Episodes
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This week, an accidental masterpiece performance featuring three finger bluegrass banjo Jedi and Ozark original Adam Fudge & friends recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.
Once in a while, when things don’t go as planned, something happens that’s unexpectedly great. To quote famed artist Bob Ross, a “happy accident.” One such happy accident occurred on Saturday of the Ozark Folk Center’s 2023 bluegrass festival when, due to illness, banjo player Adam Fudge had to scramble to find musicians to help him with his set. In desperation, Adam and his brother, bassist Shane Fudge, recruited three local teenagers and staged an impromptu jam session. What followed, turned out to be one of the most exciting and energetic bluegrass performances ever heard at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.
Born and raised in the rich musical culture of the Ozarks, Adam Fudge has followed the legacy of his native mountain music with tenacity and a deep love for the traditional. Adam is a talented singer and guitarist playing traditional country & bluegrass but his true calling is the three finger style of banjo popularized by bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs. Adam has won numerous awards for his banjo skills both in Arkansas and at the traditional music proving grounds of the Walnut Valley Music Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Here, Adam performs with his brother, upright bassist Shane Fudge, siblings Mary and Gordon Parker on fiddle and mandolin respectively and Turner Atwell on guitar.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original bluegrass band Gospel Grass performing the traditional song “Will the Circle Be unbroken” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins discusses the role of squirrels in both Ozark culture and the Ozark diet. -
This week, Kentucky Music Hall of Fame member and six time International Bluegrass Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year, Dale Ann Bradley, recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.
“Dale Ann Bradley is a Kentucky native who is proud of her state. Her music reflects that love as she often sings of the state’s multiple charms including sparkling streams, rolling hills and mountains, lush hillsides filled with native plants and beautiful landscapes. She also includes songs about coal mines (her father was a miner) and another business, that of moonshine stills.
Thanks to a great-uncle who noted Dale Ann’s interest in music, an 8-track player appeared at her home, along with tapes of some of her favorite singers. When she was 14, she was given her first guitar. ‘It was a little plywood, small body guitar, but it had six strings, and I made a pick from a milk jug. I drove everybody crazy learning to play it.’
The singer learned to play her guitar and soon was singing the songs she heard on the radio and off the 8-track player. When she was a junior in high school, the new band director at school and his wife, known as Back Porch Grass, sang in the summer at Pine Mountain Stage Park in Pineville. Acknowledging her talent, they asked Dale Ann to join them, which gave her the opportunity to learn to entertain an audience. Attending one of her concerts is almost like having a friend in your living room, as she chats back and forth with the audience and doesn’t hesitate to share jokes on herself as well as the rest of her band.
In 2018, Dale Ann was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, joining many people she looked up to including Bill Monroe, Keith Whitley, Sonny Osborne, and Sam Bush. The singer is a six-time winner of IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year and took home the Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year in 2021 for ‘After While.’ She has been named Female Vocalist of the year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America three times.”
-https://www.daleannbradley.com/about
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Texas swing legend Laura Lee McBride performing the classic Western song “I Bet Ya My Heart I Love Ya” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins talks about the Ozark tradition of growing and refining molasses. -
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This week, voices. A collection of contemporary folk singers with unique and authentic voices recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park.Ballad singing is a primary form of expression in folk music. Folk ballads merge melody and story to recount events but also transport the listener to an emotional space. How well a ballad can bring the listener into that space very much depends on the singer. Less important to an effective folk singer are the rudimentary aspects of singing than is the authentic sound of their voice. The timbre and character of the singer’s voice in service to the ballad becomes the vehicle, transporting the listener into that emotional space. Ozark original and legendary folk balladeer Almeda Riddle for an example. As much as the stories Almeda relates, it’s the sound of her instantly recognizable and authentic voice that moves listeners deep into the hills and hollers of the Ozarks.Featured on this episode are an all-star lineup of contemporary folk balladeers including: world renowned vocalist & educator Moira Smiley with the Jayme Stone Project; Ozark original & Smithsonian Folklife Festival performer Carolina Mendoza; Ozark original and Creek Rocks vocalist & multi-instrumentalist Cindy Woolf; OFC regular & prolific singer-songwriter Carolyn Carter; Ozark original vocalist & multi-instrumentalist Pam Setser with The Ozark Granny Chicks; inimitable folk singer & multi-instrumentalist Grace Stormont; and award winning Eureka Springs, AR singer-songwriter Melissa Carper with The Buffalo Gals.In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1973 archival recording of Ozark original singer, Aunt Ollie Gilbert, performing the traditional Ozark ballad “The Ballad of Cole Younger” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins profiles the “Voice of the Ozarks,” the legendary Ozark original balladeer Almeda Riddle. Featured is a 1957 recording of Almeda performing the traditional Ozark ballad “The Oxford Girl,” courtesy of the Lyon College Wolf Folklore Collection.
