Ozark Highlands Radio

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OHR Presents: Charm City Junction (Full Interview) Jul 01, 2019

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This week, Baltimore based Old Time string and Irish button accordion band Charm City Junction recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these masterful Maryland musicians. “From dance inducing Old Time rhythms and foot stomping Irish melodies to hard-driving Bluegrass, Baltimore-based acoustic roots quartet Charm City Junction creates a fresh soundscape that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering where they'll go next. Featuring fiddle, clawhammer banjo, button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places — but always with an eye on tradition. Formed in 2014, Charm City Junction has taken the acoustic music scene by storm performing around the country gaining high praise along the way for their high-energy, captivating and dynamic performances. Bobby Britt takes charge with his virtuosic, powerful and musical approach to the fiddle. Clawhammer banjo wizard Brad Kolodner adds his playful, driving, melodic and groovy Old-Time touch. Sean McComiskey soars through the tunes and fills the gaps with his soulful button accordion playing. The versatile bassist Alex Lacquement drives the train, locking everything together with his commanding and tasteful choices.” https://www.charmcityjunction.com/about.html In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1976 archival recording of Ozark original Charley Sandage performing the traditional tune “Blacksmith of Brandywine,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. From his series entitled “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins continues his exploration on the story of the Ozark Jubilee, one of America’s first nationally-broadcast Old Time barn dance country music television shows, based in Springfield, Missouri.

OHR Presents: The Bluegrastronauts Jun 23, 2019

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This week, blast off with the Matchsellers’ “Bluegrastronauts,” the world’s first outer-space bluegrass odyssey, recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Mixing elements of tall tales, theater, science fiction and bluegrass, the Bluegrastonauts show isn’t quite like anything you’ve ever heard. The Matchsellers are Warsaw, Indiana native Andrew Morris and Julie Bates of Kansas City, Missouri. Their exciting, gritty, and often hilarious stage show has been developed over six years of touring across the US and Europe. Performing at the Ozark Folk Center State Park, Andrew and Julie present their outer-space bluegrass odyssey with a four piece stringband, featuring Chad Graves of The Hillbenders on dobro, and Betsey Mae on bass. The group combines absurdity, authenticity, and excellent musicianship to create a performance that is representative of the present age: They are pleasantly stuck between the years gone by and those to come. The Matchsellers’ Bluegrastronauts is old-time in outer space. It’s a far away galaxy as close as your first cousin. It’s a 100,000-mile-an-hour horse and buggy. Dressed as space travelers from the year 2437, the Matchsellers’ Bluegrastronauts take audiences through a musical “history of the future,” including a first-hand account of the Apocalypse of 2137, the subsequent colonization of the moon, and the dangers of playing hopscotch in deep space. The show reaches the heights of absurdity while confronting deeply humanist issues of love, disillusionment, and mortality. Prepare to travel through space and old-time with one of the most unique and ambitious acts in acoustic music today. - https://thematchsellers.com/bluegrastronauts-band/ In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1978 recording of mountain dulcimer master David Schnaufer performing the traditional tune “Red Haired Boy,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

OHR Presents: Newberry & Verch Jun 08, 2019

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This week, international Oldtime string band and Ottawa Valley step dance duo Newberry & Verch recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this dynamic musical duo. “Joe Newberry grew up in a family full of singers and dancers. He took up the guitar and banjo as a teenager and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. April Verch grew up listening to her Dad’s country band play for dances in the Ottawa Valley. She started step dancing at age three and fiddling at age six. Both Newberry & Verch became masters of their traditions and tour the world with their respective bands and projects. Yet they never forget the roots of their music, that connection to the people in the audience, on the dance floor, to the community sparked by a good song. For these veteran performers who come from distinct traditions and parts of the world, their collaboration is fueled by their kindred passion for bringing people together to celebrate traditional music. Blues and ballads stem into Canadian regional styles and originals. Their voices blend in harmony, their tasteful instrumentals prove that these masters have nothing left to prove, and then their feet kick up the dust in perfect rhythm…and together, they make you remember why this music existed in the first place.” http://aprilverch.com/about/newberry-verch/ In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1976 archival recording of his famous father, Grandpa Jones, telling the classic joke “Surprise Aunt Marthy.” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. From his series entitled “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins profiles prolific Ozark musician Slim Wilson of the Ozark Jubilee, one of America’s first nationally-broadcast Old Time barn dance country music television shows, based in Springfield, Missouri.

