“Support Live Music” is an on-going program presented as a fund raiser for The Arts Council of Mississippi County.  It provides an opportunity for local/area garage bands to perform on stage with professional lighting and sound systems to enhance their performance.  The bands give their time and talents in exchange for a live on-stage experience shared with their friends and fans.  The evening usually showcases five groups.

     Several groups have performed and been a part of this fun evening.  The next  “Support Live Music” is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2008, at The Ritz Civic Center, 306 W. Main Street, Blytheville.  The organizers are soliciting groups which have not yet been a part of this program, before rescheduling repeating groups.

     New groups are required to provide either a playable or readable copy of the material that they plan to perform with their entry form.  No band will be compensated for their participation, but they are allowed to have approved CD’s, T-shirts, etc. available for purchase in the lobby during the show.  The bands must agree to refrain from making any malicious, degrading, racial or ethnic statements, and from any obscene or off-color comments or gestures. 

     Some of the local groups and others from across Arkansas which have participated are:  “25 Cent Fortune”,  “Never Silenced”, “After The Altar”, “After The Tragedy”, “All Else Fails”, “Black Pulse”, “Because7EightIX”, “In Memory Of Me”, “Later Day Tomorrow”, “O.C.D.”, “Rhaptus”, “Savage Reign”,  “Treason Beneath The Truth”, “Yesterday’s Tomorrow”, “At A Standstill”, “South Beach”,  “Now Or Never After”, “Ravensblade”, “Setback Trajedy”, “Yuppie Mentality”, “Fulcrum”, “Goodnight Panda”, “Tetris”, “A Papercut Heartache” “Atomseve”, “By Special Request”, “Matt Pinkard” and “Finding Jimmy Hoffa”.  Many of these groups are welcome to return, but it is important to keep the doors open for new groups to participate.

     Anyone interested or involved in a group may contact The Ritz at (870)762-1744 or by their e-mail address of artsmissco@yahoo.com.  The last day for accepting band applications is Thursday, November 27, 2008.