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This week, Ozark original ACMA nominated and rising national bluegrass sensation The Casey Penn Band recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, an interview with Casey Penn. As a bonus, music and commentary from Ozark original prodigies and Mountain View’s very own Ozark Strangers.
Based in Central Arkansas, Casey Penn is an Arkansas Country Music Award-nominated songwriter and a performing bluegrass and Americana artist. She's represented by Mountain Fever Records, for which she has released three singles and a debut album (One Step Away / February 2023). Her newest single, "We Go Together Like a Guitar and a Fiddle," is available now and is climbing the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 charts. Her full album is climbing the Top 15 Album Chart for Bluegrass Unlimited as well. Casey is a former founding member of the Americana duo Lee Street Lyrical. Now dissolved, the band was signed to MFM’s Travianna Records and was a repeat ACMA nominee for Acoustic Act of the Year. “I’ll Never Be A Mountain Girl,” written by Penn and Irene Kelley, reached #8 on Bluegrass Today’s Weekly Grassicana chart. Casey is joined in this performance by: her husband Will Penn on acoustic bass; singer-songwriter Roger King on guitar, dobro, and vocals; Gravel Yard band member Titus Turner on mandolin; and Titus’ sister, multi-instrumentalist Tiffany Turner on banjo, guitar, and vocals.
Although the Ozark Strangers are young, they’re by no means novices. Born out of the Ozark Folk Center State Park’s Music Roots program, these young men have built a name for themselves in the local bluegrass scene. Ranging in age from 13 to 19, the Strangers have already been performing professionally for years. Under the tutelage of Music Roots educator and renowned bluegrass producer Crystal McCool, the Ozark Strangers have competed at the Silver Dollar City KSMU Youth in Bluegrass Contest and have released a live album. The band’s roster includes: Sugar Foot Gordon Parker on mandolin; Jordan Brannon on guitar; Truett Brannon on fiddle; Zach Ledbetter on acoustic upright bass; and Jake Ledbetter on banjo.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original bluegrass band Gospel Grass performing the traditional song “Everlasting Arms” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater pays homage to folk icon Jean Ritchie, featuring the song “Sings the Soldier.” -
This week, authentic Minneapolis old time bluegrass string band Steam Machine recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, an interview with the bands founders AJ Srubas and Rina Rossi. Joining AJ and Rina in this performance are David Robinson on banjo and Andrew Deia on upright bass.
“Steam Machine is a midwest based old time/bluegrass music project fronted by award winning in-demand Minneapolis fiddler AJ Srubas and Twin Cities old time music & dance instigator Rina Rossi on guitar. A spectacular shortlist of stellar musicians perform with the band on banjo and bass, and when possible, mandolin.
“Originally formed in Minneapolis in 2017, Steam Machine brought to the national stage a midwest influenced string band aesthetic that didn’t draw such hard lines between bluegrass and old time music. Smooth powerful fiddling, driving three finger banjo, front-of-the-beat rhythm backup combined into a “suspiciously entertaining” sound.
“Two time Appalachian String Band Music Festival (Clifftop) Traditional Band Contest ribbon winners and Folk Alliance Midwest Official Showcase Artists, since 2018 they have been touring the region and the country performing at diverse venues from roots music hubs to bluegrass and Americana festivals, and teaching workshops at traditional music epicenters across the country from the Augusta Heritage Center (WV) to Festival of American Fiddle Tunes (WA) with many others in between. At home in Minneapolis, they are heavily involved as organizers in many of the local community old time and bluegrass institutions.
