November 21, 2025 • 23 mins
You Belong Here—as the artwork over the Momentary Green says, to hear Jill Wagar unpack how a former cheese plant evolved into a living room where music, contemporary art, and food collide. Jill shares the backstory of the Momentary’s rise alongside Crystal Bridges, why the campus now leads with concerts, and how each venue—from the large outdoor Green to a more intimate experience indoors at the RØDE House—creates a distinct listening experience that artists love and fans remember.
We dive into the most dynamic season yet: sellout shows from Megan Moroney, GloRilla, and Alabama Shakes; big draws like Ziggy Marley and a programming model that blends national names with emerging talent and local openers. Beyond the headliners, the campus pulses with family-friendly rituals: House Party exhibition openings, Saturday Morning Cartoons with a cereal bar and classics on the big screen, and more.
Love live music, culinary adventures, and inventive art? Follow the Momentary on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, subscribe to the newsletter at themomentary.org, and consider becoming a member.
A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Beth Bobbitt (00:10):
Welcome back to a new American Town.
I'm your host, Beth Bobbitt,and today I am super excited
about our guest and topic.
I get to sit down and talk livemusic with the lovely Jill
Wagar, the director of theMomentary.
Jill, thanks so much for beinghere.
Jill Wagar (00:26):
Oh, it's my pleasure to be here, Beth.
Thank you.
Beth Bobbitt (00:28):
Yes, of course.
And Jill has been with CrystalBridges since the beginning,
right?
Jill Wagar (00:33):
Yes, I'm um 15 years now.
So I've joined Crystal Bridgesin early 2011 before it opened
and was along for the ride whenthe Momentary opened.
That's amazing.
Beth Bobbitt (00:43):
Uh time flies also.
Like, how has it been thatlong?
And I know you because we worktogether.
But for our listeners, tell usa little bit about your career
journey and what led you toBentonville.
Jill Wagar (00:56):
Sure.
Thanks for asking.
Actually, this fall marks 20years that my family and I have
lived in Northwest Arkansas.
We are Oklahoma natives, and wemoved here for my husband's
business 20 years ago that he'snot doing anymore.
We're so glad that it led us tothis space.
Before coming to CrystalBridges in the Momentary, I
(01:16):
worked in healthcare and highereducation.
So um worked across at threedifferent sectors, and I can say
that this one is the most fun.
Beth Bobbitt (01:24):
Yeah, I bet.
And you started your career atCrystal Bridges in development,
but you've sort of moved aroundin different leadership roles
and talk about your role now.
Jill Wagar (01:34):
Yeah, I've moved um through a lot of different uh
positions at Crystal Bridges.
As you said, I started indevelopment and moved to the
chief strategy officer role, andthen um was deputy director,
and then the Walton family askedme to step over to the
momentary to assume itsleadership.
So today I am the director ofthe Momentary, and I'm also
(01:56):
senior director at CrystalBridges to continue to provide
leadership there.
Beth Bobbitt (02:01):
So many hats.
Yes.
Always.
So we're gonna talk about livemusic, and I want to start by
just kind of laying thefoundation.
Why is it so important for ourcommunity and culture?
Jill Wagar (02:14):
Live music has an amazing way of bringing people
together.
Um, it is something thateveryone connects to, um, no
matter where you're from.
It's universal, but it's alsodeeply local and um something
that uh resonates uh withaudiences.
You know, I always oftentimesthink about the sense of
(02:34):
belonging that live music uhbrings together and people can
sort of share, shed their caresaway.
Um when you're on the momentarygreen where we have a lot of
our outdoor music series, yousee the significant neon sign
that has become such a sign forBentonville that says you belong
here.
And I think that's a reallygreat way to think about what uh
(02:56):
live music does.
Beth Bobbitt (02:57):
Yeah, yeah.
It just is like the exclamationpoint when you're watching a
show and you look over and yousee that sign and just all the
warm, fuzzy feelings for sure.
And I guess backing up a littlebit, so Momentary does a lot of
live music.
And prior to that, CrystalBridges tinkered.
There were there were somemusical performances, but
(03:19):
explain a little bit of thedifferences between Crystal
Bridges and the Momentary.
Jill Wagar (03:23):
Yeah, let's let's go back.
So Crystal Bridges is a 501c3nonprofit organization that was
founded by the Walton family,primarily driven by Alice, and
opened in 2011.
Uh The Momentary was founded byAlice's nieces and nephew, so
Tom and Olivia Walton and StuartWalton.
It opened in 2020, just threeweeks before the pandemic, the
(03:45):
most awkward start ever.
But uh, the momentary is partof Crystal Bridges 501c3.
We are um two separatelocations and have two separate
identities, but we are um themomentary is essentially a
second location of CrystalBridges.
Uh the Momentary was a formercraft cheese plant and turned
(04:07):
into um this art space.
Um, I would say um havingopened the momentary just before
the pandemic, it was and thenclosing for a while, and then
people didn't want to gather fora couple of years, you know how
um that strange period in ourhistory uh will always be.
I think the momentary founditself trying to find its
(04:27):
footing and having the communityreally understand what is the
momentary.
And so in the last couple ofyears, we've been able to come
out very strong and say themomentary is a place for music,
art, and food.
And we're leading with themusic.
As you said, Crystal Bridgeshas had some piano concerts or
jazz sessions, but in terms oflike a live music concert, the
(04:51):
momentary is really where it'sat.
