MUSIC SCENE A classic combination: Southern rock & rasslin'

LITTLE ROCK — 38 Special, a Southern rock band that scored hit songs in the 1980s, is still on the road and shares top billing tonight in Batesville with wrestling matches.

The combined show, called Rocktoberfest @ Riverside Park, will be held at 1 Riverbank Road, alongside the White River.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and wrestling will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

An opening act, Further Down, goes on around 8:35 p.m., followed by 38 Special at 9:30.

Tickets are $20 or $40 for VIP tickets or $50 for VIP Extreme tickets.

The two levels of VIP tickets include ringside seats for wrestling and close seating for the music, along with an after-show party at Josie's club, with music by Doghouse and Trey Hawkins. The VIP Extreme ticket includes backstage admission plus a mealin the VIP area.

Call (870) 698-2288.

A Sadie Hawkins Dance tonight in Hot Springs will feature the music of The Itinerant Locals, Lurleen, Luna Tart and Brian Martin. The dance will be part of the after-Gallery Walk Soiree at the Low Key Arts Center, 118 Arbor St., just off Park Avenue in Hot Springs.

Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Call (501) 282-9057.

There will also be the art of New Orleans resident Rebecca Rebouche, featured at 8 p.m., followed by the music. Luna Tart, an Austin, Texas, singer also known as Laura Freeman, does a 1920s cabaret-style show in several languages, while her "alter ego," Lurleen, does what is described as a "smoldering" Southern set. Martin and the Itinerant Locals are Spa City veterans.

Royal Wade Kimes, an Arkansas country singer, will hold his third annual "Bringin' It Home" concert Saturday at the Kimes family ranch in Chester, just off Interstate 540 at the Chester exit in Crawford County.

The show starts at 5 p.m. with three opening acts, with Kimes taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. He will be joined by The Nashville Pickers.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the gate. Call (479) 782-5074.

The show is a benefit for the Meals for Kids Program, which helps feed children in public schools in seven counties.

Main Street Ozark is presenting a Battle of the Bluegrass Bands at 1 p.m. Saturday in Eastside City Park in Ozark.

Only the first 20 entries will be accepted. There is a $100 entry fee with prizes of $1,000 for firstplace, $500 for second and $200 for third.

Each band will perform three songs, with extra points given for original material.

Call (479) 667-5337.

Singer-songwriter Barbara Bailey Hutchison will perform a concert at 7 p.m. today at The Ritz Civic Center, 306 W. Main St., Blytheville. Admission is $15; $10 for student or group tickets; free for children age 5 and under. Call (870) 762-1744.

Hutchison won the Grammy Award for Best Children's Album in 1996 for her album Sleepy Time Lullabys.

Memphis rockabilly trio The Dempseys, a perennial favorite at Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack, 107 Commerce St., Little Rock, return for a show at 9 p.m. today.

Admission is $8.

Four on the Floor will perform Saturday night at Sticky Fingerz, with Clay Caldwell opening the show at 9 p.m.

Admission is $5. Call (501) 372-7707.

Vs, an evening of dueling DJs from Little Rock vs. Conway, will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Revolution Room, 300 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Admission is $5. Call (501) 823-0090.

Fear Before the March of Flames will headline an evening of seven bands tonight at The Village, University and Asher avenues, Little Rock.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. with Damiera, I Am the Ocean, Exotic Animal, Petting Zoo, Heart for a Hand and Strike the Choir.

Tickets are $8 in advance, $1 at the door. Call (501) 570-0300.