Ozark Highlands Radio

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Arkansas. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, the talented and versatile Ruby Pines performs with a variety of great musicians, including her father Larry Snyder, live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Ruby Pines, Ozark Highlands Radio host Dave Smith and producer Jeff Glover discuss the fine points of what makes “folk music,” and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark original Judy Husky, singing the classic song “Let’s All Go Down to the River.” Rachel Kempf (aka Ruby Pines) had an unassuming musical introduction at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. At one time she worked as a front desk assistant. Rachel made menti

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Arkansas. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, a select few of the next generation of Ozark folk musicians perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with the teachers and administrators of an innovative new school music program called “Music Roots.” Historian & folklorist Charley Sandage presents an exploration of the Ozark Folk Center as an institution of learning, and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark original Dave Leatherman performing the song “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Started by local musician Joe Jewell, the “Next Generation” concert is a long standing tradition at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. The sho

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Arkansas. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, accomplished modern folk performers and songwriters Wil Maring & Robert Bowlin perform live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Wil & Robert, Dave Smith and producer Jeff Glover ask the question “What is folk music,” and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Clark Fowler leading the “Sacred Harp Singers.” Wil Maring got her start as a songwriter, picking out songs, while working at her family’s roadside fruit stand outside Carbondale, IL. And while she’s since traveled the world, Wil continues to call rural Illinois her home. Her voice and songwriting reflect the natural, uncomplicat

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Arkansas. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, award winning Missouri Ozark traditionalist Van Colbert performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. A performance from Old Time musicians Dave Para & Cathy Barton. Also, interviews with Van Colbert, Dave Para & Cathy Barton. Ozark Highlands Radio host Dave Smith and producer Jeff Glover discuss the fine points of what makes “folk music,” and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of famed songwriter and Ozark original Jimmy Driftwood. Like an old pair of jeans, Van Colbert and his family band are familiar and very comfortable in almost any setting. Van leads the group on banjo and vocals, with a la

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia progressive folk roots Band “The Steel Wheels” perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with the band, and Mark Jones “From the Vault” segment. The Steel Wheels are a four piece acoustic band that combines the instrumentation and song structure of traditional Old Time music with a modern sensibility and drive. Performing together since 2010, The Steel Wheels hail from the rich musical grounds of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. The band sponsors and organizes an annual music festival, held in the lush Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, called the “Red Wing R

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, Minnesota Old Time quartet “The Roe Family Singers” perform live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with the Roe Family Singers. The “Roe Family Singers” are led by the husband and wife duo of Quillan and Kim Roe. With traditional old time instrumentation (guitar, auto harp, and claw hammer style banjo,) the group performs a wide variety of traditional old time tunes. What separates them from similar bands are the exceptional vocal harmonies and high energy of their song interpretations. Prolific folk musicians Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly profile influential folk music icons Jean Ritchie a

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, Grammy Award winning cowboy quartet “Riders in the Sky” perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark originals Bud & Karen Bell. For over 30 years, “Riders in the Sky” have kept the “cowboy way” of music alive, performing traditional songs from Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and other classic Western music artists. They are two-time Grammy Award winners, boasting exceptional musicianship across the board.  For this program, the band was performing show number 6,235. There are a lot of ways to crunch those numbers, but that would essentially amount to over 17 y

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, East Tennessee all-girl stringboard “The Poor Valley Girls” perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, Interviews with The Poor Valley Girls, Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly present “Women Warrior Ballads,” and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark original Jay Round. The “Poor Valley Girls” hail from the hallowed musical grounds of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. “Poor Valley” refers to the geographical region that both Heather Pace and Madison Brown call home in Virginia. This region of the United States also includes Bristol, TN, which is known for the “sonic-boom” of coun

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, Arkansas True Folk singer/songwriter Carolyn Carter and Bluegrass prodigies “The Cobb Brothers” perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, Interviews with Carolyn and the Cobbs. Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly present seafaring songs of the Ozarks & Appalachia, and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark original Lynn Young. Carolyn Carter is a Stone Country, Arkansas native and a regular performer at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.  Carolyn is a gifted songwriter and singer, whose talents are now becoming apparent to a larger audience, outside of Arkansas. Blessed with a songbird’s voic

This week, world renowned finger style and harp guitar phenom Muriel Anderson recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this prodigious picker. Muriel Anderson is a former National Thumbpicking guitar champion, a fine 6 string picker, and practitioner of the many stringed harp guitar. Creating a sound like no other, the harp guitar incorporates a multitude of strings that cover a wide sonic range. The result can be both ethereal and otherworldly, or just downright mind blowing. Muriel’s repertoire includes traditional folk music, world music, and original compositions. Prolific folk musicians Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly profile influential folk music icons Jean Ritchie and the Ritchie Family, as well as explore the traditional Appalachian music and dance that the Ritchie Family helped to perpetuate into the modern American folk lexicon. This episode offers a profile of Ozark original balladeer Almeda Riddle, and features an archival recording of Almeda singing the tradi

