Ozark Highlands Radio

This week, a very special episode. Ozark Highlands Radio partners with Oxford American Magazine to bring Johnson City, Tennessee based up & coming contemporary folk and Americana superstar Amythyst Kiah, recorded live at South on Main in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. Also, an interview with Oxford American Literary Project executive director Ryan Harris. In this performance, Amythyst is joined by Taylor Green on keyboard and Andrew Gibbens on drums. “The Oxford American is a nonprofit organization with a mission to explore the complexity and vitality of the American South through excellent writing, visual art, and events programming. Our quarterly print magazine was founded in 1992, and, in addition to winning four National Magazine Awards, has helped launch the writing careers of such noted authors as Jesmyn Ward and John Jeremiah Sullivan, while publishing beloved writers like Charles Portis, Nikky Finney, Peter Guralnick, and many others. “Our concert series at South on Main in Little Rock is an ext

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, world renowned three-time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, film composer, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, founding member of the band “Rising Sons,” and Blues legend Taj Mahal recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr, better known as “Taj Mahal,” is an American blues musician, a singer-songwriter and film composer who plays the guitar, piano, banjo, harmonica, and many other instruments. Taj incorporates elements of world music into his works and has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music by fusing it with nontradit

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s historic 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, Arkansas Ozark singer-songwriter Dane Joneshill recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this talented Ozark original. Dane Joneshill is a quiet man. A man accustomed to silence and the watching, listening and waiting that generally accompany it. He grew up in the coastal loneliness of rural Alaska in a home tucked against the base of a mountain, a stone’s throw from the cold Pacific. Educated in a bush school by his own father, he remembers the focus of much of that class time. “We read books constantly. Wrote poems and short stories when we wer

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s historic 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, Texas based 2017 Ameripolitan 'Western Swing Group of the Year’ The Western Flyers recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this talented Texas trio. The Texas trio The Western Flyers consists of Joey McKenzie on guitar and vocals, Katie Glassman on fiddle and vocals, and Gavin Kelso on upright bass and vocals. Both Joey and Katie being world class fiddlers along with Gavin’s mastery of swing & jazz bass, you won’t find better Western Swing music anywhere this side of the Pecos. “The Western Flyers are one of the most exciting new bands to glide ont

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s historic 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, Toronto singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and CFMA “Traditional Singer of the Year” Hannah Shira Naiman recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this captivating Canadian. Performing with Hannah on this show is her father, famed Canadian banjoist Arnie Naiman. “Named ‘Traditional Singer of the Year' (2017) by the CFMAs, Hannah Shira Naiman’s banjo-grounded songs dance the listener into the Appalachian mountains and eras back in time, drawing on her roots in Toronto’s ‘old time’ folk music community to share powerful tales of hope and loss.   “

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s historic 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, Portland, Oregon based singer-songwriter, square dance enthusiast, and Ozark original JT Trawick of the famed folk music family the Trawicks, recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with JT. JT is joined in this performance by champion fiddler Alex Sharps and bassist & multi-instrumentalist Bill Nesbitt. Being of the legendary Trawick folk music family of the Ozarks, JT Trawick grew up immersed in traditional music. Specializing in guitar, vocals and mandolin, JT has performed and worked with some of the premier musicians of our generation. Two-time Gr

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s historic 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 very special episode. Ozark Highlands Radio partners with Oxford American Magazine to bring Chapel Hill, North Carolina based rising contemporary folk and Americana superstars “Mandolin Orange,” recorded live at South on Main in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. Also, an interview with Oxford American Literary Project executive director Ryan Harris. Mandolin Orange are joined in this performance by Eli West on guitar & banjo, Josh Oliver on electric guitar, Clint Mulligan on Bass, and Joe Westerlund on drums. “The Oxford American is a nonprofit organization with a mission to explore the complexity and vital

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s historic 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, Smithsonian Folkways artists and award winning Boston, Massachusetts progressive folk trio “Lula Wiles” recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these bright Boston bards. Lula Wiles is a Boston based progressive folk trio consisting of Isa Burke, Eleanor Buckland, and Mali Obomsawin. Their blending of instrumental virtuosity, intricate three part harmony singing, and visionary songwriting has quickly ushered them to the forefront of modern American contemporary folk music. With the recent release of their Smithsonian Folkways album “What Will We Do,” the trio now joins the 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, 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, world renowned Grammy award winning musician, producer, writer, filmmaker, and founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John McEuen with his String Wizards recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this prolific creator and performer. “John McEuen has been a ‘professional performer’ since 1962, working as a magician in Disneyland’s Magic Shop as a teenager. Music soon came along, which led to his long and varied career first solo, then as a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1966. Over 10,000 concerts and 300 television shows throughout more than 3 millio

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, 2018 ACMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Ameripolitan Outlaw Female of the Year, songwriter and up and coming Outlaw Country star, Arkansas’ own Bonnie Montgomery recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this uniquely talented Arkansas singer-songwriter. “Upon first listening to Bonnie Montgomery, it’s easy to mistakenly assume that you’ve stumbled upon a long-buried track by a legend from the golden era of country/western music. Such is the artistry of this Arkansas native and silver-voiced songstress. Her story is of her journey but she presents it through a folk/bluegrass/c

