Toad Suck Daze is a street festival so, Conway Advertising and Promotions Commission member and city alderman Andy Hawkins figured why not have a street band?
Those who enjoyed Loose Marbles performing at and around Toad Suck Square have Hawkins, and several others, to thank for it.
Hawkins came across the band in November while at the National League of Cities conference in New Orleans. After the conference let out for the night, Hawkins wandered down to the French Quarter's Jackson Park, known for its eclectic gatherings of musicians and artists, to soak in "that authentic New Orleans atmosphere."
"The clarinet player showed up, and he didn't seem to be in any hurry to get started," Hawkins said. "I stuck around for a while and the other members showed up one by one. When they all got there they just started playing."
After seeing Loose Marbles perform there, he said to himself, "That's got Toad Suck written all over it."
Hawkins said he couldn't get the idea of an authentic New Orleans street band playing at Toad Suck out of his mind. Once back in Conway, he tracked down contact information for the band and secured three days worth of genuine New Orleans street music and dancing for the festival.
"It's one of the neatest things I've been a part of," he said. "Everybody that saw them over the weekend went away with a smile."
Band member Michael Magro said the band went away happy too.
"It was everything I thought it would be," Magro said. "I never doubted from the first time I talked to Andy and he told me what his idea was. He understood from watching us back in New Orleans that we just play out in the street. Playing outdoors is important because that's where the kids are. Kids don't go to clubs, and it's not everywhere where you can have music that's just right out in the open.
"It's important to have music where everybody can see it, not just people over 21. The music we play is intended for everyone and it's undeniable when you're affected by music."
Advertising and Promotions Commission member Anglela Bagby, manager of Comfort Suites, arranged the band a place to stay for the weekend and Conway restaurateurs Mike Coats and Mike Kraft made sure they were well-fed.
"We look forward to coming back," Magro said, "and we'll probably be back sooner than later, it's not that far and a couple of us would like to come back and just see the place. Conway is really a lot like New Orleans."
Out of everywhere the band has gone, Loose Marbles dancer Amy Johnson said as the band was packing up Sunday, "we've never been treated better."
Hawkins said the feedback he's gotten on the band has been overwhelmingly positive.
"I think people will want to see more of these kind of acts next year," he said. "We've seen a good path laid out now."
If you missed Loose Marbles at Toad Suck, audio and video clips are available at the band's myspace.com page.
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