“While not purists, Steam Machine does listen closely to the “old stuff” and strives to capture the essence of what makes these tunes and songs special, as they hear it. The project continues to be an evolving vehicle for playing music they love and honoring the brilliance left behind by old time heroes like Lyman Enloe, Cyril Stinnett and more. Equally at home playing for an oldtime/bluegrass loving crowd or listeners new to these sounds, Steam Machine aspires to keep midwest style old time bluegrass music alive and well wherever they go.” - https://www.steammachinemusic.com/what-we-do
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original Bob Olivera performing the classic cowboy song “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater sleuths out the origin of the folk song “The World is Old.” -
This week, traditional Irish musician, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, an interview with Seamus.
“It’s hard to think of an artist in traditional Irish music more influential than Seamus Egan. From his beginnings as a teen prodigy, to his groundbreaking solo work with Shanachie Records, to his founding of Irish-American powerhouse band Solas, to his current work as one of the leading composers and interpreters of the tradition, Egan has inspired multiple generations of musicians and helped define the sound of Irish music today. As a multi-instrumentalist, he’s put his mark on the sound of the Irish flute, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, tin whistle, and low whistle, among others. As a composer, he was behind the soundtrack for the award-winning film The Brothers McMullen, co-wrote Sarah McLachlan’s breakout hit, ‘Weep Not for the Memories,’ and has scored numerous documentaries and indie films since. As a bandleader, Solas has been the pre-eminent Irish-American band of their generation for the past 20 years, continuously renewing Irish music with fresh ideas, including a collaboration with Rhiannon Giddens on their 2015 album. As a performer, few others can make so many instruments or such wickedly complex ornaments seem so effortless.” - https://seamuseganproject.com/about
Seamus is joined in this performance by Owen Marshall. “Vogue magazine calls musician Owen Marshall ‘A guitar/mandolin/banjo player rivaled in character only by the occasional three-pronged carrot’ (Vogue 2009). With the music traditions of Quebec and Nova Scotia just over the border from his home in Vermont and the strong Irish musical scene of Boston to the south, Owen was immersed in the various textures and sounds of the Celtic music from an early age. In addition to touring with acts such as The Press Gang, Copley Street, Haas, Marshall, Walsh, and dance band Riptide, Owen is in demand at music camps throughout New England and the U.S., where he shares his approach to accompanying traditional music.” - www.owenmarshallmusic.com
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark originals Bob & Melissa Atchison performing the traditional tune “Miss Miranda” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater explores shape note singing and the haunting “Abolitionists Hymn.” -
This week, hammered dulcimer prodigy, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and Ozark original Ben Haguewood recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, an interview with this upstart hammer wielding dulcimer master.
Ben Haguewood is an Ozark original hailing from the tiny hamlet of Potosi, Missouri near the heart of the Mark Twain National Forest. Although a relative newcomer to the competitive world of hammered dulcimer playing, Ben has left his mark on the art form both as a player and a composer. Since becoming a regular Ozark Folk Center performer as a teen, he’s voraciously absorbed all the traditional folk music he could and collected many friends along the way. Ben has been in more than a few bands over the years but his partnership with champion old-time fiddler Kailee Spickes stands out as most enduring. The duo make up two fifths of the band “Taller Than You” and all of the band “Blackberry Summer.” Possessing a seemingly inexhaustible desire to create, both separately and together, Ben and Kailee have explored multiple instruments, musical styles, and even songwriting. From rousing traditional jigs to delicate original ballads, you’ll enjoy this journey through the music of Ben Haguewood.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 2022 archival recording of Ozark original and dulcimer instructor to Ben Haguewood, Janice Huff, performing her original tune “Back of the Moon” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater examines nonsensical lyrics in traditional songs. -
This week, a retrospective of the very first season of Ozark Highlands Radio featuring a variety of outstanding performances recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Host Dave Smith and OHR producer Jeff Glover provide context and commentary for this captivating collection.Each year at the Ozark Folk Center State Park, we record many hours of live music. We cherish all of it, but some of these performances stand out as being uniquely interesting or moving. On this episode, OHR producer Jeff Glover guides us through some of the most memorable moments of season one. Featured on this show are: thumb picking guitar Jedi and country music legacy Thom Bresh; OHR guest host, writer, and renowned folk musician Aubrey Atwater; singer-songwriter Wil Maring with award winning guitarist Robert Bowlin; OHR host and our very own Dave Smith; Ozark originals The Lazy Goat String Band; Missouri folk sensations and Ozark originals Cindy Woolf & Mark Bilyeu; Outlaw Country star Malcolm Holcomb with multi-instrumentalist Jared Tyler; Ozark originals The Clark Family; world champion mountain dulcimer master Jeff Hames; writer, auto harpist and singer Bryan Bowers; and Ozark original husband and wife duo Lukas & Eden Pool.In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR host Dave Smith offers a 1975 archival recording of Ozark original musician, educator, country music legacy, and the original keeper of “the vault,” Mark Jones, performing the traditional tune “Arkansas Traveler” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins presents a profile of renowned Ozark original folk singer Almeda Riddle, the voice of the Ozarks.
