ARTS & CULTURE
Text and photos courtesy of the Momentary
Many Moments in May: Music, Art and Food at the Momentary
This May, make the Momentary your place for memories. From live music — like the annual American and global roots festival, FreshGrass — to new art exhibitions featuring music photography to culinary offerings, the Momentary is “a living room” where community gathers to be inspired, connected and joyful.
Music at the Momentary
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Indoors in the Momentary’s RØDE House, music-lovers can see Grammy-nominated producer TOKiMONSTA on May 3, indie-folk and alt-pop duo Penny & Sparrow on May 4, and singer-songwriter Wallice on May 9 as part of the RØDE House Music Series.
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On May 16 and 17, experience the best in American and global roots music and folk traditions at FreshGrass | Bentonville. The two-day, all-ages festival will feature performances by Lukas Nelson, Shakey Graves, Rosanne Cash, Béla Fleck, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, La Doña, Alison Brown, Jesse Welles, Sister Sadie, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Lost Bayou Ramblers, The Langan Band, and more. Set in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, FreshGrass is rich with award-winning artists, world premieres of special commissions, artist talks, instrument workshops, band competitions, square dancing, spontaneous collaborations and more across three stages. Tickets for FreshGrass | Bentonville are available at www.themomentary.org/FreshGrass.
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The Momentary’s Live on the Green concert series is back this year with a dynamic lineup of artists. Critically acclaimed indie pop-rock group Hippo Campus will make a stop in Bentonville as part of its Flood North American tour May 25. The group will perform on the Momentary’s sprawling outdoor lawn.
TOKiMONSTA
Sister Sadie
Seun Kuti
(Photo by Kola Oshalusi)
Roseanne Cash
(Photo by Pamela
Springsteen)
La Doña
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Music-Focused Art Exhibitions
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The Momentary is expanding its music focus by hosting visual art exhibitions that celebrate the medium and its icons. All three new exhibitions open May 24 and are free and open to the public.
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The Prison Concerts: Folsom and San Quentin (Jim Marshall’s Photographs of Johnny Cash) is a showcase of Jim Marshall’s photos from Johnny Cash’s historic prison concerts. Widely known as the godfather of music photography, the late Jim Marshall maintained a 50-year career that resulted in more than 500 album covers, an abundance of magazine covers, and some of the most celebrated images in blues, jazz, country and rock ‘n’ roll, including those from Johnny Cash’s notable Folsom and San Quentin prison concerts. Organized by the GRAMMY Museum, The Prison Concerts: Folsom and San Quentin (Jim Marshall’s Photographs of Johnny Cash) showcases these powerful snapshots of a legendary musician by a legendary photographer.
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Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues, and Soul charts photographer Larry Hulst’s extraordinary path through the pulsing heart of the most exciting live music of the 20th century, showcasing a unique visual anthology of rock, blues and soul music from 1970 to 1999. From Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix to David Bowie and Lauryn Hill, this exhibition brings together more than 70 images of legendary musicians across three genres and generations, giving viewers an all-access pass to some of the most memorable performances in popular music history.
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The Machine Behind the Art: Inside JR’s Printing Press is one of the most extensive immersive and experiential works to date from the French photographer and street artist known as JR. After taking portraits in one of three individual photo booths, visitors enter the interior of an oversized, whirring printing press — turning their image into a tangible work of art while offering a glimpse into the creative process of JR. After the experience, visitors leave with their own one-of-a-kind print.
Top left: Jimi Hendrix at the Golden Bear Raceway, Cal Expo, April 26, 1970; Photograph courtesy of the Larry Hulst
Middle left: Janis Joplin at the Fillmore West,
San Francisco, CA, April 4, 1970; Photograph courtesy of Larry Hulst
Top right: Johnny Cash; Photo by Jim Marshall; Courtesy of the GRAMMY Museum
Bottom: The Machine Behind the Art: Inside JR’s Printing Press; Photo by Oriol Tarridas
Supper Club: The Momentary’s Curated Dining Experience
In 2025, the Momentary launched a new curated dinner series, Supper Club. The intimate dining experience is created to build a community around food, highlight local chefs, and showcase culinary artistry in a way that encourages connection and conversation. The Momentary believes great food should be shared, but it’s not just about the food; it’s about the connections made and the community built together, one meal at a time.
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May’s Supper Club features chef Nadia Bentley, the chef de cuisine at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. On May 21, experience Bentley’s family-style menu, including seasonal ingredients from right here in Arkansas. Tickets for Supper Club are $99 or $89 for members. The ticket includes a three-course meal and a welcome mocktail. Tickets can be purchased on the Momentary’s website.
