<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0KZ1bl_19PU31MB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0KZ1bl_19PU31MB00" width="1024" height="683" ></figure>Constant readers and new Flyer regulars know that Fayetteville is surrounded by cool towns.Like us, nearby Arkansas towns grew to where they are now through small DIY groups making culture happen. It’s no surprise that Hot Springs has a lot in common with Fayetteville. Its residents have been making the severely underrated and always awesome Valley Of The Vapors music and arts festival happen for over 20 years. If you haven’t already been, it’s highly recommended.This year’s VOV is coming soon. It’s March 13-15 at Whittington Place at 301 Whittington Ave. The 22nd year features lots of bands who’ve never played Arkansas before including Scattrbrain, Diles Que No Me Maten, Lucid Express, Cootie Catcher, Frankfurt Helmet, and The Crystal Fall, among many others. Check out the full lineup at the VOV Instagram page.Besides all the great music, this year’s event features an art auction with 22 Hot Springs artists.Trust me, you’ll leave these shows with new favorite bands, artists and a new appreciation for the power of DIY events. Some of my favorite shows over the last few decades have been made possible by the great team at Valley Of The Vapors and Low Key Arts. Events like VOV will make you want to create and put together your own events in Fayetteville. This festival consistently proves that anything is possible.I talked to VOV curator Bobby Missile about the festival, his band Ghost Bones and Hot Springs. Hopefully we see them in Fayetteville later this year!Hi Bobby, this will be the 22nd VOV Fest. Before we get into specifics about this year, how does it feel to be a part of it all? What does the longevity of VOV mean to you and what does it mean to Hot SpringsHonestly, it’s wild to think I’ve been a part of something this special for so long. I moved to Hot Springs in 2006 and immediately met Low Key Arts founder, Bill Solleder, and got involved with the booking and organizing for VOV that very year. Two decades later I’m still here doing it, and it feels super cool. For me, it means my heart is beating in the right place. Hot Springs has lots to offer to all sorts of people, but for the arts community here VOV is a source of pride for locals who want to see their town reflected as eclectic, welcoming, and a little bit weird in the best way possible.VOV is unrivaled in terms of defying expectations of what a music festival can be. I can’t think of any regional events that curate as well or take as many chances. Before booking and programming start for you, can you take us through your process of finding a theme for the year and how you assemble the lineups and side events?Thanks for the kind words! We’re for sure not chasing acts for their “stats” or high stream counts because of pressure that major corporate sponsored festivals feel to appeal to a mass majority and get numbers through the gate. There’s a countless number of amazing underground or developing artists out there and VOV is a platform for them to showcase themselves. We get loads of submissions from agents looking to book their bands tours to and from SXSW in Austin, so we typically have a large number of artists to choose from, and we try to curate VOV with the most unique and cutting edge acts we can find.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=28tr4H_19PU31MB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=28tr4H_19PU31MB00" width="1024" height="1570" ></figure>As always, VOV 2026 features an excellent lineup of artists from all over the world. As a promoter of VOV and Hot Springs. What’s the best way to convince fans in Fayetteville to make the drive down this year?A beautiful 3.5-hour drive through the Ozark and Ouachita mountains is an easy sell on its own, but I think you nailed it in your last question. If you’re a fan of underground music in Fayetteville that wants to experience a fest that’s “unrivaled in terms of defying expectations of what a music festival can be” then we welcome you.Obviously the best way to enjoy VOV is to stay for everything, but if someone can only make it for one day, what is your recommendation?Life is short, so why not come for the whole thing?! It’s too tough to recommend just one day, but the schedule is up at valleyofthevapors.com so the tools are present to make the right choice for yourself.Who are you looking forward to seeing the most? Is there anyone you’ve been trying to get to Hot Springs that are finally able to make it this year?This is always such a tough question as I’m honestly looking forward to every single act that will be at VOV this year, but I’m really excited for Scattrbrain from Atlanta on Saturday, March 14. I always go over the entire list of performers at SXSW each year to see if anyone would make sense as a stop off in Hot Springs along their route. Came across Scattrbrain and knew instantly that I wanted to make a push to get them here.Besides music, this year’s VOV features a community art auction. Tell us about this and how important community art is to VOV.Hot Springs has so many immensely talented visual artists. The art auction gives locals the platform to showcase their talent, and also an opportunity for them to support Low Key Arts and programs like VOV with the proceeds. The art auction is a tradition that’s been with VOV from the beginning, and it grows each year. 22 years equals 22 artists. Although we might start having an issue with finding wall space when we get to 40 or 50 years (haha)!Tell us about Low Key Arts, the non-profit organization that programs VOV. What does LKA do and how can people support your mission?Our mission statement says it best… Founded in 2005, Low Key Arts connects people and inspires creativity by providing tools, education, and opportunities to experience musical, cinematic, and artistic innovators from around the world. Low Key Arts contributes significantly to the revitalization of Hot Springs by offering the following carefully curated music and film programs: Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival, Persistence of Vision Film Festival, previously called Arkansas Shorts – a Weekend of Short Films, Inception to Projection hands-on filmmaking program and KUHS Solar Powered Community Radio Station. Anyone can support LKA by attending any of our events, taking a class, donating on our website www.lowkeyarts.org, or you can even become a sustaining member via our FOLK (Friends Of Low Key) program.Besides your work with VOV and Low Key Arts, you’re also in the band Ghost Bones. What’s new for the band and are you coming to Fayetteville this year?We’re currently working on new music that we’ll produce and record ourselves. We put out a single called “Short Leash” a couple of months ago, and are also playing in Eureka Springs at Chelsea’s on March 20th. We’d love to get back up to Fayetteville in the very near future.<h2>Who are a few Hot Springs bands and artists we should look out for?</h2>I highly recommend listening to Aetos, check out their song “Gold Eyes.” It’s experimental heavy stuff with fantastic production. There’s also a new cool indie garage punk band from here called Bulla that is great live! As far as visual artists go, I’ve got to shout out a fellow VOV lifer, Bethannie Steelman. She’s been making waves and traveling nationally as a muralist. Bethannie’s been on a colorful psychedelic kick lately and her stuff is absolutely wild!<h2>What should we do in Hot Springs when we come for VOV?</h2>There’s honestly so much to do… hike a trail to an overlook, mosey down historic Bathhouse Row, check out one of the two new cool record stores: Downtown Record &amp; CD Emporium in the basement of the Arlington Hotel, or Old Town Records on Hobson, drink a beer at the only brewery in the world that uses actual thermal water to brew – the Superior Bathhouse Brewery. Grab a bite at the restaurant attached to our solar powered community radio station KUHS 102.5FM – SQZBX Pizza.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4XC4gC_19PU31MB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4XC4gC_19PU31MB00" width="1024" height="1280" ></figure></div></body>

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Constant readers and new Flyer regulars know that Fayetteville is surrounded by cool towns. Like us, nearby Arkansas towns grew to where they are now through small DIY groups making culture happen. It’s no surprise that Hot Springs has a lot in common with Fayetteville. Its residents have been making the severely underrated and always awesome Valley Of The Vapors music and arts festival happen for over 20 years. If you haven’t already been, it’s highly recommended.

Inside the Valley of the Vapors festival with curator Bobby Missile

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Constant readers and new Flyer regulars know that Fayetteville is surrounded by cool towns. Like us, nearby Arkansas towns grew to where they are now throu

Inside the Valley of the Vapors festival with curator Bobby Missile

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