When the Bentonville Film Festival started last year, the mission was to focus on increasing the diversity of women and minorities represented in film. In this, the second year, festival organizers have expanded that mission to include all forms of media -- and they reached out to country superstar Darius Rucker to help them do it.
"As the conversation about inclusion changes rapidly within the industry, we felt it was appropriate to expand our mission to the entertainment industry at large," says Gina Allgaier, vice president of marketing for the festival. "We're very excited to be working with Darius because he himself is a champion of increasing diversity in the industry."
FAQ
Darius Rucker & Friends
WHEN — 7 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE — Walmart AMP in Rogers
COST — $34.50-$60.50
INFO — bentonvillefilmfest…, mycountrynation.com, arkansasmusicpavili…
Rucker has played at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers two times before, the most recent being during the 2014 season, and is happy to be coming back to Arkansas.
"[Northwest Arkansas] has always been a great crowd and a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to getting back there," he says by phone from his home in South Carolina. "I think we'll be getting in the day before [the show] so I'm hoping to get to wander around the festival and see what it's about.
"It sounded like a cool festival and something that would be a lot of fun. And I got involved because of the charity aspect, too. Hopefully they'll be glad they asked me to be a part of it," he adds with a laugh.
Joining Rucker for the show will be two other local favorites (and "The Voice" alumni) Cassadee Pope, whose most recent trip to the area was with Tim McGraw in 2014, and Barrett Baber.
"Barrett was an obvious choice, and we're very excited to have him joining us because he will also be part of summer programming for Coca-Cola, who is our presenting sponsor," says Brad Lawless, the director of development for My Country Nation. "Where they've had the names on Coke bottles to encourage sharing with your friends and family, this year it is all about sharing memories you've made. Coca-Cola will have song lyrics on the bottles, and Barrett is one artist they've chosen."
The concert, titled "Darius Rucker & Friends: Together, We Make the Music," will celebrate how diverse voices can come together to make music and memories, connecting the themes of the year for the Bentonville Film Festival, Coca-Cola and My Country Nation. The audience can expect Rucker to perform favorites from his four consecutive No. 1 country albums as well as hits from his time as lead singer and guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish.
"I just love singing songs. Keeping it fresh is just showing up," Rucker says of his lengthy career. "When you start playing a song and a lot of people get excited -- they've been waiting to hear that song -- that's what it's about. Just seeing the crowds and everyone having a good time, people showing up and knowing there's people out there that care that much keeps it fresh for me."
NAN What's Up on 04/29/2016