The U of A Department of Music and the city of Fayetteville are pleased to announce the launch of "Weekend Starts," a free series of Friday evening concerts and art from 5-7 p.m. that will take place in the Ramble (across West Avenue from the Fayetteville Public Library) and will go through June 30.

Each week, the event will highlight a different live musical performance, as well as well as various visual artists and other creative talents, providing an "immersive cultural experience for the whole family," said Joanna Sheehan Bell, Fayetteville arts and culture director.

Alan Gosman, U of A associate professor, will curate the music, which celebrates the musical diversity found at the university. Concerts will feature jazz trios, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music, Ozark ballads, classical ensembles, rock songs, medieval music and more.

Gosman said, "The Music Department is thrilled to be part of this series and to explore the possibilities for Fayetteville's fabulous artistic corridor." Performances will feature faculty and students from the university's Music Department, along with collaborators from Northwest Arkansas and around the country.

Weekend Starts is free and open to the public; all ages are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy the performances and stay awhile. Arriving via the Razorback Greenway is encouraged, but parking is available at the Fayetteville Public Library's south surface parking lot, as well as on-street parking along West Avenue.

Concerts are free and outside in the beautiful new Ramble, across West Avenue from the Fayetteville Public Library. The Ramble is the newest part of the growing Fayetteville arts corridor. There is convenient parking in any of the library's lots. Feel free to bring a picnic, blanket or lawn chairs. An art table for making origami cranes will be there too.

The schedule through May and some of the the people linking the groups to the U of A Department of Music is below:

• May 5 - Hogtown Hot Club
• May 12 - No concert because it is Artosphere's Trail Mix
• May 19 - Coloring Twelve, with Lauren Clare
• May 26 - Blue Thread, with Nikola Radan and Cristi Catt

As part of the Lower Ramble, Weekend Starts will be held within Fayetteville's "outdoor refreshment area," allowing participants to stop by participating establishments within the designated zone and pick up their favorite to-go beverages to enjoy during the event. However, participants must adhere to the guidelines set forth by the outdoor refreshment area.

In the event of inclement weather, updates regarding cancellations or rescheduling will be provided on the city website. We encourage attendees to check for updates before heading to the event. For more information, go to Fayetteville Arts and Culture.