7 Hot Spots to Hear Live Music in Arkansas
Arkansas’ live music scenes bring excitement, camaraderie and a celebration of old and new styles. Whether you’re tapping your foot at a bar, club or performance space, you’re sure to be immersed in great music.
The state’s music scene is built on a fascinating lineage. Johnny Cash was an Arkansas sharecropper’s son before rising to worldwide fame. Multiple Grammy winner Glen Campbell is in the Country Music Hall of Fame along with Patsy Montana, the first female country singer to sell a million copies of a single. Many consider Sister Rosetta Tharpe to be gospel’s first superstar, and Florence Beatrice Price made her mark in classical music as the first Black woman symphonic composer. And, of course, homegrown Arkansas talent made extraordinary contributions to the blues and rock and roll.
Today, artists young and old carry on the state’s love affair with music, which you can experience throughout the state. Here are some signature spots to hear live music in Arkansas.
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George’s Majestic Lounge — Fayetteville
This granddaddy of Arkansas music spots opened in 1927 and is the state’s oldest and longest-running live music venue.
“We’re in Fayetteville, where there’s always great energy with the University of Arkansas,” says Brian Crowne, an Arkansas native who played at the lounge before buying it in 2004. “As a performing musician, I felt a kinship with this place. Generations have come through this old joint.”
From traditional country and red dirt to indie rock and jam bands, George’s features pretty much any genre you can imagine.
“We only open if we have a concert or special event,” Crowne says. “We’re not a hangout bar.”
Rapp’s Barren Brewing Co. — Mountain Home
Like Fayetteville, Mountain Home is an Ozark community that lies in north-central Arkansas. Founded in 1888, Mountain Home’s big draw is nature. But now, other forms of fun are gaining traction, and the city is becoming a popular spot to hear live music in Arkansas.
“We’re the first city in the state to establish an entertainment district, helping pave the way for a massive downtown revitalization effort,” says Russell Tucker, Rapp’s Barren Brewing co-owner.
In 2021, he moved his brewery into a beautifully restored brick building where live music is on tap every Friday and Saturday evening.
“Our stage welcomes everything from local singer-songwriters and bluegrass bands to classic rock, blues, country and folk artists,” he says.
Four Quarter Bar — North Little Rock
In the heart of Arkansas, just across the Arkansas River from the state capital, North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District is another old neighborhood that flourishes with restaurants, art galleries, theaters and murals.
On Main Street, Four Quarter is a late-night bar and music venue that’s smack dab in the middle of everything and a popular spot to hear live music in Arkansas. On weekends, live music starts at about 10 p.m. with a wide range of acts and influences, from blues and bluegrass to funk, soul and rock and roll. The full bar also serves food, including in-house smoked pork.
Stickyz Rock ’n’ Roll Chicken Shack — Little Rock
From Four Quarter Bar, it’s just a few minutes south to Little Rock and the River Market District, the capital city’s entertainment area, which has plenty of options for sightseeing, shopping and eating.
Stickyz combines pub food with energetic live music in a funky, colorful setting. While known for its chicken fingers in about a dozen different flavors, Stickyz is loved by music fans for its steady calendar of top national and international touring bands. There’s almost always an act rocking the stage on weekend nights and some weeknights.
The Ohio Club — Hot Springs
Located across the street from Hot Springs National Park, this watering hole is the state’s oldest bar, dating to 1905. In an historic hub known for bathing and gambling, The Ohio Club saw its share of characters.
“We have a legendary history going back to Prohibition,” says Saddiq Mir, The Ohio Club’s owner. “We were a speakeasy and an old brothel. Lots of gangsters hung out here.”
Headliner talent played, too, including Al Jolson, Mae West and many blues and jazz performers. Today, the bar lives on through its early 20th century décor, Prohibition-style cocktails and music by individual artists and small bands Thursday through Sunday nights.
MuleKick — Magnolia
Magnolia is a small college town in the southwest part of the state that is also emerging as a popular place to hear live music in Arkansas. Named after the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders, this restaurant opened in 2019 with music in mind.
“We’re truly a plug and play venue,” says co-owner Christy Ouei. “We have a sound engineer and a full mixing board. It’s one of the reasons we get a range of great talent.”
Live music takes place Friday evenings on an enclosed, heated outdoor patio, and while the performers come from all over, Ouei says MuleKick was built for Magnolia.
“The town needed a place where our community and college could come together over similar interests, like music, craft beer and pizza,” Ouei says.
TempleLive — Fort Smith
In northwest Arkansas, the Fort Smith Masonic Temple has been transformed into a cutting-edge performing arts space. The four-story art deco building opened in 1929 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
After a major renovation, the temple reopened in 2016, hosting touring productions and acts in an ornate 1,100-seat theater. TempleLive operates the Fort Smith Masonic Temple, along with four other architecturally significant buildings in Ohio, Illinois and Kansas, on a mission to preserve historically important structures.
This article was sponsored by Arkansas Tourism.