What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 What's up! april 30-May 6, 2023 Free Fun Comes First artosphere offers music, puppets, pottery, more MONICA HOOPER NWA Democrat-Gazette O utdoor music, a "Humongous Fungus," puppet shows, films, yoga and pottery are among the free events planned all over Northwest Arkansas as part of the annual Walton Arts Center's Artosphere Festival this May. "Artosphere Festival, when it was founded, was about accessibility and about bringing arts to the community. So we've always had some free and low-cost events during Artosphere," says Jennifer Ross, vice president of programming for the Walton Arts Center during a recent What's Up podcast. The music kicks off with a free concert by Trout Fishing in America on May 9 at the Botanical Gardens in Fayetteville. "We're really excited. We love this band. We love bringing them out in the community," Ross enthuses. She says that they are asking people to register for that event in case of rain. There is also Tunes on the Trails, which can be accessed through a smartphone. Locations will be announced May 1. "This is an idea to use our Artosphere Festival Orchestra recordings and pair them with selected trails in Northwest Arkansas," explains Sara Broome Jones, learning programs and festivals specialist. "You go to the trailhead, you see the sign and scan it, and it brings you a recording for you to listen to on your hike. And it's just a really beautiful experience." Jones adds that she has tested Tunes on the Trails for herself. "You're used to hearing classical music in a fancy hall," she says. "This gives you a different experience to live the music in a natural environment." Ross adds that there are plenty more opportunities to hear classical music and roots music during this year's festival. The Herbie Hancock Institute National Peer-to-Peer Jazz Sextet featuring Don Braden, Lisa Henry and the Northwest Arkansas Jazz All-Stars will have a free concert at 7 p.m. May 18 in Starr Theatre at Walton Arts Center. A Garden Party at Crystal Bridges from noon to 4 p.m. May 18 will feature live music, too. The festival has also partnered up with First Thursday and First Friday events May 4-5. Local drummer Papa Trail Mix, Artosphere's signature event, will be in Fayetteville's lower ramble this year in the new forest canopy and pathways through tanglewood Creek and Fay Jones Woods. trail Mix performers will include the Crumbs, stonelion puppets, Backyard Bugs, violin duo Miho sakon and andrew Chu and harpist Devanee Williams with cellist Michael puryear. the Community Creative Center will also lead a family craft. in this photo from 2015, rani arbo & Daisy Mayhem play during trail Mix at Crystal Bridges Museum of american art in Bentonville. (NWa Democrat- Gazette File photo) On the cOver