Executive Director Mike Maloney said at the March 28 City Advertising and Promotion Commission workshop that tickets went on sale April 2 for two Blues Weekend acts at the Auditorium, including headliner John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers on June 16. For 50 years, Mayall has been a mainstay in the blues scene in England performing at times with Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, Harvey Mandel, Steve Cropper, Billy Gibbons, Otis Rush and dozens other notable musicians. Also performing during Blues Weekend will be Carolyn Wonderland, a well-traveled Austin-based blues performer.
In Basin Park on that Saturday afternoon will be Selwyn Birchwood, who was named the Albert King guitarist of the Year at the International Blues Challenge in 2013.
Maloney also announced the Basin Park Music Series this year will start April 21 with Luke Winslow-King. On Saturday, May 19, Johnathon Byrd and the Pickup Cowboys will perform, and Birchwood performs in June. On July 21, it will be the Cate Brothers, and bluegrass will be the theme in August. As part of the Folk Festival on Oct. 8-11, Christy Lenée, a Nashville-based guitarist who won the 2017 International Finger Style Championship, will perform in Basin Park.
Mile High City residents enticed
Finance Director Rick Bright reported the outdoor sports show in Denver was an effective promotion for Eureka Springs. More than 30,000 potential vacationers attended, and Bright said the Eureka Springs contingent answered questions and conversed about this area nonstop.
Commissioner Susan Harman then asked Maloney if the CAPC were doing all it could to keep abreast of the latest promotion tools, saying merchants had the busiest St. Patrick’s weekend in years, but her concern was whether staff were relying on methods which are becoming less effective over time.
Harman said she liked new videos produced by Edward Robison, for example, but wondered if a new set of eyes on promotional material might spur innovations. She suggested setting up the CAPC booth at the next workshop for commissioners and the public to see for feedback.
Maloney agreed, and said Internet marketing partner Flypaper does present new concepts such as geofencing, precision digital marketing, native advertising and niche marketing, which have proved successful.
Money to paint the town requested
Commissioners heard a request for $1184 in marketing support funds requested for the Plein Air Festival scheduled for May 21-24. Hilka Irvin of Eureka Springs School of the Arts said the event is billed as a “four-day paint out.” Maloney said last year’s event featured about 40 participants and drew quite a crowd.
Irvin said that this year artists would be able to sell their paintings (plein air only) at the Inn of the Ozarks. Bright mentioned it was an interesting sight last year for passersby to see a gathering of artists painting similar scenes.
Commissioner Terry McClung told Irvin commissioners could not vote until the April 11 meeting, but sentiment seemed favorable toward approving the request.
Next regular meeting will be Wednesday, April 11, at 6 p.m. and the next workshop will be Wednesday, April 25, at 4 p.m.