We also have art and we have anincredible um food programming
team.
Beth Bobbitt (04:57):
It happens to be my favorite place to see live
music.
It's just it's just so cozy andI love being on the green.
Um, so let's jump into thenumbers.
Like, what does this mean forour local economy?
Jill Wagar (05:11):
Yeah.
So this uh last season, the uh2025, when we had our outdoor
music um concert series or 12concerts, and um those 12
concerts alone brought over $2million of impact to
Bittonville's economy.
I mean, that is huge for ourlocal businesses, our hotels,
and our restaurants.
When you look at the audiencedemographic of who's coming, it
(05:35):
is almost split half in halfwith locals and those um outside
of our local area, although itdoes skew heavier to um the
local market.
So it is um interesting tothink about that.
It really is serving the localcommunity, but also bringing
outside tax dollars intoBentonville to benefit our
economy.
Beth Bobbitt (05:54):
Yeah.
That's amazing.
And, you know, it hasn't alwaysbeen that way.
There hasn't always been thatpull to visit.
Jill Wagar (06:01):
So um And that's only and um those outside
concerts are only a portion ofthe music that we do.
We have an entire indoor musicum series too.
We just have don't have theeconomic numbers on that.
Beth Bobbitt (06:13):
Yeah.
And you've touched on this alittle bit, but talk a little
bit about how the Momentary'smusic role has changed since it
opened and how it's evolved.
Jill Wagar (06:24):
Yes, I don't know that when the Momentary opened,
we knew that it would have sucha prominent music uh scene as it
does now.
But it was uh very quickly uhwe were able to see that that's
really where a superpower lies.
And so the momentary um ismusic.
We want Bentonville to be knownfor live music just as much as
(06:45):
it is for our art and biking.
And we know that that mighttake a while, but the momentary
has really stepped into itsplace in driving part of that
live music scene here inBentonville.
Beth Bobbitt (06:58):
Yeah.
And we'll talk a little bitabout the specific acts and um
bands and everything, but tellus about like set the scene.
Where can we hear live music?
Because it's not just on thegreen.
There's indoor and outdoorplaces.
Jill Wagar (07:13):
Yeah, there is.
So I will say that the venuespots at the momentary are some
of the best around, and we'rehearing that uh very loudly from
artists who are performing hereand also from their managers
and agents.
So the Green is outdoors, andit is the outdoor open-air
amphitheater that can have up toapproximately 5,000 people.
(07:35):
Um, and then if you come insideRoad, the Roadhouse, which is
named for Road Microphones, Ithink it's such an appropriate
name.
Roadhouse is more of anintimate setting that is about
500 people.
And I will tell you that theacoustics of that place and the
sound is like none other.
I I would I would put ouracoustics up against anyone.
(07:57):
Yeah.
And we're hearing that loudlyfrom the people we're uh talking
to.
But then there's also reallybeautiful and wonderful areas
for music to pop up around themomentary.
For instance, the outdoor RVest courtyard is a great place
for we have courtyards, freecourtyard sessions in the
summertime, out in thecourtyard, and even up in the
tower bar, we're able to do someacoustical sets or um have a
(08:20):
little DJ setup in the tower barand really and everywhere in
between.
And I don't think a lot ofpeople know that Bentonville
Radio relocated to theMometaries property um in the
last couple years, and so theybrocast live from our north
courtyard.
Beth Bobbitt (08:36):
So cool.
You know, the best views, thebest ambiance.
Uh just imagine a concert inthe tower bar.
Yes.
Like just looking over all ofBentonville.
So cool.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe 2025 season, who you brought
here, some of your favorites orhighlights.
Jill Wagar (08:56):
Yeah, well, 2025 was a really dynamic year,
probably our most dynamic yet.
We had sell-out crowds forMegan Moroney, Glorilla, and
Alabama Shakes.
All three of those were reallyamazing concerts.
Um, we had we welcomed somenew audiences when we had acts
like Ziggy Marley and PonchoBarraza.
(09:18):
And then we had, you know,other lots of others in between,
Muscadine Bloodline and StillWoozy and Japanese Breakfast
among others.
Um, our goal is always to blendthese big national names, but
also with emerging artists andothers who are coming.
We oftentimes look for localartists to do opening acts if
(09:38):
the if the traveling banddoesn't already have one.
But then when we look to um howwe're programming our courtyard
sessions or inviting people into play in the roadhouse,
whether it's a community concertor um an act, we're trying to
make sure that we're celebratinglocal artists in addition to
bringing in um others fromoutside the community.
Beth Bobbitt (09:58):
Yeah.
And then the MomentousFestival.
Can you talk about theexperience?
Because it's when I've been tofestivals at the Momentary, I
love it because it's so familyfriendly for one thing.
I mean, you can get food,drink, walk around, there's art
activities.
Yeah.
Jill Wagar (10:15):
So we want to talk about Momentous.
So okay, Momentous is anelectronic dance music festival.
Um, we just had it.
It is amazing.
Okay, I will make an admissionright here on this podcast is
that um when I first startedworking more closely with the
Momentary, I didn't like EDM.
I was like, it is loud.
I'm like, oh my gosh.
Well, I went to the firstMomentous festival for me that I
(10:39):
had experienced.
And um it was last year or theyear before.
And it was programmed by LauraNewell, one of our music
programmers, who is amazing.
And I fell in love with EDM.
And I think it's because I gotto hear the variety of that
music all in one setting withthis environment.
