James Taylor, a performer for whom the term singer-songwriter could have been invented, returns to central Arkansas for a Verizon Arena show at 8 p.m. Friday, accompanied by his All-Star Band.
Taylor is known for a long, distinguished career in which he has won five Grammy Awards, but landed only one No. 1 hit: "You've Got a Friend." His Top 10 hits include "Fire and Rain," "Mockingbird," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" and "Handy Man."
Seating is reserved and tickets are $78 and $99.50.
Taylor will play acoustic guitar and his band consists of Jimmy Johnson on bass, Michael Landau on electric guitar, Larry Goldings on piano and keyboards, Stephen Gadd on drums, Lou Marini on horns, Luis Conte on percussion, Walt Fowler on horns and keyboards, Andrea Zorn on fiddle and vocals and Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller and David Lasley on vocals.
Verizon Arena, East Washington Avenue and Interstate 30, North Little Rock, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com
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A couple of Christian rock shows -- billed as "Celebrate the Word" -- will close out the 2014 summer concert season this weekend at Magic Springs.
Plumb will perform Friday night and Switchfoot gets the nod for Saturday night's finale.
Opening act for Plumb will be The Autumn City of Texarkana, Texas, while The Fable and Fury from Searcy will open for Switchfoot.
Both openers will play from 7 to 8 p.m., then yield to the featured act.
Plumb, also known as Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, 39, started in the business in 1997, with breaks here and there to raise her three children. She has released six albums, the latest of which, Need You Now, came out in 2013.
Switchfoot, founded by surfing brothers Jon and Tim Foreman, released a debut album in 2003, and its ninth studio album, Fading West, was released in January.
Admission is $54.99 the day of the concert, $49.99 if bought online; children 3 and younger admitted free and children shorter than 48 inches are admitted for $33.99, as are adults 55 and older. Active and inactive military, firefighters and police officers will be admitted free with government identification during August. Lawn seating is included in price of admission, with limited reserved seating available for additional $5 or $10. Parking is extra.
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Water and Theme Park, 1701 E. Grand Ave. (U.S. 70) Hot Springs, (501) 624-0100, magicsprings.com
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Stooges Brass Band will perform at Stickyz Rock 'n' Roll Chicken Shack at 9:30 p.m. Friday. Based in New Orleans, the band formed in 1996 and blends traditional Crescent City brass band sounds with contemporary hip-hop.
Admission is $8 in advance, $10 the day of the show.
The Stolen Faces will perform Saturday at 9:30 p.m. The Nashville, Tenn., band covers Grateful Dead songs.
Admission is $5.
Stickyz Rock 'n' Roll Chicken Shack, 107 River Market Ave., Little Rock, (501) 372-7707 or stickyz.com
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Kentucky Knife Fight will perform at 9:30 p.m. today at White Water Tavern. The St. Louis band has twice been named "Best Rock Band" by the city's alternative weekly, Riverfront Times.
Admission is $5.
Saturday at 9:30 p.m. the club will feature a solo show by B.J. Barham of the Raleigh, N.C., band American Aquarium, whose latest album, Burn.Flicker.Die, was produced by its touring friend and acclaimed Alabama rocker, Jason Isbell.
Admission is $7.
White Water Tavern, West Seventh and Thayer streets, Little Rock, (501) 375-8400 or whitewatertavern.com
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Friday the Rev Room will host Jonathan Tyler, along with opening act The Soft White Sixties. Tyler is a Dallas-based country rocker, and The Soft White Sixties is making its second visit to Little Rock, having played in May at Stickyz.
Admission to the 8:30 p.m. show is $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show.
Bart Crow, another Texas musician, will headline Saturday night.
Admission to the 9 p.m. show is $8 in advance, $10 the day of the show.
Revolution Room, 300 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 823-0090, revroom.com
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Acidic will perform at 9 p.m. today at Juanita's. From Southern California, the group was formed in 2008 and has released four albums.
Admission is $10.
Juanita's, 614 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 372-1228, juanitas.com
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Maxine's in Hot Springs will host Braining, a Missouri "noise rock" band, at 9 p.m. today.
Admission is $5.
Friday night, the club will have three acts: Shawn James and the Shapeshifters, an Arkansas blues/soul band; Grazzhopper, an Oklahoma bluegrass/folk group; and Kevin Kerby, a Little Rock alt/indie/folk singer-songwriter.
Admission is $5 to the 9 p.m. show.
Saturday night, the club presents another trio of acts: Sideshow Tragedy, a Texas blues/rock band; John Paul Keith, a Memphis rock/country singer-songwriter; and Elsa Cross, a Texas alt/country/rock singer.
Admission is $5 to the 9 p.m. show.
Maxine's, 700 Central Ave., Hot Springs, (501) 321-0909, maxineslive.com.
Weekend on 08/07/2014