The Back Beats rocked out over 300 people at the Boomers Rock Club at Grove Park in Hot Springs Village. We were lucky enough to get to help them celebrate their 10th Anniversary. They were a great crowd, full of…

The Back Beats are happy now to have Scot Johnston laying down some mean guitar licks. 

Scot is a native Texan but grew up in Little Rock, graduating from Little Rock Hall in 1974. He went on to study chemistry…

The Back Beats had a terrific time playing for the city of Russellville’s tremendous 4th of July celebration, held downtown at Depot Park.  A huge crowd gathered for the food trucks, the fireworks, and the Back Beats’ high-energy performance in…

The City of Russellville, in partnership with Main Street Russellville and the Russellville Tourism and Visitor Center, will present a free community fireworks display on Sunday, July 4th at 9:15 pm in Downtown Russellville. The fireworks will be choreographed to…

It’s been nearly 2 years since The Back Beats had their first rehearsal. Although the pandemic has put the brakes on live performances, the band has continued to work hard and evolve. Last Saturday, The Back Beats took another step…

Meet our new vocalists!

Kristen Dempsey (second from left) was born on Christmas day into a family of talented musicians. Her parents met while performing in Tobacco Road on Broadway. Her mother encouraged her to sing Barbra Streisand songs as…

We had a blast playing to a packed house at Hibernia Irish Tavern. There was a tremendous amount of energy in the room. Folks were dancing, singing and clapping along, and having a great time.    

Thanks to everyone that…

Ready to have some fun? Then get yourself over to Hibernia Irish Tavern, this Friday, February 28! We will be playing from 8-11, bringing you some great rock 'n roll from the 50s and 60s. They have happy hour…

One of my oldest memories is sitting by the radio waiting to hear Twist and Shout. In my seven year old brain, it seemed like they never played it but they probably did every half hour or so. The…

I was very saddened to learn of the death of Rush drummer extraordinaire Neil Peart, an absolute virtuoso of percussion.  Whether or not you liked Rush as a band, Peart’s technical prowess and musicality on the drum set were things…

Drummer James Moses, a native of Shreveport, La., has been a musician most of his life, but his day job is as a professor of history at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR, where he has taught modern American history…

Bruce is a northern transplant.  He grew up in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin as a Packer fan and shareholder. He moved to Arkansas to thaw out. Once in Hot Springs Village he immediately looked for a band to join…

Hailing originally from Rock Island Illinois, (home of the Blues Brothers) Jim Cozad became obsessed with rock music at the tender age of seven years old when he discovered The Beatles. Always interested in guitar and live performance he became…

Andy was born and raised in the booming metropolis of Prattsville, Arkansas. Born into a musical home Andy started piano lessons at the age of 7. By his mid teens he had picked up the guitar and was playing lead…

As a young guy in his hometown of Somerville, New Jersey, Back Beats guitarist/keyboardist Jeffrey Neuhauser had six years of piano lessons and then decided to take up guitar. He bought his first one for $50 and took lessons before…

The Back Beats are working up some great tunes for their next set. Everyone works hard and has fun--lots of smiles, foot-tapping, and dancing!

For many years I dreamed of starting a band, but for various reasons that never happened. On April 13, 2019 that dream was finally realized. On that warm, humid spring Saturday, 5 guys, some of whom had never met in…