Hear the latest weekend entertainment roundup from Eric E. Harrison, culture reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Let's talk about a busy weekend. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of events scheduled for the weekend leading up to Monday's total solar eclipse, but here's a sneak peek of what's going on.
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jeffrey Robson will perform Gustav Holst's “The Planets” on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Little Rock's Robinson Center Performance Hall on Broadway at West Markham Street. will be played. The program opens with Anna Klein's “Night Ferry.” (501) 666-1761, ext. 1 or visit ArkansasSymphony.org.
Incidentally, the Delta Symphony Orchestra and conductor Neil Barty will also perform “The Planets” on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Arkansas Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive in Jonesboro. (870) 761-8254 or visit deltasymphonyorchestra.org.
The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau will host three free concerts in advance of and during the eclipse at First Security Amphitheater in the River Market District.
The Rodney Bullock Collective and its All-Star Friends will perform Saturday at 6 p.m. Country singer-songwriter Ward Davis will perform Sunday at 8 p.m., and folk-Americana band The Cons of Formants will perform as the opening act at 7 p.m. Additionally, Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine will perform the Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. It begins at 12:40 on Monday and ends at 3:00 p.m. with a 20-minute break near totality.
littlerock.com/eclipse.
The Arkansas Film Society is offering a Sunday double feature loosely tied to the eclipse: Walt Disney's “'' at the Arkansas Museum of Art, 501 East 9th Street.Fantasia” was reportedly broadcast extensively. Screening for the first time since 1990 at 12:30 p.m. 2001: A Space Odyssey, Christopher Nolan Restoration, 2:30. Apparently you need to buy separate tickets to see both. acs.eventive.org.
Meanwhile, the 6th Annual Barks of the Maine Mardi Gras Dog Parade & Block Party, “Bark Side of the Moon,” will be held Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. in downtown Little Rock, 300-600 blocks of Main Street in Little Rock. Continue along the Creative Corridor. . The Mardi Gras-themed dog parade begins in the “Koi” section (6th and Main) at 2:30 p.m., with prizes awarded to the best dressed dogs. The event will also feature live entertainment for the Super Retriever Series dock diving pool display and competition, a beer garden, hurricane station, crawfish boil, kids zone, food trucks and “beads galore.” Admission is free. barkusonmain.com.
Lauren Daigle will headline a show Friday at 7 p.m. at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock. simmonsbancarena.com.
And artist John Mellencamp, formerly known as John Cougar Mellencamp, will perform at Robinson Center Performance Hall Wednesday at 8 p.m. ticketmaster.com.
Listen to Eric's recap of arts and culture events in central Arkansas every Thursday on Little Rock Public Radio at 4:44 p.m.