The Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival has a couple of events it's connected to: spring break and the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas (March 13-22), which means many music acts pass close enough to Hot Springs to dip their musical toes in the Spa City waters.
An opening reception and art show will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Emergent Arts, 341-A Whittington Ave., Hot Springs. There will be music by Darren Keen of New York, a CMHX screen-printing demonstration, portraits by Robbie Brindley and a print show by James Weinberg of Massachusetts.
Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival
Opens at 7 p.m. today, events through Tuesday, various locations in Hot Springs
Admission: Free to most events; $5 or $10 cover charge for some events or free with $50 VOV pass
(501) 282-9056
The remainder of the schedule includes:
Friday: The Low Key Arts, 118 Arbor St., will open at 7 p.m. and the music will include Fred Thomas from Michigan at 7:30, Schwervon! from Kansas plays at 8:15, Shilpa Ray from New York at 9, My Gold Mask from Illinois at 10 and Jamaican Queens from Michigan at 11. Admission to the all-ages show is $10 or free with a VOV pass, which is $50.
Ray, a former backing vocalist for Nick Cave, is out on her own and bringing a band to back her up. She plays the harmonium and keyboards and is accompanied by a drummer, bassist, guitarist and pedal steel guitarist.
"When people see my harmonium, they can't fathom what we are all about," she says. "It's awkward to carry, but I'm used to it."
Ray, whose parents are from India, was not allowed to listen to "Western" music until she was grown and left her New Jersey home for New York. She led Beat the Devil and then led a band, Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers, before going "solo," or at least using only her own name even when a band backs her up.
Her latest recording is a two-song cassette tape, featuring Lou Reed's "Makeup" and Dinah Washington's "What a Difference a Day Makes."
"Lou Reed was my childhood hero, and they used to call me 'Sister Ray,' which is the name of one of the best-known songs by Lou's old band, the Velvet Underground," Ray says. "And I discovered the Dinah Washington song when I was going through a difficult time and we were in Cleveland. At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I went to a listening booth and found that song, and just really knew I had to record it."
Ray will release her first full-length album, Last Year's Savage, on May 19.
Maxine's, 700 Central Ave., will present Hot Springs' own Ghost Bones (winner of the 2015 Arkansas Times showcase), plus The Grayces from Tennessee, at 9 p.m. Admission is $5 or free with a VOV pass.
Saturday: The "trail show" with JD Wilkes from Kentucky will be held at noon at the Farmers Market Pavilion. The show is free. At 3 p.m. Wilkes will conduct a free banjo and harmonica workshop at Emergent Arts, plus a prayer flag demonstration by Andrea Jablonski. At 6, there will be a free "secret show" by All Eyes West, from Illinois, with the location revealed on the day of the show, at valleyofthevapors.com.
The Low Key Arts main event begins at 7 p.m. with The Gunshy from Illinois, Christian Lee Hutson of California plays at 8:15, Native Lights from Oklahoma at 9, The Memphis Dawls from Tennessee at 10 and Water Liars from Mississippi at 11. Admission is $10 or free with a VOV pass.
At 8 p.m., the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute will present the Outsider and Underground Film Series at Deluca's Pizza, 407 Park Ave., with a free screening of Charles Bradley-Soul of America.
Sunday: At noon, the free Trail Show will feature Andrew Bryant from Mississippi at Baseball Trail Park, 1201 Whittington Ave. Lawn chairs are suggested. A free 3 p.m. illustration workshop at Emergent Arts will feature JD Wilkes on "how to create comic strips from scratch." A 6 p.m. "secret show" will feature The Shivas from Oregon, with the show's location revealed the day of the show at valleyofthevapors.com.
The Low Key Arts center's main event begins at 7 p.m. with Laser Background from Pennsylvania, Ronnie Heart from Texas plays at 8:05, Young Buffalo from Mississippi at 8:50, NOTS from Tennessee at 9:40, Mutts from Illinois at 10:30 and Two Cow Garage from Ohio at 11:15. Admission is $10 or free with a VOV pass.
Starting at 8 p.m., Deluca's will show the movies Songs for Alexis and Dig.
Monday: The free Trail Show at noon will feature Al Scorch from Illinois in Adair Park, 358 Central Ave. At 3 p.m., Emergent Arts will host a free workshop by Bill Daniel on "do it yourself touring" for filmmakers and visual and performance artists. The free 6 p.m. "secret show" will be Daikaiju from Mississippi, with the show's location revealed the day of the show at valleyofthevapors.com.
The Low Key Arts center's main event begins at 7:30 p.m. with AMFMs of New York, Heaters from Michigan play at 8, Daniel Romano Duo from Canada at 8:45, Swearing at Motorists from Germany at 8:30 and Pallbearer from Little Rock at 10:30. Admission is $10 or free with a VOV pass.
The free 8 p.m. documentary movie at Deluca's will be A Band Called Death.
Tuesday: The free Trail Show at noon at Hollywood Park, 411 Hollywood Ave., will feature Ryan Cassata from California. A 3 p.m., Emergent Arts will host a free workshop discussion with Cassata who will talk about the music industry future for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual artists. The free 6 p.m. "secret show" will feature Hikes from Texas, with the show's location revealed the day of the show at valleyofthevapors.com.
The Low Key Arts center's main event begins at 7:30 p.m. with Triathalon from Texas, Bruiser Queen from Missouri plays at 8:10, White Mystery from Illinois at 9, Blacklist Royals from Tennessee at 9:45 and PeeLander Z from New York at 10:30.
The free 8 p.m. documentary film at Deluca's will be The Punk Singer.
Weekend on 03/19/2015