The June First Thursday art walk on the downtown square kicks off at 5 p.m. and is set to include events related to the 4th Annual Black Music Month Celebration in Northwest Arkansas.
According to a city news release, the celebration will pay homage to syndicated television program, Soul Train, the popular dance music party show which currently holds the distinction of being the longest-running, first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history.
Officials promise “a lively dance party scene complete with a live disk jockey, face painting, and an attempt to create the largest Soul Train line in Arkansas history.”
Also on the agenda is a 5 p.m. Soul Train photo exhibition at the UA Global Campus building (northeast corner of the square) which will be open to the public throughout the month of June. The exhibition features a collection of more than 50 still photographs of iconic musicians including Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Sly Stone and Chuck Berry.
In conjunction with the street dance, the UA Center for Multicultural Education and Diversity will host a screening of the VH1 documentary, “Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America,” at 6:00 p.m. in the Global Campus auditorium, followed by a brief panel discussion.
The festivities will be capped with a special Soul Train street dance around square.
The lineup:
5 p.m. – Soul Train Photo Exhibition
5 p.m. – Face Painting by School of Rock
6 p.m. – Soul Train Documentary Screening
7 p.m. – Celebrity Birthday Celebration
7:30 p.m. – Afrique Aya Dance Troupe
8 p.m. – Soul Train Street Dance
I’m not sure why I find this hysterical, but I just almost wet my pants laughing so hard.
It does sound kinda absurd.
If there is some connection between Fayetteville and Soul Train, or black music in general, I’d love to learn about it. I suspect that this will be the whitest soul train party ever. Still fun, though.
It might be a bit tenuous as connections go, but I used to watch “Soul Train” with Francis and Ecey Gwaltney. They both graduated from the U of A, as did I.
That’s all I needed to hear. Street party tonight!
David, how many schools did you attend? I would love to know your areas of study.
Three. Music, music, and architecture.