LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 28, 2023) - A slight adjustment has been announced for the free concert series to be hosted in Little Rock for the 2024 total solar eclipse.
Originally scheduled for Saturday evening, country musician Ward Davis will now perform on Sunday, April 7, 2024. Jazz and funk group Rodney Block Collective & All-Star Friends will now perform on Saturday, April 6, 2024. These two concerts, in addition to a Monday performance by The Machine Performs Pink Floyd, will all take place at First Security Amphitheater.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. for the 8-9:30 p.m. show by Davis on Sunday. A yet-to-be announced opening act will perform from 7-7:45 p.m. Gates will open at 5 p.m. for the 6-8 p.m. show by Block on Saturday.
Davis, an Arkansas native, is a singer songwriter who has written songs recorded by Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Jewel and others. He’s currently on a national tour and recently performed at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. As part of the Beagles, a band he formed in 2009, he was notably featured in A&E’s musical reality show ‘Crazy Hearts: Nashville.’
Block, also an Arkansas native, is staple of the local jazz and funk scene. A classically trained instrumentalist, he performs a unique blend of traditional jazz, gospel, hip-hop, bebop, funk and soul. He honed his skills by playing in some of Kansas City's premier venues – Grand Emporium, Plaza III, Blue Room and Liberty Hall. His ensembles have opened for Jonathan Butler, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Wynton Marsalis and Angela Hagenbaugh, among others.
The Machine has forged a 30+ year reputation of extending the musical legacy of Pink Floyd. The New York-based quartet performs a diverse mix of Pink Floyd's extensive 16-album repertoire, complete with faithful renditions of popular hits as well as obscure gems. The Machine has sold out shows across North America, Europe and Asia, and performed at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Riverbend, and Gathering of the Vibes. They have shared the stage with full symphony orchestras, including the Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and San Diego Symphonies, as well as the Buffalo Philharmonic.
Gates will open at 11 a.m. on Monday for the unchanged performance by The Machine. With the partial eclipse beginning at 12:33 p.m., the band is slated to perform from approximately 12:40-1:40 p.m., pausing for a 20-minute intermission ahead of full totality between 1:51-1:54 p.m. The band will then resume their performance from 2-3 p.m., with partial totality concluding at 3:11 p.m.
Reserved seating will be available with corporate sponsorships. Those interested in sponsorships should contact LRCVB Destination Project Coordinator Cory Blunt at (501) 370-3274.
The performances are one element of what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable weekend in Little Rock, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.littlerock.com/eclipse-2024/ for more information about the eclipse, and www.littlerock.com/events/ for upcoming events in the city.
ABOUT THE LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) is the official destination marketing organization for the City of Little Rock, charged with marketing and selling the city as a meeting, sports and leisure travel destination. The LRCVB also manages the Statehouse Convention Center, Robinson Center, River Market and multiple parking facilities. For more information, visit www.littlerock.com.
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