The Sentinel-Record - HER - Hot Springs
Hot Water Hills
A weekend of music, food and fun
What began as a plan to fill the entertainment gap left after Oktoberfest stopped has taken on a life of its own as the annual Hot Water Hills Music Food and Arts Weekend prepares for its fifth anniversary Oct. 2 and 3 at Hill Wheatley Plaza, located at 629 Central Ave. in the heart of downtown.
“The whole idea was to take some of the cutting-edge concepts from the VOV (Valley of the Vapors music fest) which is kept kind of quiet and bring it downtown and show it to the entire community,” Bill Solleder, the executive director of Low Key Arts and organizer of the event, said. “Bring it out in the open and show everyone what it's all about.”
Solleder said the event is “an extension of the Low Key Arts vibe,” and appeals especially to “parents who love music but can't go to clubs all the time because they have kids.” He said it offers tons of activities for children so “the kids have a blast and the parents can sit down, have a cold beer and enjoy some good music.”
olleder joked that the event “has a hipster vibe but let's face it. We're all getting older now.”
This year, the Emergent Arts, Mid-America Science Museum, Growing Healthy Communities-Hot Springs Nutrition Education Committee and the Garland County Library will all contribute to the children's activity area. “They're all getting involved in it which feels great to me. I always wanted (HWH) to have everyone involved.”
He said there would be a lot of “hands-on tinkering opportunities” and arts and crafts, including the traditional cardboard city, although there wouldn't be a formal contest this year. “We will provide materials and have a designated area. The best part is watching the kids create these cardboard structures and then destroy them and build them again.”
There will also be straw bale pyramids, cake walks, contests, face painting by artist Bethannie Newsom Steelman and friends and other organized events. “What kid wants to walk around and just look at stuff?
“The whole idea was to take some of the cutting-edge concepts from the VOV, which is kept kind of quiet, and bring it downtown and show it to the entire community. . . Bring it out in the open and show everyone what it's all about.”
We try to inspire them and give them the opportunity to create something,” he said.
“It's a vital part of the festival. You can stay busy strolling through the artisan market featuring dozens of local artists and Retro Rummage booths. Relax awhile in a hammock, enjoy delicious food and cold beverages by Lagunitas and Mother's Brewing.”
Looking to the future, “I hope to make it grow even more. The core is the music, driven by Low Keys Arts,” Solleder said, noting they have an “extremely eclectic mix” this year with classic country, bluegrass, hip-hop, punk rock, alternative rock and even the sounds of Motown with the 10-piece Magnolia Sons from Nashville, featuring horns and wild outfits.
As per tradition, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts' folk music class will kick off the festival at 5 p.m. Oct. 2, followed by the indie rock of Telegraph Canyon, the alternative country of Daniel Romano, the “Americana” sounds of Adam Faucett and the Tall Grass concluding with the post punk alternative music of Ghost Bones.
A Busker Corner will be offering 30-minute sets from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 3, followed at 4:30 p.m. by the Spa City Youngbloods, a group of high school rockers from the Hot Springs Blues Society's after school “Blues in the Schools” program.
The main stage will see Good Graeff, an indie folk-pop band from Florida consisting of twins Brooke and Brittany Graeff, fresh from their latest tour; Christian Lee Hutson returning from Los Angeles with a full band; the hip-hop funk of Big Piph and Tomorrow Maybe, followed by the Magnolia Sons and Sad Daddy, a popular bluegrass/ folk group.
Solleder said HWH was started “because the downtown community started pushing for revitalization,” even before the tragic destruction of the Majestic Hotel. “This was designed as a pop-up event to show downtown what it's potential could be. That it can be fun and thriving. I want it to be part of the new energy downtown and get people coming out.”