Monticello Live

Thursday, the Malco Hollywood Cinema in Monticello will play host to an advance screening of The Perfect Host: A Southern Gothic Tale. The public is welcome to join investors and members of the cast and crew.

The movie was filmed in the Monticello/ Southeast Arkansas area and features many scenes and extras from Drew County. (more…)

Drew Central graduate Ward Davis made a major step in his country music career, last week, when he joined Kris Kristofferson on stage to perform Me and Bobby McGee.

Kristofferson is a music legend, famous for writing the number one hit “Why me, Lord.”

He can be described as “the bridge” across music styles, having performed many concerts with Waylon Jennings, and also having written the classic “Me and Bobby McGee” for Janis Joplin.

Drew Central graduate and Delta State University senior Jessica Faith [Wishard] will release her second EP, “Someplace Calling Me,” at the end of April.

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Gates open at 5:30.
Racing starts at 7 pm.

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Trent Harmon a 2014 graduate of UAM is the winner of of American Idol’s farewell season.

We at MonticelloLive would like to congratulate Trent on his win, and wish him continued success.

You can purchase Trent’s newest single “Fallen” on iTunes by clicking here.

Supporters of the proposed Convention Center, expected to e built on HWY 425 on UAM property, made therir proposal the the Quorum Court Monday night, announcing their intent to pursue a “rollover” of the 1/2 cnt libbrary tax, when that tax expires, probably in April or May.
The new tax will end when the pyment for the convention center and/or DMH surgry center expansion are paid in full.

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Captain, a full length movie, produced and directed by Warren’s Rob Reep, premiered Saturday at the Warren Cultural Center. A full house of around 750 were in attendace to see the event, based on the life and history of Hugn Bradley, whom Bradley County is named after.

The film showed Bradley’s life as grew from being “the family’s little brother,’ to a close, personal friend of future president, Andrew Jackson (also from Tenneessee).

The war of 1812, and the Battle of New Orleans, were also well portrayed by 150 actors, from southest Arkasas, including over 20 from Monticello.

DVDs of Captain are available here.

After 21 years with Statler Brothers, Jimmy Fortune will be in concert in Monticello.

Tickets and more information for Monticello event are at ticketriver.com

Drew Central graduate Jessica Faith (Wishard) has just released a video to her song “without a fight”.

It has been a year since Jessica became a “GRAMMY Amplifier 2014 Winner”.

Since that time, the Grammy’s sent her to South by Southwest in Austin, TX to open for superstar Aloe Blacc, and filming a professional music video in Nashville.

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Written by Jeff Noble, formerly of Monticello, and founder of MLive.
Performed by Ben Coulter.

Drew Central graduate and recoroding artis Ward Davis was a member of the DCHS Choir.

When he heard that former DC choir director Bennie Carol Wade Dunavan was the choir director for Mayflower Schools, and how much the devastating tornado had effected her current students, Davis organized a benefit concert at Nashville’s Douglas Corner Cafe, TONIGHT at 7:30, to help the Mayflower Choir .

Local folks can also be a part, by watching the fundraiser concert online at stageit.com.  The cost is only $10.

Davis’ band, The Beagles, will also perform.

Around 40 area residents took part in an informational discussion, Sunday afternoon,, after watching a video presentation by Rob Reep, of Warren, on the history of the Saline river.
“The Saline” is 204 miles long and has many stories to tell about indians, farming, fishing, bootlegging, and riverboats.
“The Saline” is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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Jessica Wishard, as she’s know to her Drew Central classmates recently was selected as a winner in the Grammy’s Amplified Awards. Out of over 5,000 entrants, she was one of only 3 shosen for the honor.

Amplifier Center Stage’s online platform allows emerging musicians to share their songs for a chance to have their music vetted by a panel of some of the biggest names in music today.

Her lated CD EP is available on ITunew, as well.

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Jessica Wishard, a 2013 graduate of Drew Central High School, is pursuing her musical ambitions at the Delta Music Institute (DMI) of Delta State University in Cleveland, MS.

She recorded her first EP, “Wallflower” at the DMI this past spring under the stage name of Jessica Faith and, since beginning her freshman year at Delta State, has already received quite a bit of attention and recognition. As a Music Industry Studies major, she is an active member of GRAMMY U, an organization created by The Recording Academy for college students across the nation who are interested in a music industry career. Through her membership in GRAMMY U, Faith learned about and entered one of her original songs in “GRAMMY Amplifier,” a contest hosted by The Recording Academy as a way to help undiscovered musicians by giving their entry more exposure.

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Brison Reed recently released a six-song album on iTunes, Amazon and Reverbnation.

Brison is a life-long resident of Drew & Desha Counties, living most of his life in Monticello.

Brison records for Tripp Jct. Records & Marty d Publishing. The songs on this album were written by Marty Denton, Ronny & Brison Reed.

Brison and his wife Magen are pipeliners, but they still find time for their children and time for Brison to be able to record.

Brison will be headed back to the studio very soon to record more. He is working on some gospel songs also.

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1st Friday Singing on the Square from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.