Ozark Highlands Radio

This week, Fayetteville, Arkansas Ozark original old time acoustic quartet “Mighty Fine Times” recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with the band’s fearless leader Denise Lanuti. "Mighty Fine Times" members Dennis Collins and Denise Lanuti have many years of musical experience and have been performing together since 1987. Bayard Blain and Jennifer Parker joined the band and together the group features songs from many genres including old time, jazz, cowboy, bluegrass, blues and folk music. In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1978 archival recording of his own family, The Jones Family, performing the Buck White tune “Buck’s Waltz,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. Writer, musician, and traditional dancer Aubrey Atwater presents a portrait of Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers. In this segment, we look in particular at the music and dance of Bessie Jones

This week, Fayetteville, Arkansas Ozark original old time acoustic quartet “Mighty Fine Times” recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with the band’s fearless leader Denise Lanuti. "Mighty Fine Times" members Dennis Collins and Denise Lanuti have many years of musical experience and have been performing together since 1987. Bayard Blain and Jennifer Parker joined the band and together the group features songs from many genres including old time, jazz, cowboy, bluegrass, blues and folk music. In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1978 archival recording of his own family, The Jones Family, performing the Buck White tune “Buck’s Waltz,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. Writer, musician, and traditional dancer Aubrey Atwater presents a portrait of Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers. In this segment, we look in particular at the music and dance of Bessie Jones

This week, Grammy nominated Austin, Texas based progressive bluegrass quintet “Wood & Wire.” Also, interviews with these boundary bending bluegrass mavericks. “To understand the musical entity known as Wood & Wire, it’s best to toss aside expectations regarding the sounds that might be created by four pickers holding assemblages of wood and wire — specifically acoustic guitar, bass, banjo and mandolin. Banjo player Trevor Smith spent some of his teen years in Tucson, Arizona, playing in headbanger bands while studying Bill Monroe and J.D. Crowe. Mandolinist Billy Bright, raised in El Paso, Texas, swore his youthful allegiance to punk rock. And bassist Dom Fisher holds a jazz studies degree from Ithaca College in upstate New York. They don’t claim to defy categorization, they just ignore the notion of boundaries.  ‘Us coming together and throwing those recipes in a blender is what makes the sound of what we do unique’ asserts Houston and Galveston raised lead singer/guitarist Tony Kamel. Kamel, unbeli

This week, New York singer-songwriter, Americana and folk duo Richie & Rosie recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with these two fascinating talents. “Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton grew up 150 miles and a few decades apart. While both were raised by professional cellists, Richie started playing banjo at age 14 and Rosie began classical piano lessons at eight, eventually moving to classical viola as a teen. Both shared incredibly unique, musically-immersed childhoods. Richie’s family founded the iconic GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance (of which he is now President) and by her junior year of high school, Rosie was playing fiddle and touring with folk rock band The Mammals. During that time, the two were introduced at Saratoga Springs’ Flurry festival, a meeting that would spark a fated friendship and unique musical bond.  ‘He left an impression on me because he was wearing Converse. I had never seen an adult wear Converse before,’ said Rosie, re

This week, New York singer-songwriter, Americana and folk duo Richie & Rosie recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with these two fascinating talents. “Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton grew up 150 miles and a few decades apart. While both were raised by professional cellists, Richie started playing banjo at age 14 and Rosie began classical piano lessons at eight, eventually moving to classical viola as a teen. Both shared incredibly unique, musically-immersed childhoods. Richie’s family founded the iconic GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance (of which he is now President) and by her junior year of high school, Rosie was playing fiddle and touring with folk rock band The Mammals. During that time, the two were introduced at Saratoga Springs’ Flurry festival, a meeting that would spark a fated friendship and unique musical bond.  ‘He left an impression on me because he was wearing Converse. I had never seen an adult wear Converse before,’ said Rosie, re

This week, Woodstock, NY singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and American musical legacy Amy Helm recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this descendant of American music royalty. “Amy Helm is an American singer-songwriter and daughter of The Band drummer Levon Helm and singer Libby Titus. She is a past member of the Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble Band and Ollabelle, as well as her own touring band. Born in Woodstock, New York, Amy spent her childhood between Woodstock, Los Angeles, and New York City. She attended Trinity High School where she studied jazz with Dr. Aaron Bell, while singing in bands, and playing in New York City clubs and bars. A lifelong musician and music-lover, Helm’s parents guided her training and influences. She later became a founding member of the alt-country collective Ollabelle and served as a backing musician in her father's Midnight Ramble Band.” http://www.amyhelm.com/home#about-amy In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educato

This week, Ozark Highlands Radio explores hard times in 2020. For this special episode, we’ve reached out to various Ozark Highlands Radio featured artists to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic. Hear notable musicians open up about how they themselves, their careers, and their art have been affected by these trying events. We’ll also hear music from these hard driving gig workers, recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. The pandemic of 2020 has been a major disruption to almost every facet of human life. Because of the associated lock-downs and social distancing requirements in combination with the nature of their work, one certain group of gig workers, touring musicians, have been completely shut down. Not only are they dealing with an immediate and unexpected lack of income but also a very uncertain future. As we’ll hear from their interviews, they’re quite aware that they may be some of the last people allowed to get back to work. Featured in this special episode are Canadian Ottawa Valley fiddle

