Little Rock Public Radio brings back Tiny Desk contest showcase for Arkansas musicians

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Tiny desks are usually the stuff of internet daydreams, but this fall, Little Rock Public Radio is bringing the fun back home with the NPR Tiny Desk Contest Arkansas Showcase, and it’s shaping up to be a big night for local music lovers.

The showcase will feature three performing artists: Jupiter’s Flytrap from Conway, Brae Leni from Little Rock, and Rachel Fields and the Blue Therapy Group from Prairie Grove.

Jupiter’s Flytrap shared that their name came from a mural they saw while attending the Creative Institute of Central Arkansas, a Venus flytrap mural that inspired them to put a “different spin on it” by running through planet names until they landed on Jupiter.

Musically, the band said they fall under “the general umbrella of rock,” with plenty of jazz influence mixed in. They said some members studied jazz, including their keyboardist and saxophonist, and that background shows up in their sound.

The group said they wanted to be part of the showcase because they love the national Tiny Desk concert series and have connections to past performers. They said they’ve had friends play the concert before. They also said they’ve played gigs with Mildenhall, which won last year.

For this year’s performance, Jupiter’s Flytrap said they’re excited to “go big,” especially with visual elements, and they plan to use the concert to help promote new music coming out this year.

Grace Zafasi of Little Rock Public Radio said Brae Leni is a local R&B artist from Little Rock, and Rachel Fields and the Blue Therapy Group bring blues and jazz from Prairie Grove. Zafasi said the mix of artists will take the audience on “this creative journey with their own unique voices, their own unique talents.”

The event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at The Hall in downtown’s West Ninth Street Historic District. Tickets and event information are available online.

Organizers said food trucks will be on-site, including Little Red Wagon and Taqueria Los Conrrales. Zafasi also noted there will be seated tickets available for accessibility.

Jupiter’s Flytrap also has new music out. The band said its new single, “Getting What I Asked For,” is out today on Bandcamp, with Spotify availability expected soon. The group described the song as high-energy and said it’s about taking control of a situation and being OK with whatever outcome happens.