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This week, another special road trip episode. OHR visits Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series featuring Ozark original true folk troubadours Chucky Waggs & The Company of Raggs, recorded live at Butterfield Stage in Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers.
Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series began in 2021. Held on the city’s Butterfield Stage next to Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers, it features live concerts every weekend throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. All of the Railyard Live events are either free to the public or at very low cost of admission. The concert series features a wide array of musical styles and interests designed to appeal to the diverse population of Rogers and invite them to experience the newly revitalized Railyard Entertainment District. The Ozark Folk Center State Park and the City of Rogers, Arkansas partnered to bring Ozark Highlands Radio to capture a little slice of this modern Ozark culture.
Chucky Waggs is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and recording artist based out of the hills of Eureka Springs, AR. Chucky Waggs plays a mix of acoustic and electric guitar, 5 string and tenor banjo, dobro, resonator guitar, harmonica, musical saw and kazoo, while using his feet to stomp out the back beat on a thrown together drum kit during live performances. Drawing influences from early American roots music, as well as early punk and rock and roll, he's often joined on stage by numerous accompanying musicians during live performances to add to the energy and dynamic of his original material. This group is commonly referred to as the "Company of Raggs.” The result ranges from intimate, often humorous, folk ballads, to all out rowdy stomp alongs. - https://chuckywaggs.com/bio
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original Dave Para performing the traditional song “Frankie and Albert” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater presents a collection of coal mining disaster songs. -
This week, another special road trip episode. OHR visits Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series featuring post-folk newgrass phenomenon Arkansauce, recorded live at Butterfield Stage in Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers. Also, an interview with Rogers Arts & Culture Coordinator Kinya Christian.
Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series began in 2021. Held on the city’s Butterfield Stage next to Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers, it features live concerts every weekend throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. All of the Railyard Live events are either free to the public or at very low cost of admission. The concert series features a wide array of musical styles and interests designed to appeal to the diverse population of Rogers and invite them to experience the newly revitalized Railyard Entertainment District. The Ozark Folk Center State Park and the City of Rogers, Arkansas partnered to bring Ozark Highlands Radio to capture a little slice of this modern Ozark culture.
“Arkansauce is Tom Andersen on bass, Zac Archuleta on guitar, Ethan Bush on mandolin, and Adams Collins on banjo. Their music features improvisational string leads matched with complex melodies, intriguing rhythms, and deep thumping bass grooves. Each member sings lead and harmony parts as well as contributes to the lyrics, which offer authentic, intelligent songwriting with hard-hitting hooks. “We are a band that spends most of our time in the back of a van hurtling toward long nights, good times, and a destiny unknown,” says Ethan. “Our inspiration is gathered by events unfolding in our own adventures in real time. These days, the desire to create, inspire, and redefine within our scene seems to be the main driving force behind our music.” The melodies of the Ozark Mountains' rolling hills and raging rivers can be heard in this progressive string quartet’s distinct blend of newgrass.”
https://www.arkansaucemusic.com/info
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark originals The Bill Sky Family Trio performing the traditional song “Twilight is Stealing” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater traces the peregrination of the tune “John Stenson’s No. 2.” -
This week, another special road trip episode. OHR visits Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series featuring Eureka Springs folk orchestra, Eureka Strings, recorded live at Butterfield Stage in Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers. Also, an interview with Eureka Strings’ bassist, Dave Gesualdo.
Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series began in 2021. Held on the city’s Butterfield Stage next to Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers, it features live concerts every weekend throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. All of the Railyard Live events are either free to the public or at very low cost of admission. The concert series features a wide array of musical styles and interests designed to appeal to the diverse population of Rogers and invite them to experience the newly revitalized Railyard Entertainment District. The Ozark Folk Center State Park and the City of Rogers, Arkansas partnered to bring Ozark Highlands Radio to capture a little slice of this modern Ozark culture.
Eureka Strings is a folk orchestra. A seven piece menagerie of instrumentation and musical styles based in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The band features Dave Gesualdo on bass, Warren Dietzel on drums, Damian Sisca on keys, Alex Hawf on mandolin & vocals, Dylan Hawf on fiddle, Bear Morrison on guitar & vocals, and Sophia Clarke on guitar & vocals. Their sound is difficult to define, first appearing as a mild mannered country/southern rock band. But when they quickly begin to color outside of those lines, the listener finds Eureka Strings is a full blown genre bending psychedelic musical experience. Original southern twang and brutal folk candor meld with angular jazz chords, space grass virtuosity, southern rock energy, and slap bass to create an infectious country-fried Funkadelic-esque party on the stage.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark originals The Sylamore Creek Quartet performing an unknown tune from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater discusses the themes of conundrums and impossible tasks in traditional music. -
This week, a special road trip episode. OHR visits Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series featuring singer-songwriters Will Gunselman & Ashtyn Barbaree recorded live at Butterfield Stage in Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers. Also, an interview with Ozark original Will Gunselman.
Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series began in 2021. Held on the city’s Butterfield Stage next to Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers, it features live concerts every weekend throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. All of the Railyard Live events are either free to the public or at very low cost of admission. The concert series features a wide array of musical styles and interests designed to appeal to the diverse population of Rogers and invite them to experience the newly revitalized Railyard Entertainment District. The Ozark Folk Center State Park and the City of Rogers, Arkansas partnered to bring Ozark Highlands Radio to capture a little slice of this modern Ozark culture.
Will Gunselman is a singer-songwriter from Bella Vista, Arkansas. Will’s vivid writer’s voice along with his unique style invents an honest and authentic Ozark story. Honing his art through decades of live performance, Will has crafted a simple sound that is modern and relatable but reveals a rich patina of life lived. Although plaintive, his music, rooted in folk, country and blues, dwells on the positive nature of experience and seeking joy in the everyday. Like traversing the river Will ardently describes in his song Buffalo River Run, sitting with a set of his music is a journey bent with scenic vistas of the soul.
Ashtyn Barbaree is an internationally touring gritty Americana singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Sweet, soulful, charming and relatable, her lyrics have found their way into the hearts of folks from all walks of life. She has a smokey, yet silky voice accompanied with harmonies, guitar, tenor 8-string ukulele, upright bass, pedal steel, drums and piano.
https://www.ashtynbarbaree.com/about
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of bluegrasser Lenny Wallace performing the tune “Take Your Shoes Off Moses,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater explores the theme of riddles and trick questions in traditional folk music. -
This week, a special road trip episode. OHR visits Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series featuring Eureka Springs hard-driving folk quartet, Front Porch, recorded live at Butterfield Stage in Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers. Also, commentary from Rogers Arts & Culture Coordinator Kinya Christian on the exciting things happening in the Rogers Entertainment District.
Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series began in 2021. Held on the city’s Butterfield Stage next to Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers, it features live concerts every weekend throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. All of the Railyard Live events are either free to the public or at very low cost of admission. The concert series features a wide array of musical styles and interests designed to appeal to the diverse population of Rogers and invite them to experience the newly revitalized Railyard Entertainment District. The Ozark Folk Center State Park and the City of Rogers, Arkansas partnered to bring Ozark Highlands Radio to capture a little slice of this modern Ozark culture.