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, legendary Grammy nominated Bethesda, Maryland progressive bluegrass super-group The Seldom Scene recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this enduring and enigmatic group of bluegrass pioneers. “The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The Scene has been instrumental in starting the progressive bluegrass movement as their shows include bluegrass versions of country music, rock, and even pop. What does it take for a bluegrass band to remain popular for more than four decades? For The Seldom Scene, it's take

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, Grammy nominated Muscle Shoals Americana & contemporary bluegrass singer-songwriter mega-duo The Secret Sisters, recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these superlative siblings. The Secret Sisters are an Americana singing and songwriting duo consisting of vocalists Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle. The sisters’ music has been compared to artists like The Everly Brothers. Laura and Lydia are from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. With a love for music coming from both sides of their family (their grandfather and his brothers forged a group called The Happy Valley Boys,) they grew up

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, it’s “Banjo Time!” Join host Dave Smith and banjo royalty Mark Jones as they explore music of the banjo. From its ancient African roots, we’ll follow the banjo’s transition from a slave instrument into the mainstream of American popular and folk musics. Mark and Dave will guide us through performances by various banjo masters covering a myriad of styles into which the banjo has evolved, all recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Artists featured on this week’s show include Country Music Hall of Fame member & “Hee Haw" star Grandpa Jones, master of traditional African American banjo Jerron ‘Blind

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, songs out of style performed by various artists recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Songs can transcend musical styles and those styles can also transcend their traditional songs. “Songs out of Style” explores the movement of great songs, both old and modern, across musical genres. We’ll hear traditional songs made new again, and modern songs remade in the old ways. Artists featured on “Songs out of Style” include bluegrass sensation The Barefoot Movement, experimental acoustic ensemble Jayme Stone & The Lomax Project - featuring Moira Smiley, amazing sibling duo The Vogts Sisters, renowned

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, music by family, for family, and about family, performed by various artists recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Family life and ties are a big part of Ozark folk culture and music. Come on home with us to the Ozarks as we enjoy a little “family time,” celebrating the joy of familial bonding through song. Featured on this episode are a variety of artists including A.J. Croce, The Purple Hulls, Thom Bresh, Lukas & Eden Pool, The Gordons, The Honey Dewdrops, The Creek Rocks, The Lazy Goat String Band, The Weide Family, The Vogts Sisters, Love Hollar, and the Grandpa Jones Family Band. We’ll hea

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, songs not so serious, both modern and traditional, performed by various artists recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Folk music is often thought of as being either dark and serious or naive and childish. Not so with this collection of artists and songs. In this episode, explore with us a lighter side of folk. Featured on this episode are a variety of artists including Antsy McClain, the Buffalo Gals, Bill & the Belles, Muriel Anderson, David Holt & Josh Goforth, Mike Snider, Jimmy Driftwood, the Hogslop Stringband, and Jerron Paxton. We’ll hear their most humorous songs, both traditional and

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, multi instrumentalist, composer, and Ozark original Brad Apple, recorded live with some of his many friends at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this magnetic maestro of mandolin & guitar. Mark Jones offers an archival recording of the musical family of Fred Crouch with his gifted progeny, Dennis and Tim, performing the tune “Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down,” accompanied by Ozark legend Frank Ellis. Writer, musician, and traditional dancer Aubrey Atwater explores the world of the “Woman on the Shore,” and songs of tragedy told from the perspective of those left behind. Growing up in Bates

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, Stone county native, Ozark original, and our very own traditional folk legend Pam Setser, recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this Ozark icon. Mark Jones offers an archival recording of another Ozark icon, Almeda Riddle, performing the traditional tune “Pretty Peggy-O.” Writer, musician, and traditional dancer Aubrey Atwater waxes poetic in a discussion about songs of undying love. Pam Setser is an award winning multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire. It's not just her musical talent that will catch your heart but her angelic voice as well. Setser has played at many ven

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 actor, playwright, singer-songwriter, and traditional Ozark folk musician Willi Carlisle, recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this dynamic talent. In addition, a featured performance by Arkansas True Folk singer-songwriter Carolyn Carter. Mark Jones offers an archival recording of guitar designer, builder, & player Stu Mossman performing the traditional tune “Red Haired Boy.” Writer, musician, and traditional dancer Aubrey Atwater relates legendary folk singer Jean Ritchie’s childhood experience of meeting her mysterious “Uncle Jason.” Willi Carlisle is,

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 True Folk & Americana singer-songwriter Brian Martin, recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Brian. Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark original Pam Branscum performing the traditional tune “Goodbye Liza Jane.” Writer, musician, and traditional dancer Aubrey Atwater discusses the concept of percussive singing in traditional as well as modern musics. “While keeping one foot planted firmly in the roots of American music, singer/songwriter Brian Martin is forging a distinct path into its future as well. Interweaving old-time country blues and mount