Mr. Cabbage Head and the Screaming Radishes will perform a concert Nov. 27 at The Blue Lion at UAFS Downtown as part of a fundraising effort for the Miss UAFS Scholarship Pageant.

 

Tickets for the performance, which begins at 8 p.m., are $20, and a percentage of the sales will go towards scholarships awarded at the pageant.

 

Stacey Jones of Fort Smith, associate vice chancellor for campus and community events, said the concert is “a great way to raise money for the pageant in a way that features talent from UAFS alumnus.”

 

“A former student is part of the band,” he said. “And it’s a pleasure for us at UAFS to bring Mr. Cabbage Head and the Screaming Radishes to The Blue Lion at UAFS Downtown.”

 

The band, which plays mainly classic rock and blues and was inducted into the Old Town Music Hall of Fame in 2007, has played in venues across Arkansas and the mid-South for nearly 30 years with a blend of brass and string instruments that has created their unique and endearing sound.

 

Ricky Young, lead vocalist of the band, said they will play a “wide variety of music ranging from the ‘70s to the ‘90s,” including songs by Chicago, Stevie Wonder and Ides of March.

 

“We’ve never had a show where someone didn’t recognize the songs we’ve played,” he said.

 

The band consists of 12 members: Harley Vincent, bass guitar/manager; Jimmy Atchison, lead guitar/vocals; Larry Matthews, drummer; Richard Carter, saxophone; Steve Clark, saxophone/trombone; Mike Lenzini, flute/trombone/vocals; UAFS alumnus Josh Heist, trumpet; and Ricky Young, lead vocals. Dr. Gary Edwards sits in on bass guitar and vocals and also acts as the physician for the band. Greg “Beavis” Cook and Gary Davis work as equipment and sound engineers.

 

Young said that Steve “Bubba” Carter, the former manager of the band who passed away this summer after a battle with stomach cancer, deserved plenty of credit for the band’s success.

 

“We’re still getting over his passing,” Young said. “I don’t think I would be doing what I’m doing now if it wasn’t for him. He was my biggest fan and an amazing coach. He always pushed me to do the best job I can do.”

 

Young said the band has “raised thousands of dollars over the years for charities,” and they were honored to be able to do it again.

 

“This is the first time we’ve been involved in the pageant, but we’ve known of the pageant and its popularity for a long time,” he said. “We are very honored to be asked to help contribute to its success, and we hope to be able to continue promoting the pageant in the years to come.” 

 

Jones said they would like to raise at least $10,000 for the pageant, but that “any donations are going to be very much appreciated.”

 

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 479-788-7300 or at boxoffice@uafs.edu.