Front Porch is a hard driving four piece folk ensemble. Self described as “contemporary bluegrass, old time and mayhem from Northwest Arkansas,” the band is based in Eureka Springs. Front Porch is Petey Wesley on banjo & fiddle, John Henry Holthus on guitar, Alex Hawf on mandolin, and Cameron Keeling rounding out the low end with upright bass. In true bluegrass fashion, all the guys in the band sing, but that’s where the traditional ends. Front Porch performs with all the usual ingredients of bluegrass and folk but bakes them up into a post-punk old-time acid jazz barn-burning bluegrass fusion that will have you jumping.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original Uncle Floyd Holland performing the tune “Nellie Gray,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater explores variations of the traditional folk song “Polly Put the Kettle On.” -
This week, a special road trip episode. OHR visits Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series featuring their Ozark Folk Jamboree. A compilation of seven bands recorded live over two days at the City of Rogers’ Butterfield Stage. Also, commentary from Rogers Arts & Culture Coordinator Kinya Christian.
Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Live Concert Series began in 2021. Held on the city’s Butterfield Stage next to Railyard Park in historic downtown Rogers, it features live concerts every weekend throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. All of the Railyard Live events are either free to the public or at a very low cost of admission. The concert series features a wide array of musical styles and interests designed to appeal to the diverse population of Rogers and invite them to experience the newly revitalized Railyard Entertainment District. The Ozark Folk Center State Park and the City of Rogers, Arkansas partnered to bring Ozark Highlands Radio to capture a little slice of this modern Ozark culture.
OHR producer Jeff Glover sits down with Arts & Culture Coordinator Kinya Christian to discuss what’s going on in Rogers, Arkansas’ Railyard Entertainment District and why. Musicians featured on the show are all local to Northwest Arkansas. They include Chucky Waggs, Ashtyn Barbaree, Rachel Ammons, Will Gunselman, Front Porch, Eureka Strings, and Arkansauce.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a recording of Ozark original one woman band Rachel Ammons giving a very unconventional performance of the song “Shady Grove,” at the Rogers, Arkansas Railyard Live Ozark Folk Jamboree. -
This week, a titanic trio of certified country blues guitar masters recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, commentary from these blues maestros.
Country blues, also known as folk blues, rural blues, backwoods blues or down home blues, is one of the earliest forms of blues music. It’s performed primarily as a solo vocal with acoustic finger style guitar accompaniment. Country blues was developed in the rural Southern United States in the early 20th century and stands in contrast primarily to the urban blues style, especially in the pre-world war two era. Artists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, and Blind Willie McTell were among the first to record blues songs in the 1920s. Country blues ran parallel to urban blues, which was popular in cities.
Featured on this episode of Ozark Highlands Radio are renowned old-time singer and multi-instrumentalist Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton, award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops veteran Hubby Jenkins, and celebrated bluesicologist & Reverend Gary Davis protege’ Roy Bookbinder.
Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton is an American musician from Los Angeles. A vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Paxton's style draws from blues and jazz music before World War II and was influenced by Fats Waller and "Blind" Lemon Jefferson. According to Will Friedwald in the Wall Street Journal, Paxton is "virtually the only music-maker of his generation—playing guitar, banjo, piano and violin, among other implements—to fully assimilate the blues idiom of the 1920s and '30s, the blues of Bessie Smith and Lonnie Johnson.”
Hubby Jenkins is a talented multi-instrumentalist, who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American music. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he delved into his Southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through country blues, ragtime, fiddle and banjo, and traditional jazz. After years of busking around the country and making a name for himself, Hubby became acquainted with the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Since 2010 he has been an integral part of the Grammy award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops and continues to make solo performances.