And now it's um it's somethingthat I really look forward to.
So um Momentous is all aboutEDM.
(11:01):
We just had it.
It is, it's outdoors, it'sindoors, there was a night
market, there was food, therewas performance, there were lots
of lights, and it was just thisreally amazing energy that in a
way it almost reminds me of theFormat Festival.
That was a lot of people thinkformat festival was the
Momentaries Festival.
It wasn't.
We were just the uh venue forit.
But there's a certain kind ofan energy, like on a small bit
(11:24):
of a smaller scale that itreminds me of.
Uh, we are already planning fornext year's Momentous, which is
going to be um November 6th and7th in 2026.
So if you are an EDM fan or ifyou want to learn more about it,
uh November 6th and 7th of nextyear is for Momentous.
Okay, you're selling it.
(11:45):
I am.
Well, and um I do want to talktoo about the family-friendly
aspect of the Momentary that youmentioned.
One of our goals is to makesure that the Momentary feels
like a living room of thecommunity where people can pop
in and out whenever they want orcan.
Um, and it is there's OnyxCoffee, you know, in our lobby.
(12:07):
And we do have a lot of artmaking activities.
Actually, coming up November22nd is our house party.
And is this a really wonderfulway that it's uh we've decided
to open our exhibitions with.
It is like a block party.
And um on November 22nd, we'reopening National Geographic, the
(12:28):
um greatest wildlifephotography.
And it's gonna be a reallygreat show.
But on that day, uh November22nd, come by anytime after 10,
and there's music and there'sdancing, and there's food, and
there's crafts, and there's theexhibition, and there's there's
all sorts of things for uhfamilies to do.
Beth, I don't know if you'vehad a chance to bring your
family to Saturday morningcartoons yet.
(12:49):
We're going to.
Okay, well, so this is reallygreat.
So um I think everyone thinksthat we program Saturday morning
cartoons during the wintermonths for um kids.
Actually, it's for the adults,right?
And parents, because they wantto show their kids some
nostalgic cartoons that theygrew up with.
And so in the Roadhouse, oneSaturday a month, um, the next
(13:11):
one coming up is December 27th.
So it's just after the holidayswhile people are trying to find
some things to do.
Um, we will be in Roadhousewith um, it'll there'll be a
cereal bar there, some uh snacksfrom McDonald's, who's serving
as a sponsor.
And we're gonna show someChristmas um uh cartoons like
Frosty the Snowman, um CharlieBrown Christmas, Rudolph the Red
(13:34):
Nosed Reindeer.
Um last year we showed umSaturday morning cartoons, some
great like old um Scooby-Doo andother kind of cartoons that
were the old school from the70s, 80s, and 90s that parents
really um cherish.
But we love to see the kidspiled up in the front um on
their pillows, watching theircartoons, eating cereal and the
pajamas and curtains.
Pajamas, yes.
(13:55):
And the parents are in the backand they have their um their
coffee and they're connectingwith one another.
So these are the kind of waysthat the momentary can really
serve as that gathering placefor the city.
Beth Bobbitt (14:05):
Oh, I love it.
That's perfect, yes, andperfect timing.
You're ready to get out of thehouse by December 27th for sure.
So let's speak ahead, talkabout 2026.
What kind of festival seriescan you tease for us?
Jill Wagar (14:20):
No, we have um, well, we already talked about
Mementous, uh, November 6th and7th.
We also, um in 25, we started afestival called Send It South.
So um, Arkansas is one of thebest places for winter bicycle
riding because our weather isusually pretty temperate, or if
it's chilly, it's actually greatfor um the bike riding that's
(14:41):
happening in this area.
And we're able to invite peoplefrom, especially from out of
state from cold winter states,to come to Bitonville to ride on
our trails during the day andthen gather at the momentary in
this really fun, like lodge,rustic type feel environment
that we create and come frommusic and to gather with one
(15:02):
another.
So we have Send It South onFebruary 27th and 28th, um,
which is great.
We um I just heard from ourmusic team that we've just
gotten the first couple bookingsfor our concerts on the green,
but I can't announce them yet.
But stay tuned to MomentarySocials for announcements of
(15:23):
what that um next um seasonlooks like.
One of the new programs we'redoing, uh, Beth, is um Wednesday
night happy hours in Roadhousethat will have some live music,
oftentimes local and a time forpeople to gather.
One of the things that I thinka lot of surveys in Northwest
Arkansas come back saying isthat young professionals,
(15:46):
especially in our community,have a harder time meeting one
another.
And so we want to be able toprovide a space that has live
music, that has a place wherepeople can drop in and really
just a happy hour to visit withone another.
So starting on Wednesdaynights, we'll be having um happy
hours all year long, which isgreat.
Weekly, that's the cadence.
Wow.
Beth Bobbitt (16:06):
Yeah, that's amazing.
Jill Wagar (16:07):
And then if um you haven't been to one of our food
programs, you're really missingout.
Um we um invite local chefs tocome in for a monthly supper
club.
It's a really long farmhousestyle table where we have chefs
come and tell their storiesabout what influenced their
life, what influenced theircooking, and then give us some
(16:28):
of their best recipes to taste.
Um, it's an incredible program.
And then taste makers is whenwe bring in chefs from around
the country to come in.
Maybe, maybe they're eating umfood or bringing food that is
not something we have herelocally, right?
Um, but really giving us um ataste of what their specialty
is.
