Who’s coming to Wakarusa and the AMP this summer?

I don’t need to tell you guys what it’s like outside in Fayetteville today. You can see it from your window. Don’t go out there.

In fact, the only way to get through a ridiculously cold day like today is to put on four sweaters, curl up in the fetal position on the floor of you house, and cry like an infant.

That, or you could look forward to warmer days and sweet outdoor live music. That’s probably a little more productive.

Wakarusa is expected to announce the lineup for the 2010 festival next week, but thanks to the magic of the internets, a handful of bands rumored to be at this year’s festival have already been listed on Pollstar. None of them have been confirmed by Wakarusa officials, so take them with a grain of salt.

The AMP is also close to announcing some bands for their summer season, and a couple of those have also found their way onto the world wide web.

The Osage Creek Performing Arts Center is expected to announce some upcoming shows in February as well. We’ll keep you posted.

In the interest of getting our minds off of this miserable weather, here’s what we (think we) know about some of the music in store for Northwest Arkansas in the warmer days ahead.

Wakarusa

Wakarusa will be back for a second season in its new home on the Mulberry Mountain, and the festival dates have been set for June 3-6, 2010.

Even though the official lineup for this year’s festival hasn’t been announced, one way or another, someone found out about some of the bands that will be here this summer. We’ve heard rumors about an awesome headliner this year, but we’ve found nothing to confirm them, so we’ll keep our mouths shut. Still, Blues Traveler, Minnesota bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles, DC funk band Fort Knox 5, The Reverent Peyton’s Big Damn Band (who were in town for Bikes, Blues & BBQ in 2008), and tribute bands to Johnny Cash, Pink Floyd, and Bob Dylan/The Band are some of the names that have found their way onto Pollstar so far. The (unofficial) list is below.

Thursday, 6/3/09
The Machine perform Pink Floyd
Passafire
The Band of Heathens
Fort Knox Five
Hayes Carll

Friday, 6/4/09
Trampled by Turtles
Passafire
Cash’d Out
Fort Knox Five
Earl Greyhound

Saturday, 6/5/09
The Reverent Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Blues Traveler
Trampled by Turtles
Passafire
Steven Kellogg and the Sixers
Last Waltz Ensemble
Earl Greyhound
Fort Knox Five

Sunday, 6/6/09
Passafire
Steven Kellogg and the Sixers
Last Waltz Ensemble

The AMP

The AMP may be a little further from announcing their entire summer lineup, but it appears as though Levon Helm will be making a return to Fayetteville after his Walton Arts Center show over the summer ended with Helm unable to sing due to an illness. Helm’s longtime friends The Cate Brothers will open that show.

Fayetteville will get more cowbell than they can handle in May when Blue Öyster Cult (I’ll bet they hate that SNL sketch by now) comes to the AMP on May 22. Georgia Satellites will open that show.

Though we haven’t been able to confirm it, we have it on good authority that MC Hammer (yup) will be in town for a show at the AMP in June. How hilarious/awesome would that be?

4/22/10 Levon Helm, The Cate Brothers
5/22/10 Blue Öyster Cult, Georgia Satellite
6/11/10 MC Hammer (Unconfirmed) Confirmed Cancelled