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, comedian, banjo prodigy, Grand Old Opry star and HeeHaw alum Mike Snider performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly discuss the cultural cross-pollination of traditional folk music, and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of original Ozark musician Floyd Holland. Mike Snider plays banjo, and has a great sense of humor. So much so, we’ve dedicated an entire program to his recent performance at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Mike is a long tenured member of the Nashville music scene, having performed on “Hee Haw” and the Grand Ole Opry among other notable venues. He

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, North Carolina insurgent country folk singer/songwriter Malcolm Holcombe performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly profile legendary banjo ingenue Lily Mae Ledford, and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of original Ozark dulcimer master craftsman Lynn McSpadden. Malcolm Holcombe may not be a household name to music fans, and that probably suits him just fine.  Among his peers however, he’s respected and revered. Holcombe has shared the stage with Merle Haggard, Richard Thompson, John Hammond, Leon Russell, Wilco and Shelby Lynne. Though his instrumentation is nothi

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, Nationally recognized clawhammer banjo prodigy and Stone County native Lukas Pool with his band “The Moonlight Ramblers” perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Lukas, Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly relate Jean Ritchie’s childhood recollections of a real old fashioned mountain Christmas, and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of original Ozarker Horance Smith. Lukas Pool has done quite well, playing claw hammer banjo. After honing his craft in the fertile musical grounds of Stone County, AR, Lukas went on to win a few national banjo championships, and study at the Berklee Co

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, Nashville based neo-folk stringband “Locust Honey” performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with “Locust Honey,” Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly present a history of the “Play Party,” and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of original Ozark fiddler Red Gillihan. “Locust Honey” features the guitar, fiddle, and harmony singing of Meredith Watson and Chloe Edmonstone. After forming a musical partnership in Asheville, NC, the two have been touring the US and abroad since 2012. Their 2014 release, “Never Let Me Cross Your Mind” was in the top ten on the Folk DJ Charts for much of that

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, the Original Ozark Stringband “The Leatherwoods” perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with “The Leatherwoods,” a performance from “The Apple Brothers,” Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly present memoirs of Jean Ritchie, and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark musician Freeman Thomas. “The Leatherwoods” have been a mainstay in the Arkansas music scene for years. Their songs and musical traditions have been passed down through many generations of Ozark families. Lead by Pam Setser on vocals, guitar and mountain dulcimer, “The Leatherwoods” features some of the area’s fines

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, radio & television legend, and Country Music Hall of Fame member Grandpa Jones performs with his wife, Grand Old Opry star Ramona, live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews and a live performance from the Jones Family. Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly present “The Mother of Folk Music” Jean Ritchie, and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of original Ozark musician Jim Bullard. Grandpa Jones was a performer during the golden age of radio, and later found success as a cast member on the syndicated television program, “Hee Haw.”  After years of living near Nashville, TN, Grandpa moved to Mounta

This week, the unconventional folk-blues-rock-bluegrass trio “The Howlin’ Brothers” perform live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with “The Howlin’ Brothers.” “The Howlin’ Brothers” are Ian Craft, Ben Plasse, and Jared Green. The trio has a wide ranging appeal as evidenced by their popular performance at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Combining banjo, fiddle, guitar and upright bass, they perform traditional and original music with a sound familiar to fans of old time, roots, and Americana styles. Of note is fiddler and banjo player Ian Craft, as he could be creating a new style of hybrid banjo playing. Renowned folk musicians Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly profile influential folk music icons Jean Ritchie and the Ritchie Family, as well as explore the traditional Appalachian music and dance that the Ritchie Family helped to perpetuate into the modern American folk lexicon. This episode focuses on memories of Bayless Ritchie, and features Aubrey & Elwood’s performance of the tradi

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, multi-instrumentalist and mountain dulcimer champion Duane Porterfield performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Duane, Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly profile the influential folk musician Jean Ritchie, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of his mother, Grand Ole Opry star Ramona Jones. Duane Porterfield is a retired law enforcement officer from Kansas…and no, he won’t be checking your tags for current registration. Like many others, Duane moved to Mountain View to enjoy the laid back lifestyle and welcoming music community. In 2014 Duane was attending the annual Walnu

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, bona fide Illinois French trouveur & fiddler Dennis Stroughmatt performs live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Dennis, folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical sojourn into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of a trio of Ozark originals, Walter Gosser, Mike Hill, and Dean Hinesley. Dennis Stroughmatt is a renaissance man. His passion for the Creole fiddle and French music of the Southern Illinois/Missouri region has lead him on a journey to the backwoods of Louisiana and the University of Quebec. He has nearly single handedly revitalized the origi

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Ark. In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region. This week, the accomplished traditional folk trio “Harmony” perform live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with the trio “Harmony,” folklorist and author Charley Sandage offers an historical sojourn into Ozark culture, and Mark Jones presents an archival recording of the Ozark folk singer Kay Thomas. Harmony has been a mainstay on the Ozark Folk Center Stage for many years. Their vocals, as one might suspect, center around stellar three part harmony. The group features the talents of Ozark Highlands Radio host Dave Smith on vocals, guitar, and fiddle among other instruments. Husband & wife duo Robert