Walton Arts Center announced today the return of AMP Up the Arts, a public benefit concert on Wednesday, Oct. 7 presented by General Mills. Leon Thomas will take the stage at the Walmart AMP for an unforgettable evening with proceeds from the event supporting Walton Arts Center’s arts education programming in the region.
Grammy®-winning Brooklyn native Leon Thomas seamlessly bridges the worlds of music, acting and production. Signed to Ty Dolla $ign’s EZMNY Records in 2022, he made a striking debut with Electric Dusk (2023), featuring collaborations with Victoria Monét, Benny the Butcher and Ty Dolla $ign, while his genre-shaping work on SZA’s “Snooze” earned him a Grammy in 2024. His sophomore album MUTT was named Billboard’s No. 1 R&B Album of 2024 and earned widespread critical acclaim, helping secure Thomas six Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best R&B Album. At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Thomas delivered a standout performance and took home two awards: Best R&B Album for MUTT and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Vibes Don’t Lie.” Expanding the world of MUTT, he released MUTT Deluxe: HEEL and later unveiled PHOLKS, a genre-blurring EP rooted in funk, classic R&B and rock influences. His growing cultural footprint includes a celebrated NPR Tiny Desk performance, a national television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and a landmark performance at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Named Billboard’s Chartbreaker and MTV PUSH Artist of the Month in March 2025, Thomas delivered a standout performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! before winning Best New Artist at the 2025 BET Awards. Following the success of MUTT, he announced his MUTTS DON’T HEEL World Tour, which sold out across the U.S., before joining Bruno Mars on The Romantic Tour. Beyond music, he has made notable appearances on Nickelodeon’s Victorious and HBO’s Insecure.
Walton Arts Center’s arts education programming allows more than 32,000 students and educators in Northwest Arkansas to experience free, live theater performances and education opportunities annually.
As a nonprofit organization, Walton Arts Center relies on generous support from the community, along with revenue generated by shows and events like this, to provide enriching arts education and accessible, affordable programming for the Northwest Arkansas region.
Sponsor opportunities and group ticket packages are available. Support arts education and reserve your seat when you donate to Walton Arts Center. Donations of $70 and $90 get you a seat for the intimate performance. To celebrate 34 years of Walton Arts Center, an additional donation of $34 gets you reserved parking in the Blue and White lots. Reservations open on Thursday, May 21 at 10 am at www.walmartamp.com or www.waltonartscenter.org, by calling 479.443.5600.
AMP Up the Arts is not part of the Synchrony Concert Series. Space is limited for this performance. Gates will open at 7 pm, and the music will start at 8:30 pm.
Support for Walton Arts Center is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Walton Arts Center is Arkansas’ largest and busiest performing arts presenter. Each year more than 215,000 people from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and beyond attend more than 300 public events at Walton Arts Center, including performances, rehearsals, community gatherings, receptions, weddings and more. Approximately 32,000 students and teachers participate annually in arts learning programs at Walton Arts Center, and almost 250 volunteers donate 28,000 hours of time each year to its operations. Walton Arts Center presents entertainers and artists from around the world including Broadway musicals, renowned dance companies, international artists, up-and-coming jazz musicians and more. As a non-profit organization, Walton Arts Center enjoys the generous support of public sector funding, corporate sponsorship and private donors, allowing audience members to enjoy world-class performances at a great price. To learn more about Walton Arts Center, visit www.waltonartscenter.org.