Guitarist Roy Book Binder has traveled the world as a solo performer for nearly 50 years. Roy’s career and playing style is heavily influenced by the late Reverend Gary Davis, who specialized in a unique style of guitar finger picking. Roy’s performances are as much a story of his life and experiences as they are a musical endeavor.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original Kenneth Rorie performing the tune “The Devil and the Farmers Wife,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins tells the story of Enoch Wolf, an adventitiously fortunate Arkansas Confederate Civil War officer whom, at the very end of the war, was spared an undeserved execution at the hands of his Union captors. -
This week, it’s Dulcimer Jamboree time once again! Each year, dulcimer players from all over come to the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas for a weekend of learning, listening, and loving all things dulcimer. Each evening of the event features concerts by world renowned dulcimer teachers and performers. We’ll enjoy highlights recorded from these live performances featuring both mountain dulcimers and the more ancient hammered dulcimers.Artists performing this year include: educator, songwriter and award winning mountain dulcimer maven Kara Barnard; hammered dulcimer prodigy Ben Haguewood accompanied by oldtime fiddle champion Kailee Spickes; ubiquitous hammered dulcimer performer and educator Ken Kolodner; hammered dulcimer master and educator Mary Lynn Michal; inimitable mountain dulcimer and auto-harp Jedi Karen Mueller; hammered dulcimer phenom Colin Beasley; multi-instrumentalist, folk singer, educator and Ozark original Pam Setser; In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, songwriter and Music Roots educator Kathy Jensen offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark originals Tommy & Jean Simmons performing the tune “Greensleeves,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins explores scary Ozark Monster stories, featuring such horrifying beasts as the “Gowrow,” the “Highbehind” and the “Whangdoodle.”
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This week, songs and stories from a trio of Grammy award winning world class songwriters recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, commentary from these three musical musketeers. Featured on this show are world renowned songwriter Roger Cook, award winning Memphis singer-songwriter Keith Sykes, and singer-songwriter and session musician Shawn Camp.
Born in Bristol, England, Roger Cook is recognized as one of the world’s greatest modern songwriters. During his lengthy international songwriting career, Roger has had more than 80 top 30 hits, including classics such as Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart – Gene Pitney, Something Tells Me – Cilla Black, Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress – The Hollies, and You’ve Got Your Troubles – The Fortunes. However, Roger is perhaps best known for his song I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing, which was recorded by the New Seekers and became the theme song for a long-running series of Coca-Cola commercials. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Cook_(songwriter)
Once upon a time in the summer of 1967, Keith Sykes hitchhiked to the Newport Folk Festival and saw Arlo Guthrie perform “Alice’s Restaurant.” In the fall of that year he got a copy of the album, learned the whole song and sang it at a Holiday Inn in Charleston, South Carolina. They hired him on the spot for a regular gig playing music in the hotel. In the more than 40 years that followed, he would become a troubadour and storyteller, a massively successful songwriter with more than 100 songs recorded by artists as diverse as Rosanne Cash and George Thorogood. He would tour every corner of America and play in just about every conceivable kind of venue, appear on Saturday Night Live and Austin City Limits, and host songwriter nights on Memphis’ legendary Beale Street with many of music’s most talented songwriters. He would join Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, tour the country and record the Volcano album – the title track for which he co-wrote with Jimmy. - http://www.keithsykes.com/
Some careers can be described with a couple of words but Shawn Camp's isn't one of them. A bold and distinctive singer and a songwriter who's provided material for artists ranging from Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs to Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn and Brooks & Dunn with hits such as “Two Pina Coladas” (Garth Brooks,) “Nobody But Me” (Blake Shelton,) “Would You Go With Me” (Josh Turner,) “River Of Love” (George Strait,) and Billy Currington’s hit single “Love Done Gone.) Along with being a hit writer, he is a gifted multi-instrumentalist who's played as a touring/recording musician with everyone from Jerry Reed, Trisha Yearwood, Shelby Lynn and Alan Jackson to the Osborne Brothers, Guy Clark and John Prine. Camp also co-produced a compilation tribute album for his friend and hero Guy Clark which was #1 on the Americana Charts for several weeks in the spring of 2012 and voted Americana Album Of The Year 2012. - https://shawncamp.com/bio
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original Buddy Lancaster performing the tune “Fire on the Mountain,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater explores regional variations of the traditional folk song “Going to the West.” -
This week, a collection of consummate cow poke crooners recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, commentary from these bovine balladeers. Included on this show are Grammy nominated cowboy performer Don Edwards, inimitable cowboy poet & humorist Glenn Ohrlin, and Arkansas original cowgirl, singer, songwriter, actress and Country Music Hall of Fame superstar Patsy Montana.
One of America’s best loved and most enduring cowboy singers, Don Edwards is indeed an American treasure. His love and passion for traditional cowboy songs is second to none and has earned him a fan base worldwide. He knows the songs, the stories, and even some of the old trails that made the old West famous. Accompanied by his trusty guitar, Don takes us on a trip back in time when cowboy singers and songs echoed through the trails, taverns, and cattle drive camps of yesterday.