So look at our calendar for forthose things too.
Beth Bobbitt (16:50):
Music, food, art, what else?
Jill Wagar (16:52):
And next year we have um, you have to come and
see an exhibition we'll docalled Lucy Sparrow.
Um, she's an artist fromBritain and she creates these
fantastical worlds made entirelyof felt.
And it is like thousands ofobjects.
What she's doing um themomentary is recreating a um 80s
(17:14):
and 90s supermarket and outentirely made out of felt.
And it is a world that youcannot actually even imagine
until you see it.
So um what watch for the datesand announcements for that.
But anytime, right now andthrough next year, middle of
next year, you need to come toJR's printing press at the
(17:35):
moment.
Have you been?
I have tell us about yourexperience.
Beth Bobbitt (17:38):
So amazing.
I mean, you you walk in and umyou get to learn about printing
press for one thing, and thenactually experience it.
So you go in like a photo boothstyle, you can use props or
accessories or whatever.
But um, the best part iswatching it get printed on the
ceiling and there's sort of alight show, and then it comes
(17:58):
out and there's this humongousprint of your family, your
portrait, you know, that you cankeep forever.
Jill Wagar (18:04):
It's it was amazing.
We had a blast.
It's amazing.
It's actually going a bit viralon TikTok.
Yeah.
So you'll have to come to seeuh JR's printing press running
now through next summer.
It's still there.
I want to tell you about somethings still happening this
year.
So do you like baking, Beth?
Of course.
Okay.
Be at the momentary the firstweek in December.
(18:26):
We're having pastry week.
We're bringing in chefs bothlocally and nationally to have
different kinds of pie workshopsand having pop-up um markets of
pastries and uh different filmsrelated to um pastries.
And so it is going to be uhreally uh and a fantastic week.
That's the first week inDecember.
(18:46):
And then um the following week,uh December 10th through 14th,
come to the Inverse PerformanceFestival.
It is um things that you can'timagine that are just there to
delight.
I'll give you an insight.
One of the um, one of theperformers this year is the
artist that has created a cellphone roller coaster.
(19:06):
It's actually an artist duofrom Kansas City and Aspen.
And it is literally this rollercoaster that's for your cell
phone.
You can put your cell phone onthe roller coaster in its little
spot and push record, and thenyour cell phone will record this
really fantastic journey thatit makes through um through the
roller coaster.
Beth Bobbitt (19:26):
And so I know it's quite my mind's kind of blown
right now, yeah.
Jill Wagar (19:29):
But that's the kind of fun that comes from um
inverse.
Also, um the local artistDaniel Hatch is um doing some
textile work and also aperformance with Inverse.
And it is just it's reallyinteresting to see.
Beth Bobbitt (19:42):
Oh my gosh, can't wait.
Well, our calendars are alreadyreally full now.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
So when you're not working andprogramming this amazing venue,
what do you like to do inBentonville?
What are some of your favoritehotspots?
Jill Wagar (19:57):
Well, you can never go wrong with the farmer's
market.
Beth Bobbitt (20:00):
Yeah.
Jill Wagar (20:01):
Right.
I mean, it's a place to connectwith other people to be able to
also support um some of thelocal growers and craftsmen and
things here.
So we really enjoy that.
I will tell you that there areso many new restaurants and bars
in the downtown Bitonvillearea.
Um, my husband and I willoftentimes um pair that for a
(20:22):
date night.
We'll we'll pick a restaurantthat we haven't been to yet and
pick a bar that we haven't beento yet and experience those.
I love to say we mentioned itearlier, but the tower bar at
the momentary has the best viewsof town.
And what you can see lookingdown from the tower bar is one
of my favorite things in umBentonville is the Bucky Ball.
(20:42):
It used to be located atCrystal Bridges and now it's on
the Momentary's property.
And if you haven't sit back inthe zero gravity chairs that
encircle um, it looks kind oflike a soccer ball that lights
up with different colors.
We like to refer to it as likea digital campfire, if you will,
but you can sit back on thesezero um gravity benches and just
(21:03):
admire it and just kind of sitback and relax and let the
stress wash away.
Beth Bobbitt (21:08):
Yeah.
Amazing.
I love that.
Well, how can we follow alongthe momentary?
There are social website,newsletter, all of the things.
Jill Wagar (21:19):
I would say if you're not subscribed to our
e-newsletters, you should be.
You can do that on um online atthemomentary.org.
Um, so you can be some of thefirst to know what's happening.
Also follow our socials, um uhTikTok, um, Facebook, Instagram,
the momentary, uh at themomentary.
Um and I would say one of thebest ways to stay connected is
(21:41):
to become a member of it.
So um one of the things thatmany people don't realize, maybe
about Crystal Bridges, but alsoabout uh the momentary, is that
we are a nonprofit and um weneed um outside dollars to be
able to fund the things thatwe're doing.
As a uh public charity, um werely on outside dollars.
(22:02):
Many people think that sincewe're founded by the Walton
family, that we may not needfunding.
It's not true.
There's a limit from the IRS ofwhat the Walton family can
provide.
So for us to be able tocontinue to bring all these free
programs and then also the theamazing um national acts that
we're bringing to town, we needsupport.
So be a member and help supportus.
Or if your organization wantsto underwrite a program, let us
(22:26):
know.
We'll be glad um to talk toyou.
But um, yeah, follow along andsupport us when you can.
Beth Bobbitt (22:31):
Yeah, that's really important.
