Local legends, “South Down Main,” will headline a virtual concert experience in the first-ever (and hopefully only) “NOT The-Watermelon-Festival-Concert” Concert on Saturday, August 15, 2020, live from Hempstead Hall’s theater.

The popular singing competition, “Watermelon Idol,” will also be live-streamed prior to the concert from the Hempstead Hall Amphitheater.

Due to precautions and restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce made the tough decision to cancel the 44th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival and the concert that goes along with it.

The staff at Hempstead Hall on the University of Arkansas Hope campus have been working to bring virtual options for education and entertainment to the Southwest Arkansas community in the last several months. “Hempstead Hall is meant to be a place to bring the community together and since we cannot physically be together right now, we’re looking for new ways to stay connected,” said Amanda Lance, Director of Hempstead Hall & Workforce Development for UAHT.

South Down Main, a southern rock band made up of Daulton Brewer, Orin Hampton, Dennis Hovarter, Dustin Johnson, and Jeff Smith, was the obvious and perfect fit for such a virtual concert.

“We’re ready to be back playing for crowds,” said band member Daulton Brewer. “We were excited when Hempstead Hall decided to put this project together.”

 

In addition, “Watermelon Idol” has been a popular part of the Watermelon Festival Concert for the past decade. This year it will feature two rounds of competition back-to-back on Saturday, August 15, and will award the top three competitors with the winner getting to play an opening act for South Down Main. Official rules and a registration form can be found at Hempsteadhall.com. Registrations will be accepted now through August 6.

New this year is the “Watermelon Masked Singer”: a local spin on the hit TV show where a local celebrity will perform several songs virtually dressed in the Wally the Watermelon costume. New songs will be released through Hempstead Hall’s website and social media in the days leading up to the concert with hints about who is wearing Wally.

On Saturday, August 15, the festivities will kick off with the “Watermelon Idol” competition hosted by Jennifer Wright Cunningham at 4:00 pm. The winner will immediately perform their act before a brief intermission. South Down Main will kick off their high-energy jam session at 7:00 pm. During the “NOT The-Watermelon-Festival-Concert” CONCERT, the Watermelon Masked Singer will be “unmasked.” All performances will be live-streamed on HempsteadHall.com.

For information on becoming a sponsor of this “once-in-a-melon-years” concert, contact Beckie Moore at the Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce at 870-777-3640. More information about the concert, “Watermelon Idol” and the schedule of events visit hempsteadhall.com or call 870-722-8565 during regular business hours.

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