friday 6/21

Charlotte Taylor/ Walter’s Coffee & Speakeasy – 5018 Kavanaugh Blvd./ 7-10

An acoustic night of music from Central Arkansas lady of the blues Charlotte Taylor.

Sounds of Unity with Ty Reid/ Unity of Little Rock – 2610 Reservoir Rd/ 7-9 / $10

This month’s Sounds of Unity host, Central Arkansas Americana group Ten Penny Gypsy, is welcoming singer-songwriter Ty Reid for an intimate night of music.

Hognado

Hognado with The Main Thing/ The Joint Coffeehouse 301 Main St. NLR/ 8:00-10:00 Friday & Saturday/ $25

Central Arkansas comedy troupe The Main Thing is back with their summer show “Hognado.” Their first disaster comedy, about a super-sized storm system that cuts the Natural State a new one! See how Arkansans adapt and survive when a giant tornado swoops up the last remaining wild hogs in the Ozarks and hurls them at Little Rock at 180 miles per hour.   Get your tickets here.

Ally Venable Band / Stickyz Rock N’ Roll Chicken Shack 107 River Market Ave./ 8:30-11:30/ $12 advance $15 day of show

Powerhouse Texas Blues from 2014 & 2015 “Female Guitarist of the Year,” three time winner of “Blues band of the year,” and 2017  “Album of the Year.” at the ETX Music Awards.  Blues lovers, don’t miss this show. Get your tickets here.

Knox Hamilton with Joseph Tilley and Tyler Sellers/ Revolution Music Room 300 President Clinton Ave. / 8:30-11:30 / $12 advance $15 day of show

Little Rock’s indie dance rock band Knox Hamilton returns to the Rev Room. Opening the show are local artists Joseph Tilley and Tyler Sellers. Get your tickets here.

Ally Venable Band 

Summer Solstice VIII with Nikki Hill, Joshua Asante, and Baldego/ White Water Tavern – 2500 W 7th St./  $15

Joshua Asante and Baldego (Quiet Contender) present the 8th annual Summer Solstice. The guys will both bring their signature DJ sets before and after the show.  This year they welcome the one and only “soul shocked, volume cranked, feel good Rock n’ Roll” artist Nikki Hill and her fabulous soulful band. This is a show I look forward to every year and with the addition of Nikki Hill makes this a show you really don’t want to miss.

AJ Ghent/ South on Main 1304 Main St. / 9-10:30/ $7 advance, $10 at the door

This is an evening of “sacred steel sound” from AJ Ghent and his singing guitar. Hailing from Fort Pierce, Fla. but based in Atlanta Georgia now, Ghent’s latest creation, “The Neo Blues Project” (March 2018), debuted at #7 on the Blues Billboard Charts, constructing “a sound that can be heard howling from the church to the streets to the clubs.  His style can be defined as fresh, nostalgic, electrifying and roots rock,–fusing blues, funk, rock, and pop, mashing it into a genre he likes to call, NEO BLUES.” Get your tickets here.

Brick Fields/ Four Quarter Bar – 415 Main St. NLR / 10:00 / $7

Come see roots, blues, folk, gospel, Americana from Central Arkansas duo Rachel Fields and Larry Brick.

Knox Hamilton

Saturday 6/22

Control Grand Opening/ Control Little Rock 2612 Kavanaugh Blvd. / 12-10

Central Arkansas’ newest new and used record store celebrates its grand opening with a day of live music, DJs, giveaways, and good times.  Doors open at noon, so get there early to get your choice selections, and the music starts at 3 pm with DJ Poe, DJ Halfdead, DJ Dark Allie,  Joshua Asante, and Memphis/Goner artist Hash Redactor.

Bound 4 the Future featuring Yuni Wa and Dazz & Brie/ Revolution Music Room – 300 President Clinton Ave. / 8:30 / $8

Central Arkansas electronic DJ Yuni Wa and rock/soul duo Dazz & Brie join forces for a Saturday night party.

The Garcia Project/ Stickyz Rock n’ Roll Chicken Shack – 107 River Market Ave/ 9:30-12/ $15

National touring Jerry Garcia Band Cover Band, or tribute band, The Garcia Project brings a performance of precise arrangements, proper instrumentation, and feel for any and all given eras with a show based on actual set list performed by The Jerry Garcia Band. Get your tickets here.

AJ Ghent

The Going Jessies with Amy Garland and Rachel Ammons/ Four Quarter Bar – 415 Main St. NLR / 10:00/ $7

Conway Arkansas’ three-piece soulful, harmonic, Americana group The Going Jessies join with their friends, country folk artist Amy Garland and the eclectic Rachel Ammons for a night of singer-songwriters.

Sunday 6/23

Swamp Donkey/ The Rail Yard 1212 E 6th St. / 4-7

The Rail Yard’s Sunday music series is welcoming Central Arkansas blues artist Ben “Swamp Donkey” Brenner with special guest Lance Womack on drums. Bring the kids and fur kids out to the yard for an evening of great, food, drinks, music, and fun.

Around Arkansas

Bentonville

Saturday 6/22

Chris DeClerk/ Pedaler’s Pub 410 SW A St./ 6-10

Two long sets of originals and choice covers from Central Arkansas singer-songwriter Chris DeClerk.

Springdale

Friday 6/21

Willi Carlisle & Statehouse Electric/ Black Apple Crossing / 8-10

Ring in the summer solstice at BAC with folksinger Willi Carlisle and Fayetteville’s eclectic acoustic Americana act, Statehouse Electric.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoufwXEF0iE/

Rogers

Friday 6/21

Trevor Noah/ Arkansas Music Pavilion 5079 W Northgate Rd. / 8:00/ $30-$99

National comedian and host of Comedy Central’s Daily Show is coming to the Arkansas Music Pavilion on his Loud & Clear tour.

Eureka Springs

Friday 6/21

Ashtyn Barbaree/ Wanderoo Lodge 216 W. Van Buren / 7:00-9;00

Indie/Americana artist from Fayetteville Ashtyn Barbaree comes to the Wanderoo Lodge.

Saturday 6/22

Jesse Dean & Mark Bilyeu/ Trigger Gap Outfitters 190 CR 539/ 8:00-11:00/ $5

Start the summer off right, on the river with some great friends and great music with Jesse Dean and Mark Bilyeu.

Arkansauce

Conway

Friday 6/21

Arkansauce/ Kings Live Music 1020 Front St/ 8:30-12/ $5

Arkansauce, a bluegrass/folk band from Fayetteville, will headline, while Darren Barry, an acoustic artist from Conway, will open.

Friday 6/21

Shannon Boshears Band/ JJ’s Grill – 1010 Main St. / 8:30

Enjoy some rockin’ blues from Central Arkansas’ Shannon Boshears Band.

Hot Springs

Saturday 6/22

Charlotte Taylor/ Trejo’s Mexican Restaurant – 3801 Central Ave. Ste C/ 6-9

Enjoy some great food & drinks on the patio with Central Arkansas lady of the Blues Charlotte Taylor.

DeFrance/ Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Beer Garden – 100 Exchange St./ 8-11

Head to Hot Springs to enjoy a night of food and fun with Central Arkansas classic rock & rollers DeFrance.

READ MORE: Check out our weekend plans!

Images courtesy of artists