I'm glad you brought that up.
And there are certainly perkswith being a member, you know,
discounts and be the first toknow.
First to know.
Absolutely.
Thanks so much for your time,Jill.
This was fun.
Thanks, Beth.
Don't forget, Visit Bentonvilleis here to help you navigate
things to do, where to eat andstay, and what's going on in our
new American town.
(22:52):
Check out the show notes tofollow us on social, sign up for
the newsletter, and visit ourwebsite at visitbittenville.com.
Thanks for listening.
Welcome back to a new American Town.
I'm your host, Beth Bobbitt,and today I am super excited
about our guest and topic.
I get to sit down and talk livemusic with the lovely Jill
Wagar, the director of theMomentary.
Jill, thanks so much for beinghere.
Jill Wagar (00:26):
Oh, it's my pleasure to be here, Beth.
Thank you.
Beth Bobbitt (00:28):
Yes, of course.
And Jill has been with CrystalBridges since the beginning,
right?
Jill Wagar (00:33):
Yes, I'm um 15 years now.
So I've joined Crystal Bridgesin early 2011 before it opened
and was along for the ride whenthe Momentary opened.
That's amazing.
Beth Bobbitt (00:43):
Uh time flies also.
Like, how has it been thatlong?
And I know you because we worktogether.
But for our listeners, tell usa little bit about your career
journey and what led you toBentonville.
Jill Wagar (00:56):
Sure.
Thanks for asking.
Actually, this fall marks 20years that my family and I have
lived in Northwest Arkansas.
We are Oklahoma natives, and wemoved here for my husband's
business 20 years ago that he'snot doing anymore.
We're so glad that it led us tothis space.
Before coming to CrystalBridges in the Momentary, I
(01:16):
worked in healthcare and highereducation.
So um worked across at threedifferent sectors, and I can say
that this one is the most fun.
Beth Bobbitt (01:24):
Yeah, I bet.
And you started your career atCrystal Bridges in development,
but you've sort of moved aroundin different leadership roles
and talk about your role now.
Jill Wagar (01:34):
Yeah, I've moved um through a lot of different uh
positions at Crystal Bridges.
As you said, I started indevelopment and moved to the
chief strategy officer role, andthen um was deputy director,
and then the Walton family askedme to step over to the
momentary to assume itsleadership.
So today I am the director ofthe Momentary, and I'm also
(01:56):
senior director at CrystalBridges to continue to provide
leadership there.
Beth Bobbitt (02:01):
So many hats.
Yes.
Always.
So we're gonna talk about livemusic, and I want to start by
just kind of laying thefoundation.
Why is it so important for ourcommunity and culture?
Jill Wagar (02:14):
Live music has an amazing way of bringing people
together.
Um, it is something thateveryone connects to, um, no
matter where you're from.
It's universal, but it's alsodeeply local and um something
that uh resonates uh withaudiences.
You know, I always oftentimesthink about the sense of
(02:34):
belonging that live music uhbrings together and people can
sort of share, shed their caresaway.
Um when you're on the momentarygreen where we have a lot of
our outdoor music series, yousee the significant neon sign
that has become such a sign forBentonville that says you belong
here.
And I think that's a reallygreat way to think about what uh
(02:56):
live music does.
Beth Bobbitt (02:57):
Yeah, yeah.
It just is like the exclamationpoint when you're watching a
show and you look over and yousee that sign and just all the
warm, fuzzy feelings for sure.
And I guess backing up a littlebit, so Momentary does a lot of
live music.
And prior to that, CrystalBridges tinkered.
There were there were somemusical performances, but
(03:19):
explain a little bit of thedifferences between Crystal
Bridges and the Momentary.
Jill Wagar (03:23):
Yeah, let's let's go back.
So Crystal Bridges is a 501c3nonprofit organization that was
founded by the Walton family,primarily driven by Alice, and
opened in 2011.
Uh The Momentary was founded byAlice's nieces and nephew, so
Tom and Olivia Walton and StuartWalton.
It opened in 2020, just threeweeks before the pandemic, the
(03:45):
most awkward start ever.
But uh, the momentary is partof Crystal Bridges 501c3.
We are um two separatelocations and have two separate
identities, but we are um themomentary is essentially a
second location of CrystalBridges.
Uh the Momentary was a formercraft cheese plant and turned
(04:07):
into um this art space.
Um, I would say um havingopened the momentary just before
the pandemic, it was and thenclosing for a while, and then
people didn't want to gather fora couple of years, you know how
um that strange period in ourhistory uh will always be.
I think the momentary founditself trying to find its
(04:27):
footing and having the communityreally understand what is the
momentary.
And so in the last couple ofyears, we've been able to come
out very strong and say themomentary is a place for music,
art, and food.
And we're leading with themusic.
As you said, Crystal Bridgeshas had some piano concerts or
jazz sessions, but in terms oflike a live music concert, the
(04:51):
momentary is really where it'sat.
We also have art and we have anincredible um food programming
team.
Beth Bobbitt (04:57):
It happens to be my favorite place to see live
music.
It's just it's just so cozy andI love being on the green.
Um, so let's jump into thenumbers.
Like, what does this mean forour local economy?
Jill Wagar (05:11):
Yeah.
So this uh last season, the uh2025, when we had our outdoor
music um concert series or 12concerts, and um those 12
concerts alone brought over $2million of impact to
Bittonville's economy.