This week, Ozark original, singer-songwriter, yodeler, multi-instrumentalist and one man band Nick Shoulders recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this interesting musical multi-tasker. Nick Shoulders is originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas but now divides his time between Fayetteville and New Orleans. Nick blends his unique brand of Arkansas honkabilly with Slim Whitman-style quivering country ballads. While simultaneously playing drums and guitar, Nick performs old-time country and honky tonk music that features whistling, yodeling, mouth trumpet, kazoo, and more. “Wielding a high yodel and whistle crafted from a lifetime chasing lizards through the Ozark hills, Nick combines his family's deep ties to southern traditional music with years singing to empty street corners to create this hybridized form of raucous country music: born of some dark holler and bred to be stomped into the New Orleans dance floors it now calls home. Since 2014, Nick

This week, Ozark original, singer-songwriter, yodeler, multi-instrumentalist and one man band Nick Shoulders recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this interesting musical multi-tasker. Nick Shoulders is originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas but now divides his time between Fayetteville and New Orleans. Nick blends his unique brand of Arkansas honkabilly with Slim Whitman-style quivering country ballads. While simultaneously playing drums and guitar, Nick performs old-time country and honky tonk music that features whistling, yodeling, mouth trumpet, kazoo, and more. “Wielding a high yodel and whistle crafted from a lifetime chasing lizards through the Ozark hills, Nick combines his family's deep ties to southern traditional music with years singing to empty street corners to create this hybridized form of raucous country music: born of some dark holler and bred to be stomped into the New Orleans dance floors it now calls home. Since 2014, Nick

This week, renowned California bluegrass and roots singer-songwriter, traditional dancer, and multi-instrumentalist Evie Ladin and her band recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Evie. “The neo-trad kinetic-folk of the Evie Ladin Band is a mingling of the deep Appalachian sound of clawhammer banjo, guitar, bass and percussive dance, with contemporary storytelling and original, conversational interplay among the band members. Some of their adventurousness comes from early hip hop in the high school cafeteria, some from Evie’s early attraction to, and study of, the African roots in Appalachian music and dance. She created an African Studies In Dance major at Brown University, then studied dance in Eastern Nigeria on a Fulbright Fellowship. While myriad world and contemporary music influences permeate the band’s choices, they never reach too far, remaining seamless and true to the stories they tell. Precisely because Evie was raised to know that music, dance and singing are what

This week, renowned California bluegrass and roots singer-songwriter, traditional dancer, and multi-instrumentalist Evie Ladin and her band recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Evie. “The neo-trad kinetic-folk of the Evie Ladin Band is a mingling of the deep Appalachian sound of clawhammer banjo, guitar, bass and percussive dance, with contemporary storytelling and original, conversational interplay among the band members. Some of their adventurousness comes from early hip hop in the high school cafeteria, some from Evie’s early attraction to, and study of, the African roots in Appalachian music and dance. She created an African Studies In Dance major at Brown University, then studied dance in Eastern Nigeria on a Fulbright Fellowship. While myriad world and contemporary music influences permeate the band’s choices, they never reach too far, remaining seamless and true to the stories they tell. Precisely because Evie was raised to know that music, dance and singing are what

This week, cowboy poet, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and archivist Andy Hedges recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this Texas troubadour. “Andy Hedges is a songster, reciter, storyteller, guitarist, and collector of cowboy songs and poems. The son of an Italian schoolteacher and a rodeo cowboy turned preacher, Andy was born in Lubbock, Texas, in the spring of 1980. He grew up in the small community of Tokio, Texas, where his family paid rent on an old farmhouse by looking after a few head of cattle. It was there that Andy fell in love with traditional music by listening to his father’s cassettes of cowboy songs. Andy’s vast and varied repertoire includes classic cowboy poetry recitations, obscure cowboy songs, dust bowl ballads, and blues. He also hosts a podcast, Cowboy Crossroads which features in-depth interviews with fellow musicians and poets. Andy has performed many times with folk legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and the duo’s performance at the 60th Newport Folk Festiv

This week, cowboy poet, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and archivist Andy Hedges recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this Texas troubadour. “Andy Hedges is a songster, reciter, storyteller, guitarist, and collector of cowboy songs and poems. The son of an Italian schoolteacher and a rodeo cowboy turned preacher, Andy was born in Lubbock, Texas, in the spring of 1980. He grew up in the small community of Tokio, Texas, where his family paid rent on an old farmhouse by looking after a few head of cattle. It was there that Andy fell in love with traditional music by listening to his father’s cassettes of cowboy songs. Andy’s vast and varied repertoire includes classic cowboy poetry recitations, obscure cowboy songs, dust bowl ballads, and blues. He also hosts a podcast, Cowboy Crossroads which features in-depth interviews with fellow musicians and poets. Andy has performed many times with folk legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and the duo’s performance at the 60th Newport Folk Festiv

