What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1169886
8 WHAT'S UP! SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2019 More, More, More! BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette I t's loud, it's proud, and it's the signature event for Bikes, Blues & BBQ. But a Parade of Power isn't enough to entertain some 400,000 people for four days. So even in its 20th year, the Fayetteville motorcycle rally continues to add new entertainment — and other organizations continue to piggyback on the big weekend. Tommy Sisemore, in his fourth year as BBB executive director, says he counts on those auxiliary undertakings to do what Bikes, Blues & BBQ can't do alone. "It's hard for a nonprofit to put out the kind of money for headline acts," he says when asked to compare BBB to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, where this year's big names included Godsmack, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Keith Urban, Styx and Snoop Dogg. "If we did that, we wouldn't have any money left over to give away. We're trying to be good stewards of our community and good stewards of this weekend we've been given." Over the life of the rally, more than $2 million has been donated to local charities, Sisemore says. "Not bad for a little rally that started out to fund Meals on Wheels." Auxiliary Events Bikes, Blues & BBQ doesn't need to bring in a headliner when the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers has that covered. Last year, it was Lynyrd Skynyrd. On Sept. 26, it's CMA Award- winner Luke Combs' "Beer Never Broke My Heart" Tour with the Cadillac Three, Jameson Rodgers and Dee Jay Silver. And it's sold out. "So much of our booking at the Walmart AMP is dependent on the tour routing for each artist, and we don't have much control over that," says Jennifer Wilson, the WAC public relations director. "Of course, it's great when we can get a show to land during Bike, Blues & BBQ because it gives festival attendees and local residents more options for things to do." Macy Brooks, however, thinks there's still room to expand on the music. Former proprietor of Buck Nekkid BBQ in Fayetteville, she's combined her expertise making dry-rub Texas-style barbecue with Now 20, Bikes, Blues & BBQ revs its engines FAYETTEVILLE File Photo/ANDY SHUPE This year's Bikes, Blues & BBQ Parade of Power leaves the Washington County Fairgrounds at 3 p.m. Sept. 28 headed for Dickson Street. Check bikesbluesandbbq.org for the parade route.