I mean, that is huge for ourlocal businesses, our hotels,
and our restaurants.
When you look at the audiencedemographic of who's coming, it
(05:35):
is almost split half in halfwith locals and those um outside
of our local area, although itdoes skew heavier to um the
local market.
So it is um interesting tothink about that.
It really is serving the localcommunity, but also bringing
outside tax dollars intoBentonville to benefit our
economy.
Beth Bobbitt (05:54):
Yeah.
That's amazing.
And, you know, it hasn't alwaysbeen that way.
There hasn't always been thatpull to visit.
Jill Wagar (06:01):
So um And that's only and um those outside
concerts are only a portion ofthe music that we do.
We have an entire indoor musicum series too.
We just have don't have theeconomic numbers on that.
Beth Bobbitt (06:13):
Yeah.
And you've touched on this alittle bit, but talk a little
bit about how the Momentary'smusic role has changed since it
opened and how it's evolved.
Jill Wagar (06:24):
Yes, I don't know that when the Momentary opened,
we knew that it would have sucha prominent music uh scene as it
does now.
But it was uh very quickly uhwe were able to see that that's
really where a superpower lies.
And so the momentary um ismusic.
We want Bentonville to be knownfor live music just as much as
(06:45):
it is for our art and biking.
And we know that that mighttake a while, but the momentary
has really stepped into itsplace in driving part of that
live music scene here inBentonville.
Beth Bobbitt (06:58):
Yeah.
And we'll talk a little bitabout the specific acts and um
bands and everything, but tellus about like set the scene.
Where can we hear live music?
Because it's not just on thegreen.
There's indoor and outdoorplaces.
Jill Wagar (07:13):
Yeah, there is.
So I will say that the venuespots at the momentary are some
of the best around, and we'rehearing that uh very loudly from
artists who are performing hereand also from their managers
and agents.
So the Green is outdoors, andit is the outdoor open-air
amphitheater that can have up toapproximately 5,000 people.
(07:35):
Um, and then if you come insideRoad, the Roadhouse, which is
named for Road Microphones, Ithink it's such an appropriate
name.
Roadhouse is more of anintimate setting that is about
500 people.
And I will tell you that theacoustics of that place and the
sound is like none other.
I I would I would put ouracoustics up against anyone.
(07:57):
Yeah.
And we're hearing that loudlyfrom the people we're uh talking
to.
But then there's also reallybeautiful and wonderful areas
for music to pop up around themomentary.
For instance, the outdoor RVest courtyard is a great place
for we have courtyards, freecourtyard sessions in the
summertime, out in thecourtyard, and even up in the
tower bar, we're able to do someacoustical sets or um have a
(08:20):
little DJ setup in the tower barand really and everywhere in
between.
And I don't think a lot ofpeople know that Bentonville
Radio relocated to theMometaries property um in the
last couple years, and so theybrocast live from our north
courtyard.
Beth Bobbitt (08:36):
So cool.
You know, the best views, thebest ambiance.
Uh just imagine a concert inthe tower bar.
Yes.
Like just looking over all ofBentonville.
So cool.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe 2025 season, who you brought
here, some of your favorites orhighlights.
Jill Wagar (08:56):
Yeah, well, 2025 was a really dynamic year,
probably our most dynamic yet.
We had sell-out crowds forMegan Moroney, Glorilla, and
Alabama Shakes.
All three of those were reallyamazing concerts.
Um, we had we welcomed somenew audiences when we had acts
like Ziggy Marley and PonchoBarraza.
(09:18):
And then we had, you know,other lots of others in between,
Muscadine Bloodline and StillWoozy and Japanese Breakfast
among others.
Um, our goal is always to blendthese big national names, but
also with emerging artists andothers who are coming.
We oftentimes look for localartists to do opening acts if
(09:38):
the if the traveling banddoesn't already have one.
But then when we look to um howwe're programming our courtyard
sessions or inviting people into play in the roadhouse,
whether it's a community concertor um an act, we're trying to
make sure that we're celebratinglocal artists in addition to
bringing in um others fromoutside the community.
Beth Bobbitt (09:58):
Yeah.
And then the MomentousFestival.
Can you talk about theexperience?
Because it's when I've been tofestivals at the Momentary, I
love it because it's so familyfriendly for one thing.
I mean, you can get food,drink, walk around, there's art
activities.
Yeah.
Jill Wagar (10:15):
So we want to talk about Momentous.
So okay, Momentous is anelectronic dance music festival.
Um, we just had it.
It is amazing.
Okay, I will make an admissionright here on this podcast is
that um when I first startedworking more closely with the
Momentary, I didn't like EDM.
I was like, it is loud.
I'm like, oh my gosh.
Well, I went to the firstMomentous festival for me that I
(10:39):
had experienced.
And um it was last year or theyear before.
And it was programmed by LauraNewell, one of our music
programmers, who is amazing.
And I fell in love with EDM.
And I think it's because I gotto hear the variety of that
music all in one setting withthis environment.
And now it's um it's somethingthat I really look forward to.
So um Momentous is all aboutEDM.
(11:01):
We just had it.
It is, it's outdoors, it'sindoors, there was a night
market, there was food, therewas performance, there were lots
of lights, and it was just thisreally amazing energy that in a
way it almost reminds me of theFormat Festival.
That was a lot of people thinkformat festival was the
Momentaries Festival.
It wasn't.
We were just the uh venue forit.
