Summer may be winding down but things are heating up for Mr. Mike’s Productions, who is presenting Saturday Night Live Oct. 19 at the Union County Fairgrounds, 1430 E. 19th.
Tickets went on sale Friday for SNL, a concert that will feature R&B/neo-soul singer Calvin Richardson.
The first 200 tickets are going for $20 and only 30 VIP passes will be sold. In the weeks leading up to the show, prices for advance tickets will increase to $25 and $30. Tickets will be $35 at the gate. Gates will open at 5 p.m.
The Southern Soul Showdown, which spotlights popular southern soul and blues artists, is typically the last outdoor show that Mr. Mike’s Productions stages before winter sets in each year.
However, following the SSS Aug. 3, Michael Jackson — of Mr. Mike’s — said he received several requests to produce at least one more outdoor event before temperatures begin to fall.
Jackson noted that the annual Showdown is usually scheduled the second week in September but since several events are scheduled in El Dorado next month — the SouthArk Outdoor Expo, Airstreams on the Square, the Union County Fair and the start of the high school football season, just to name a few — Jackson said he decided to move Showdown to August.
“After that, people were asking me to do one more show, one more outdoor show and lately, I’ve been getting requests for Calvin Richardson,” he explained.
Richardson, a North Carolina native, got his start as a gospel singer in a local group, the Willing Wonders, which was led by his mother.
He was also influenced by blues, R&B, funk and soul music. Some of his favorite artists include Bobby Womack, Sam Cook, Otis Redding Donny Hathaway and the Gap Band.
While making the rounds on the North Carolina gospel music circuit, Richardson befriended two gospel-singing brothers, Cedric “K-Ci” Hailey and Joel “JoJo” Hailey, who rose to stardom with the ’90s R&B group Jodeci and later as a duo.
Inspired by the Haileys, Richardson formed his own urban contemporary group, Undacova. The group’s mid-tempo groove, “Love Slave”, appeared on the soundtrack of the 1995 movie, “New Jersey Drive.”
Every one of Richardson’s musical influences and his gritty, soulful sound are showcased in the popular track, “Can’t Let Go.”
The love song appears on Richardson’s “All or Nothing Album,” which was released in 2017. The single has racked up millions of views online and is still in heavy rotation on the radio.
Rounding out the musical lineup for the SNL concert are Urban Mystic, Chris Ivy, Nathaniel Kimble and Lil Bobby Womack and the Major Band.
P2K will host the show and DJ Big Daddy In Da Mixx will also provide entertainment.
Food vendors will be onsite.
Jackson is encouraging concert-goers to help usher in the fall by bringing their bring their lawn chairs and coolers to the fairgrounds in October.
“People are already buying tickets and VIP passes, so hurry. I’ve had people from out of town contacting me. A group of women from Monroe (Louisiana) bought some VIP passes today,” he said. “I checked the weather … and it’s supposed to be in the 80s and 70s, really nice weather.”
Tickets are available at Mr. Mike’s Music and Artwork in El Dorado; Special Touch in Camden; JB’s on Crossett; Golden Girls in Warren; Record Rack, Pine Bluff; Golden Lady in Texarkana; Ugly Mike’s in Little Rock; and in Louisiana at LBK’s (Farmerville), Martha’s Boutique (Ruston) and Poppa’s Liquor (Arcadia).
For more information, call Jackson at 870-866-7441.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].