What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1497147
8 What's up! april 16-22, 2023 AMP'ed Up! Walker hayes livin' '6 string american dream' as opener MONICA HOOPER NWA Democrat-Gazette W alker Hayes says that he and his band still need some practice to get "Fancy Like" the dancers for the Duck Buck Tour that hits the road this month. "We have four dancers that are dancing with us, and one is my daughter, Lela. They're amazing. I mean, in my opinion, they are the best part of the show," he says. "Me and the band have a lot of work to do to catch up with them, but it's incredible." The pop-country superstar is hitting the road to share his stories for the Duck Buck Tour with Ingrid Andress and BRELAND this month. They will open the 2023 season at the Walmart AMP at 6:30 p.m. April 21. Over the pandemic, the Mobile, Ala., musician went viral after posting a TikTok video of him and his daughter dancing to his song, "Fancy Like." The song went on to spend 16 weeks on Billboard's Hot Country Songs and even won Top Country Song in 2022. Before his viral success, Hayes was nominated for a CMT award for his hit, "You Broke Up With Me," in 2018. "Country Stuff The Album" was nominated for a Billboard Country Music Award in 2022. The singer-songwriter and father of six still keeps his family close even when he's on the road. "If my family doesn't go, I don't go to work," he says. "We travel as a herd — my six kids, three dogs and Lanie, my wife. We share a bus. It is chaos 24/7. But it's just the way we like it. It's awesome." His kids even contribute to the music. His daughter Loxley sings backup on "If Father Time Had A Daughter," a "Time In a Bottle" style ode to being a "girl dad" where Hayes waxes nostalgic about his daughters growing up. Loxley even stars in the video. "She's a ham. Honestly, she's a way better singer than me," he laughs. "As of now, we're not doing that song live, but Lolly sings with us when we do the VIP shows, so she'll probably join me on that." While his sets are full of bouncy tunes, Hayes shares also shares his heartbreaks and vulnerabilities. In 2018, he and his wife lost a newborn daughter the day she was born. Three years later, Hayes lost his father. On top of that, he's been sober since 2015. He details those years in his intensely personal songs, "AA" and "6 String American Dream," where he sings: "If I'm drinking honestly/ I still can't drink responsibly." Performing the song is a means of catharsis for him. "Getting it all out there makes life a lot easier," he says. "Just admitting those first and foremost, makes my shoulders relax," he explains. "I'm eight years sober, but I don't begin to believe that I have outgrown that addiction. I'm glad to admit it for those that might need reminding." He says he's received a lot of feedback for "6 String American Dream," especially from people like himself. "Quite a few people in the industry have said, 'Man, I relate to that.' We all have the job of our dreams, but it didn't solve anything. All it did was it checked off that box. Our dreams came true, we're able to feed our families and support ourselves financially by doing what we love. However, it didn't really fix the things that truly matter. It didn't unbreak the heart of the matter." The 2023 AMP Season Tyler Childers, Foo Fighters, Snoop Dogg and Eric Church each have sold more than 10,000 tickets to date at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, according to information from the AMP. Both Childers and Foo Fighters have sold out the venue, and only platinum level tickets are available for the High School Reunion tour featuring Snoop Dogg on July 15 and for Eric Church on July 27. See dates and ticket information for the upcoming season below: April • Walker Hayes, Ingrid Andress and BRELAND at 6:30 p.m. April 21. Tickets $35 and up. • Tyler Childers, Charley Crockett and Wayne Graham at 6:30 p.m. April 22. Sold out. May • Parker McCollum with Larry Fleet at 7:30 p.m. May 5. $35 and up. • Godsmack with I Prevail at 7 p.m. May 9. $35 and up. • Dave Matthews Band at 7:30 p.m. May 23. $49.50 and up. • Incubus with Coheed and Cambria at 7:30 p.m. May 26. $36 and up. June • Foo Fighters at 7:30 p.m. June 14. Sold out. • The Avett Brothers and Gov't Mule at 7:30 p.m. June 17. $45 and up. • Matchbox Twenty and Matt Nathanson at 7:30 p.m. June 23. $51 and up. • Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson and Family Pop-country singer songwriter Walker hayes opens the 2023 Walmart arkansas Music pavilion season april 21 with ingrid andress and BrElaND. (Courtesy photo) Cover Story