But there's a certain kind ofan energy, like on a small bit
(11:24):
of a smaller scale that itreminds me of.
Uh, we are already planning fornext year's Momentous, which is
going to be um November 6th and7th in 2026.
So if you are an EDM fan or ifyou want to learn more about it,
uh November 6th and 7th of nextyear is for Momentous.
Okay, you're selling it.
(11:45):
I am.
Well, and um I do want to talktoo about the family-friendly
aspect of the Momentary that youmentioned.
One of our goals is to makesure that the Momentary feels
like a living room of thecommunity where people can pop
in and out whenever they want orcan.
Um, and it is there's OnyxCoffee, you know, in our lobby.
(12:07):
And we do have a lot of artmaking activities.
Actually, coming up November22nd is our house party.
And is this a really wonderfulway that it's uh we've decided
to open our exhibitions with.
It is like a block party.
And um on November 22nd, we'reopening National Geographic, the
(12:28):
um greatest wildlifephotography.
And it's gonna be a reallygreat show.
But on that day, uh November22nd, come by anytime after 10,
and there's music and there'sdancing, and there's food, and
there's crafts, and there's theexhibition, and there's there's
all sorts of things for uhfamilies to do.
Beth, I don't know if you'vehad a chance to bring your
family to Saturday morningcartoons yet.
(12:49):
We're going to.
Okay, well, so this is reallygreat.
So um I think everyone thinksthat we program Saturday morning
cartoons during the wintermonths for um kids.
Actually, it's for the adults,right?
And parents, because they wantto show their kids some
nostalgic cartoons that theygrew up with.
And so in the Roadhouse, oneSaturday a month, um, the next
(13:11):
one coming up is December 27th.
So it's just after the holidayswhile people are trying to find
some things to do.
Um, we will be in Roadhousewith um, it'll there'll be a
cereal bar there, some uh snacksfrom McDonald's, who's serving
as a sponsor.
And we're gonna show someChristmas um uh cartoons like
Frosty the Snowman, um CharlieBrown Christmas, Rudolph the Red
(13:34):
Nosed Reindeer.
Um last year we showed umSaturday morning cartoons, some
great like old um Scooby-Doo andother kind of cartoons that
were the old school from the70s, 80s, and 90s that parents
really um cherish.
But we love to see the kidspiled up in the front um on
their pillows, watching theircartoons, eating cereal and the
pajamas and curtains.
Pajamas, yes.
(13:55):
And the parents are in the backand they have their um their
coffee and they're connectingwith one another.
So these are the kind of waysthat the momentary can really
serve as that gathering placefor the city.
Beth Bobbitt (14:05):
Oh, I love it.
That's perfect, yes, andperfect timing.
You're ready to get out of thehouse by December 27th for sure.
So let's speak ahead, talkabout 2026.
What kind of festival seriescan you tease for us?
Jill Wagar (14:20):
No, we have um, well, we already talked about
Mementous, uh, November 6th and7th.
We also, um in 25, we started afestival called Send It South.
So um, Arkansas is one of thebest places for winter bicycle
riding because our weather isusually pretty temperate, or if
it's chilly, it's actually greatfor um the bike riding that's
(14:41):
happening in this area.
And we're able to invite peoplefrom, especially from out of
state from cold winter states,to come to Bitonville to ride on
our trails during the day andthen gather at the momentary in
this really fun, like lodge,rustic type feel environment
that we create and come frommusic and to gather with one
(15:02):
another.
So we have Send It South onFebruary 27th and 28th, um,
which is great.
We um I just heard from ourmusic team that we've just
gotten the first couple bookingsfor our concerts on the green,
but I can't announce them yet.
But stay tuned to MomentarySocials for announcements of
(15:23):
what that um next um seasonlooks like.
One of the new programs we'redoing, uh, Beth, is um Wednesday
night happy hours in Roadhousethat will have some live music,
oftentimes local and a time forpeople to gather.
One of the things that I thinka lot of surveys in Northwest
Arkansas come back saying isthat young professionals,
(15:46):
especially in our community,have a harder time meeting one
another.
And so we want to be able toprovide a space that has live
music, that has a place wherepeople can drop in and really
just a happy hour to visit withone another.
So starting on Wednesdaynights, we'll be having um happy
hours all year long, which isgreat.
Weekly, that's the cadence.
Wow.
Beth Bobbitt (16:06):
Yeah, that's amazing.
Jill Wagar (16:07):
And then if um you haven't been to one of our food
programs, you're really missingout.
Um we um invite local chefs tocome in for a monthly supper
club.
It's a really long farmhousestyle table where we have chefs
come and tell their storiesabout what influenced their
life, what influenced theircooking, and then give us some
(16:28):
of their best recipes to taste.
Um, it's an incredible program.
And then taste makers is whenwe bring in chefs from around
the country to come in.
Maybe, maybe they're eating umfood or bringing food that is
not something we have herelocally, right?
Um, but really giving us um ataste of what their specialty
is.
So look at our calendar for forthose things too.
Beth Bobbitt (16:50):
Music, food, art, what else?
Jill Wagar (16:52):
And next year we have um, you have to come and
see an exhibition we'll docalled Lucy Sparrow.
Um, she's an artist fromBritain and she creates these
fantastical worlds made entirelyof felt.
And it is like thousands ofobjects.
What she's doing um themomentary is recreating a um 80s
(17:14):
and 90s supermarket and outentirely made out of felt.
And it is a world that youcannot actually even imagine
until you see it.
