May flowers with much to do on local entertainment scene
Spring’s in full bloom with things to do this first weekend of May, including karaoke, a Kentucky Derby Watch Party, Cinco de Mayo celebrations and more.
Local music venues are in full swing with bands and talented singers, including tonight’s May the 4th Be With You karaoke session at
The Arrow Bar downtown. Texarkana’s oldest bar will celebrate that Star Wars spirit by inviting karaoke singers to come to the downtown beer den donned in their favorite Star Wars attire.
Cinco de Mayo is everywhere Saturday night, including the ever-popular, hardworking Dusty Rose Band at On the Border. Appearing with them is Back in Black, the AC/DC tribute band who’ve been paying homage to the hard rockers since 2001.
On the homegrown indie, acoustic and punk rock front, check out another Cinco de
Mayo Fiesta at Tusks-NHorns Bar & Grill at the Wyndham with a lineup of
Old Flames, Merrows, The
Guilty and Papago Joe. It’s an all ages show, as they all are at T-N-H. Old Flames have been recording their fine original music (three great, straightahead, blistering songs so far), which you can find on their Bandcamp page.
If your hopes on the first Saturday in May fall to the horses running in the Kentucky Derby, Northridge
Country Club has an event for you. Hosted by Eagle
Impact, it’s a Derby watch
party: Hats & Horses: A Day
at the Derby. There’s music, food and other festivities related to the famed Run for the Roses, along with a viewing
of the race itself. Funds are raised for A&M-Texarkana athletics and student life. To find out more, visit tamut.edu/EagleImpact.
Also Saturday over in El Dorado, Ark., a not-too-far and not-too-close drive down the road apiece, you can see what should be a magical show for the Murphy
Arts District. That’s Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Special guest for the night is Richard Thompson, an iconic guitarist.
In Isbell, whose most recent release is “The Nashville Sound,” you have a former Drive-By Truckers member and one of contemporary music’s best Americana and alt country singer-songwriters. And in Thompson, you have an English folk rock great who was part of Fairport Convention. He’s considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. For this one, get tickets via Eldomad.com for this 8 p.m. show at the MAD’s
Griffin Music Hall.
On Monday, local artists take note: Joel Wright
of Joel Wright Art Gallery will speak at the 1894
Gallery starting at 6 p.m. about ways to market and promote the city’s artists and art events. Ideas mentioned include videos, a monthly brochure and more It’s an event titled Collaboration: Texarkana Art
The 1894 Gallery is located at 105 Olive St. downtown
And then on Tuesday, check out Ohio-based alternative metal act Mushroomhead performing at what used to be Shooters Sports Bar but is now called
Whiskey River Country. They put on a unique show with a unique style, to say the least. Get ready for some heavy weirdness, Mushroomheads.