This week, International Bluegrass Music Association award winners, singers, songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists Mike Compton and Joe Newberry recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this prolific pair of pickers. “Mike Compton and Joe Newberry, masters of old-time mandolin and banjo/guitar, dig deep into early country music and blues. Their duet-singing, two-man string band ranges between traditional songs, instrumentals, ‘mother’ ballads and original tunes. It’s not about the number of notes with Compton and Newberry, but telling the truth and respecting the song. Mike Compton is a Grammy award winner, IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year nominee, a steady sideman for John Hartford from 1994 until Hartford’s death in 2001, and mandolinist for the Nashville Bluegrass Band. Mike is inarguably the world expert on Bill Monroe-style bluegrass mandolin, and is also steeped in old-time fiddle tunes, early string band music and Delta blues. Known far and wide for his powerful ban

This week, eight time International Bluegrass Music Association awards winner, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Becky Buller and her band recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Becky. Becky Buller is an 8-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards winner who made bluegrass music history in 2016 by becoming the first artist ever to win in both instrumental and vocal categories, as well as the first female to win Fiddle Player Of The Year. She is accompanied by 2018 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year Ned Luberecki, director of the ETSU Bluegrass, Old-Time And Country Music Studies Program Dan Boner on guitar, 2015 IBMA Momentum Award-winning instrumentalist Nate Lee on mandolin, and Daniel “the Hulk” Hardin on upright bass. - https://beckybuller.com In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1978 archival recording of Ozark originals Mary & Robert Gillihan performing the traditional song

This week, legendary guitar virtuosos, songwriters, and Telecaster Jedi Bill Kirchen and Redd Volkaert recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with these two guitar giants. “Grammy-nominated guitarist, singer, and songwriter Bill Kirchen first gained national recognition as a founding member of the original “Americana” group Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. His trademark guitar licks drove their “Hot Rod Lincoln” into the Top Ten in 1972. His latest recording “Transatlanticana” hit the Top 10 on the Americana Radio chart, staying in the Top 40 for 5 months.” - https://www.billkirchen.com/bill-kirchen-biography “Redd Volkaert was a successor to Roy Nichols in Merle Haggard's backing band, and is "among the country’s top Telecaster guitar slingers.” Volkaert won a 2009 Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance. Best known as a Fender Telecaster player, with a personal collection that includes a 1953 Fender Telecaster, a 1951 Fender Nocas

This week, Carter Family legacy, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and country music superstar Carlene Carter recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this scion of American music royalty. Carlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith. Between 1978 and the present, Carter has recorded twelve albums, primarily on major labels. In the same timespan, she has released more than twenty singles, including three No. 3-peaking hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Carlene has always straddled the line between country and rock, following her own path. As a rock singer in the mid-'70s, she became immersed in the new wave before emerging as a new country singer in the late '80s. Through it all, her music has always infused roots music with a nervy, edgy energy. Her mother, June Carter-Cash would frequently take her daughter on Carter Family tours, which mean

This week, we celebrate the life of award winning Indiana finger style guitar prodigy the late Evan Twitty recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with the talented teen as well as his mentors and friends Thom Bresh and Randy Buckner. We are deeply saddened at the tragic passing of eighteen year old Evan Twitty. Evan lost his life in a car accident on February 7th of 2020. We here at Ozark Folk Center State Park have watched Evan grow up over his many years of attending our Merle Travis Thumbpicking Weekend. He began as a bright and promising student and matured into a championship winning guitarist, contest judge, teacher and mentor. In his brief eighteen years, Evan had placed himself among the finest guitarists in the world. In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1975 archival recording of Ozark original Clark Fowler and the Sacred Harp Singers performing a shape note version of the traditional song “Angel Ban

This week, acclaimed North Carolina traditional Oldtime husband and wife duo Frank & Allie Lee recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this talented twosome. “Since starting to perform rural Southern music together in 2016, the feedback we have heard most often from folks across the country is that watching our show makes them happy. We feel happy when we sing in harmony and share our music. Passing on that joy to our listeners is why we perform. When we drive home from a gig, we reflect on the happy faces in the crowd. If we made you happy, then we feel that the show was worthwhile. Living in beautiful Bryson City, North Carolina near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with our daughter and rescued kitties, we are known for singing old songs, playing the banjo, building community through teaching music, and making screen-printed t-shirts.” - https://www.frankandallie.com/promo-material In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music

Renowned Arkansas Americana and true folk singer-songwriter and film actor Joe Purdy recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Joe Purdy is joined in this performance by duos the Honey Dewdrops and also Smokey & the Mirror. Also, interviews with Joe. “From his home state of Arkansas to his home in Los Angeles, Joe Purdy has recorded a baker’s dozen worth of albums. His songs have turned up on numerous TV shows and film soundtracks. Most notably, however, in recent years the singer, songwriter and self-described “hillbilly” has come to see the world and his role in it somewhat differently, charting this direction on his latest album, "Who Will Be Next?” Here he firmly plants his feet deep in the tradition of folk artists such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs, applying his unique skills as writer and vocalist as a passionate observer and participant of our times.” - http://www.joepurdy.com Joe is joined onstage by two different husband and wife Americana and true folk duos The Hon