Mwenso & The Shakes Will Have Audiences Dancing at Walton Arts Center this September

Walton Arts Center will host Harlem-based artist Michael Mwenso and his band, The Shakes, for a night of lively jazz, dancing and freewheeling rowdiness on Friday, Sept. 14 at 8 pm.

Tickets are $10 plus applicable fees. Patrons can also purchase prepaid parking for $7 to reserve a space in the Spring Street parking deck. Tickets and parking can be purchased in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office, by calling 479.443.5600 or by visiting waltonartscenter.org.

Mwenso & The Shakes are a unique troupe of global artists whose fun and energetic performances merge a formidable timeline of jazz and blues expression through African and Afro American music with the stylings of Fats Waller, Muddy Waters, James Brown and more. Immigrating from Sierra Leone, London, South Africa, Madagascar, France, Jamaica, and Hawaii, the Shakes all now call Harlem their home.

Michael Mwenso leads an electrifying show that The New York Times calls "intense, prowling, and ebullient." During this performance, the first two rows of seats will be removed to create a dance floor for patrons.

Walton Arts Center's 10x10 Arts Series brings a variety of groundbreaking artists and awe-inspiring performances to Northwest Arkansas at a price that allows more people to experience live theater performances.

Patrons attending a 10x10 Arts Series performance are invited to a preshow Creative Conversation with the ensemble led by a member of Walton Arts Center's programming staff at 7 pm. Following the show, patrons are also invited to attend a party with the artists in the Walker Atrium and to share their thoughts about the show with the popular Post-It® Note responses.

Walton Arts Center is Arkansas' largest and busiest performing arts presenter. Each year more than 195,000 people from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and beyond attend more than 400 events at Walton Arts Center, including performances, rehearsals, community gatherings, receptions, weddings and more. Approximately 45,000 students and teachers participate annually in arts learning programs at Walton Arts Center, and almost 200 volunteers donate 21,000 hours of time each year to its operations. Walton Arts Center presents entertainers and artists from around the world including Broadway musicals, renowned dance companies, International Artists, up-and-coming jazz musicians and more. As a non-profit organization, Walton Arts Center enjoys the generous support of public sector funding, corporate sponsorship and private donors who help bring world-class arts experiences to Northwest Arkansas. To learn more about Walton Arts Center, visit www.waltonartscenter.org.