So um what watch for the datesand announcements for that.
But anytime, right now andthrough next year, middle of
next year, you need to come toJR's printing press at the
(17:35):
moment.
Have you been?
I have tell us about yourexperience.
Beth Bobbitt (17:38):
So amazing.
I mean, you you walk in and umyou get to learn about printing
press for one thing, and thenactually experience it.
So you go in like a photo boothstyle, you can use props or
accessories or whatever.
But um, the best part iswatching it get printed on the
ceiling and there's sort of alight show, and then it comes
(17:58):
out and there's this humongousprint of your family, your
portrait, you know, that you cankeep forever.
Jill Wagar (18:04):
It's it was amazing.
We had a blast.
It's amazing.
It's actually going a bit viralon TikTok.
Yeah.
So you'll have to come to seeuh JR's printing press running
now through next summer.
It's still there.
I want to tell you about somethings still happening this
year.
So do you like baking, Beth?
Of course.
Okay.
Be at the momentary the firstweek in December.
(18:26):
We're having pastry week.
We're bringing in chefs bothlocally and nationally to have
different kinds of pie workshopsand having pop-up um markets of
pastries and uh different filmsrelated to um pastries.
And so it is going to be uhreally uh and a fantastic week.
That's the first week inDecember.
(18:46):
And then um the following week,uh December 10th through 14th,
come to the Inverse PerformanceFestival.
It is um things that you can'timagine that are just there to
delight.
I'll give you an insight.
One of the um, one of theperformers this year is the
artist that has created a cellphone roller coaster.
(19:06):
It's actually an artist duofrom Kansas City and Aspen.
And it is literally this rollercoaster that's for your cell
phone.
You can put your cell phone onthe roller coaster in its little
spot and push record, and thenyour cell phone will record this
really fantastic journey thatit makes through um through the
roller coaster.
Beth Bobbitt (19:26):
And so I know it's quite my mind's kind of blown
right now, yeah.
Jill Wagar (19:29):
But that's the kind of fun that comes from um
inverse.
Also, um the local artistDaniel Hatch is um doing some
textile work and also aperformance with Inverse.
And it is just it's reallyinteresting to see.
Beth Bobbitt (19:42):
Oh my gosh, can't wait.
Well, our calendars are alreadyreally full now.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
So when you're not working andprogramming this amazing venue,
what do you like to do inBentonville?
What are some of your favoritehotspots?
Jill Wagar (19:57):
Well, you can never go wrong with the farmer's
market.
Beth Bobbitt (20:00):
Yeah.
Jill Wagar (20:01):
Right.
I mean, it's a place to connectwith other people to be able to
also support um some of thelocal growers and craftsmen and
things here.
So we really enjoy that.
I will tell you that there areso many new restaurants and bars
in the downtown Bitonvillearea.
Um, my husband and I willoftentimes um pair that for a
(20:22):
date night.
We'll we'll pick a restaurantthat we haven't been to yet and
pick a bar that we haven't beento yet and experience those.
I love to say we mentioned itearlier, but the tower bar at
the momentary has the best viewsof town.
And what you can see lookingdown from the tower bar is one
of my favorite things in umBentonville is the Bucky Ball.
(20:42):
It used to be located atCrystal Bridges and now it's on
the Momentary's property.
And if you haven't sit back inthe zero gravity chairs that
encircle um, it looks kind oflike a soccer ball that lights
up with different colors.
We like to refer to it as likea digital campfire, if you will,
but you can sit back on thesezero um gravity benches and just
(21:03):
admire it and just kind of sitback and relax and let the
stress wash away.
Beth Bobbitt (21:08):
Yeah.
Amazing.
I love that.
Well, how can we follow alongthe momentary?
There are social website,newsletter, all of the things.
Jill Wagar (21:19):
I would say if you're not subscribed to our
e-newsletters, you should be.
You can do that on um online atthemomentary.org.
Um, so you can be some of thefirst to know what's happening.
Also follow our socials, um uhTikTok, um, Facebook, Instagram,
the momentary, uh at themomentary.
Um and I would say one of thebest ways to stay connected is
(21:41):
to become a member of it.
So um one of the things thatmany people don't realize, maybe
about Crystal Bridges, but alsoabout uh the momentary, is that
we are a nonprofit and um weneed um outside dollars to be
able to fund the things thatwe're doing.
As a uh public charity, um werely on outside dollars.
(22:02):
Many people think that sincewe're founded by the Walton
family, that we may not needfunding.
It's not true.
There's a limit from the IRS ofwhat the Walton family can
provide.
So for us to be able tocontinue to bring all these free
programs and then also the theamazing um national acts that
we're bringing to town, we needsupport.
So be a member and help supportus.
Or if your organization wantsto underwrite a program, let us
(22:26):
know.
We'll be glad um to talk toyou.
But um, yeah, follow along andsupport us when you can.
Beth Bobbitt (22:31):
Yeah, that's really important.
I'm glad you brought that up.
And there are certainly perkswith being a member, you know,
discounts and be the first toknow.
First to know.
Absolutely.
Thanks so much for your time,Jill.
This was fun.
Thanks, Beth.
Don't forget, Visit Bentonvilleis here to help you navigate
things to do, where to eat andstay, and what's going on in our
new American town.
(22:52):
Check out the show notes tofollow us on social, sign up for
the newsletter, and visit ourwebsite at visitbittenville.com.
Thanks for listening.
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