Sturgill Simpson, a modern country music artist whose second album, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, was nominated for the Best Americana Album Grammy Award, is coming to Conway. Oxford American and Hendrix College's radio station, KHDX 93.1, have partnered to present the concert, 8 p.m. Wednesday in Staples Auditorium, 1600 Washington Ave., Conway. Admission is free, no reservations are required and doors open at 7 p.m. Call (501) 450-1291.
Guest conductor
As part of its 40th season celebration, the Hot Springs Concert Band will welcome guest conductor Masao Yabe for its "By Request" spring concert. Regular conductor Craig Hamilton will share the podium with Yabe for this concert made up of music voted on by members of the band.
Selections will include the U.S. debut of three compositions by Yabe: "The Fighter in the Sky," "Fanfare and Con Brio" and "The Spirit of Youth March." The concert starts at 3 p.m. today in Woodlands Auditorium, Hot Springs Village. Tickets are $10. The event also will have an ice cream social. Call (501) 984-1678 or visit hotspringsband.org.
Puzzled
Brains will be twisted and teased as the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service hosts its eighth annual Arkansas Puzzle Day, 1 p.m. today. Author and dog enthusiast David Rosenfelt will sign books at the event in partnership with the Arkansas Literary Festival.
Attendees may compete in crossword and Sudoku contests. Admission is free. Call (501) 683-5200.
Bluegrass
David Davis and the Warrior River Boys are set to perform at the monthly Bluegrass Monday series, 7 p.m. Monday at the Collins Theatre, 120 W. Emerson St., Paragould. In 2014, Davis and the band marked their 30th anniversary; this concert is part of their extended anniversary tour. The series is presented by Arkansas State University's KASU, 91.9-FM.
Admission is free; the suggested donation for the band is $5. Call (870) 972-2367.
Keeping a beat
Percussionist and University of Central Arkansas associate director of percussion Blake Tyson will share some of his compositions and works by his favorite composers at UCA Arts Night, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at South on Main, 1304 S. Main St., Little Rock. He'll perform alongside graduate students from the UCA Percussion Group. Admission is free; table reservations are recommended. Call (501) 244-9660 or visit southonmain.com.
Choral range
Traditional gospel and modern pop are on the program for Conway Men's Chorus' "Spring Sing" concert, 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway.
Under the direction of Jordan Bennett and Greg Murry, with accompanist Paul Bradley, the 55-man choir will perform a diverse collection of songs including the traditional hymn "The Old Rugged Cross" and Billy Joel's "For the Longest Time." Conway High School's The Accidentals will open. Admission is free and doors open at 6:30 p.m. Call (501) 327-5151 or visit conwaymenschorus.org.
Handel
Audiences can hear a condensed version of George Frideric Handel's epic Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when the Ouachita Baptist University Concert Choir performs selections from the work with help from the OBU Wind Ensemble, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. The usually two-hour, 45-minute work will be reduced to 90 minutes and will include selections from each of its three parts: the Christmas story, the Easter story and the celebration of victory over death.
The performers will be conducted by Gary Gerber, chairman of OBU's Division of Music. Soloists will include faculty members Margaret Garrett, soprano; Becky Morrison, alto; and David Stanley, tenor; and graduate Aaron Harp, bass.
The concert will be in OBU's Jones Performing Arts Center, 410 Ouachita St., Arkadelphia. Tickets are $10. Call (870) 245-5555 or visit obu.edu/boxoffice.
Irish song
The winner of eight Tony Awards and a Grammy, the musical Once turns Walton Arts Center's stage into the streets of Dublin when it arrives as part of the Procter & Gamble Broadway Series. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-May 3 and 7:30 p.m. May 3 at the WAC, 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. Tickets are $36-$78. Call (479) 443-5600 or visit waltonartscenter.org.
Style on 04/26/2015