By: Carsyn Cann
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After almost a year without no in-person activities, Fayetteville is welcoming back live music.
Music has long been an important part of Fayetteville’s atmosphere, whether that be through festivals or bars on Dickson Street. According to concert archives, there were 26 concerts between the years 2018-2019. But, due to the pandemic, that number decreased to only five concerts in 2020.
Now, over one year later and over 460,000 Arkansans fully vaccinated, people are looking forward to the chance to attend events in person once again. “I miss going out with my friends without having to remember my mask,” said recent U of A graduate Bryce Harper. “I am ready to go out and just relax like I used to.”
Located on the end of Dickson Street is a place to have seen and heard music from many genres over many years. George’s Majestic Lounge is a staple for live music in Fayetteville.
A new mural on the stage house honors the deep history of live music in Fayetteville. The mural includes local artists that played at George’s Majestic Lounge through the generations, including The Cate Brothers, late blues guitarist Michael Burks, songwriter Lucinda Williams, and many more.
While COVID-19 limited the number artists able to become a part of Fayetteville’s musical history, that opportunity is now within reach. The lounge is welcoming back musicians to the stage with five concerts this month.
Those in Fayetteville also enjoy music through festivals. The Fayetteville Jazz Festival comes back in its third year as the first music festival in the city since the pandemic.
The Fayetteville Jazz Festival Director Chris Teal said that he is happy that the festival is able to have in-person elements after everything that has happened in the last year. “We are really excited to be able to offer in-person live workshops with university students on campus,” said Teal. “And obviously the big focal point of the festival are the live performances at a great outdoor venue close to campus.”
The event, taking place April 23-25, will feature a panel discussion, school performance clinics, workshops on jazz history, and performances. All festival activities are free to the public, with a combination of outdoor performances at Prairie Street Live, and live streaming events from the Fayetteville Public Library.
Teal said that live music coming back to Fayetteville is more important now than it’s ever been. “It’s something that everybody has the ability to create and participate in,” says Teal. “It has a great message of inclusion and positivity that I think is really important right now with everything going on in the world.”