Born in Minneapolis, MN in 1926, Glenn Ohrlin was a veteran of the cattle industry and worked the rodeo circuit, both while being an acquisitive singer, poet, & story teller. Glenn put his extensive knowledge and years of experience collecting Western folk songs into a book, “The Hell Bound Train,” as well as performing his authentic style of cowboy poetry & prose. Ohrlin performed at cowboy poetry gatherings across America, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. In the 1970’s, Glenn moved to Mountain View, Arkansas, where he continued his music career, lending regular performances at the Ozark Folk Center. We at the Ozark Folk Center State Park reap the benefit of having years of Glenn’s live performance recordings in our archives.
Patsy Montana was an American country music singer, songwriter and actress. Montana was the first female country performer to have a million-selling single with her signature song "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart,” and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was a mainstay on the National Barn Dance on Chicago radio station WLS for many years. Born “Ruby Blevins” in Beaudry, Arkansas, the 11th child and first daughter of a farmer, Patsy attended schools in President Bill Clinton's hometown of Hope, Arkansas. She was influenced early on by the music of Jimmie Rodgers, and paved the way for women in the male dominated world of country music.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original Dean Hinesley performing the tune “Letter Edged in Black,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins discusses the origin of some odd words and pronunciations in the native dialect of Ozarkian. -
This week, a collection of stringbands and stringband music both traditional and modern recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, commentary by musicians from these solely stringed outfits.
A stringband is an old-time music ensemble made up solely of string instruments. Stringbands were extremely popular in 1920s and 30s America and were the forerunners of modern country and bluegrass bands. Early old-time stringbands were comprised mainly of a fiddle, a banjo and acoustic guitar. They may have also been joined by other instruments including spoons, washboard, jug, harmonica, mountain or hammered dulcimer, autoharp and bones. Eventually, other stringed instruments began to be added to the fiddle-banjo duo that was essential to dance music of the early United States. These other instruments included mandolin and double bass or washtub bass. Such an assemblage of instrumentation became known simply as a “stringband.”
Featured on this stringband show are Ozark originals The Lazy Goat Stringband, Possum Juice, The Leatherwoods, The Upjumpers, and Harmony. Also featured are Shenandoah Valley old-time supergroup, The Steel Wheels and Minnesota stringband sensation, The Roe Family Singers.
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark originals Lloyd & Floyd Armstrong performing the song “Dust on the Bible,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins explores how to speak Ozarkian and the origins of Ozark vernacular. -
This week, Ozark original old-time fiddler, banjo maker and legendary fiddle tune collector Banjo Billy Mathews recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Dave Smith is joined in hosting this week by expert musicologist and Banjo Billy’s most prolific protege, Emily Lawless.
Billy Mathews is known far and wide across this land for his musical skill and old time fiddling ability. He has traveled extensively throughout the Midwest for over 40 years. Thoughtful musical kinships, maintained throughout these many years, have earned him a considerable amount of notoriety and recognition in Old Time music circles. True to his name, Billy continues to play and record a vast amount of Old Time Clawhammer Banjo tunes. Billy has released a recording of Original Banjo Tunes, The Ghost of Banjo Billy. Billy still resides in the Ozark Mountains, continuing work on music projects. Billy keeps busy by traveling throughout the country for workshops, concerts and other special events, playing his huge repertoire of old time fiddle and banjo tunes. Billy has literally become the embodiment of his Scot-Irish ancestors by continuing their traditional approach to life. Billy continues to collect and play a huge repertoire of old-time fiddle tunes. He has already made a sizeable and significant contribution to our American musical culture and there is no end in sight! Billy has shared the stage with such noteworthy musicians as Joe Burke, John Koener, John Hartford, The Fiddle Puppets, Mike Seeger, De Dannan, Bill Monroe and more! - http://www.banjobilly.net/about-us/
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1974 archival recording of Ozark original Larry Poff performing the tune “900 Miles,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins examines the gradual disappearance of traditional Ozarkian language in the modern Ozark region through the lens of his friendship and conversations with Ozark scholar Dr. Audrey Thompson. - Show more