OHR Presents: Charm City Junction Jun 02, 2019

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OHR Presents: Meredith Axelrod & Craig Ventresco May 19, 2019

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This week, San Francisco based early 20th Century American music preservationist duo Meredith Axelrod & Craig Ventresco recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these time traveling minstrels. “Delightfully engaging and unassumingly comic, Meredith Axelrod envisions the limitless potential of early twentieth century music, whether it be Ragtime, Music Hall, Pop Standard, Boogie Woogie, Tin Pan Alley, String band, Jazz, Country, Blues or even Jug Band music, and embodies the spirit that brought the music into existence. Her vocal style is unusual, probably because she learned to sing by listening to how folks did it a century ago – through the medium of cylinders and 78-rpm records. The dominant theme throughout Meredith’s expansive repertoire is that, whatever the genre, these are songs she learns from the original sources (records and/or sheet music) which were released between the 1890s and the 1930s. Part of the allure of old time music is hearing the original recordings as played and sung by the original performers in their heyday, loving what they’re doing and doing it because it means something to them in that moment. Meredith brings the same unbridled passion, earnest devotion and candid vitality to all of her music. She has found possibility and joy in the treasures of cultural folklore. Meredith demonstratively loves the life she leads, thriving in varied musical and performance settings. She often partners with string virtuoso Craig Ventresco. They perform at venues and festivals that include the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, West Coast Ragtime Festival, and Blind Boone Early Jazz Festival.” - https://meredithaxelrod.com/about/ In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1976 archival recording of Ozark original Ulys Pilcher performing the traditional tune “Sally Goodin,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. From his series entitled “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins explores the story of the Ozark Jubilee, one of America’s first nationally-broadcast old time barn dance country music television shows based in Springfield, Missouri.

OHR Presents: The Jake Leg Stompers May 12, 2019

Show notes

This week, Bucksnort, Tennessee based old school Memphis style jug band the Jake Leg Stompers recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this band of musical outlaws. A Jake Leg Stompers show is a truly unique experience. Like a Vaudeville party with all the bells and whistles. Literally, their show includes bells and whistles. With lively renditions of classic blues and jug band tunes from early 20th century American music and a theatrical sensibility, the Jake Leg Stompers will have you dancing in your seat. The band’s performers include leader Hambone Willie Nevil on vocals, banjo, and guitar, Lela Mae Smith on vocals, Horatio Algernon Whiplash on washboard, snare, bells, and whistles, Jersey Slim Hawkins with fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, and Ramshackle Jack Dunshee on old time jug. For more information about the Jake Leg Stompers… http://www.jakelegstompers.com/about In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers an archival recording of hammered dulcimer master Jay Round performing the traditional tune “Saint Anne’s Reel,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. From his series entitled “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins explores the history of the Ozark Opry, one of the first old time barn dance music stage shows based in Springfield, Missouri.

OHR Presents: Meredith Axelrod & Craig Ventresco (Full Interview) May 08, 2019

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OHR Presents: The Whispering Willows May 05, 2019

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This week, award winning Ozark singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist duo The Whispering Willows recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this progressive husband and wife folk duo. Also, a performance by singer and multi-instrumentalist Keith Symanowitz, backed by Ozark originals Lukas Pool, Sam Cobb, Danny Dozier, Gresham McMillon, and John Severs. The Whispering Willows is an Americana duo featuring warm and rich vocals, masterful songwriting, and the finely crafted fiddle work of Alaina Blake & Dylan Hawf. Alaina, originally from Lawrence, Kansas, has made her home with husband Dylan at Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the heart of the Ozarks. From a diverse musical background including old-time, Americana, classic country, bluegrass, Irish music, and rock, Alaina’s vocal style is at once unique and sincere with a subtlety that belies the emotional and powerful nature of her songwriting. One of her performances is featured in the Netflix original series “Ozark.” Dylan Hawf, originally from Illinois, comes from a musical family. His father, guitarist Doug Hawf encouraged Dylan’s fiddle playing from an early age, sending him to bluegrass camps where he was able to study with some of the greatest players around. Alaina & Dylan’s collaboration began at the famed annual music festival in Winfield, Kansas and has blossomed into not only a powerful musical force but also romance and marriage. Keith Symanowitz is not only the marketing specialist at the Ozark Folk Center State Park, he’s also a talented singer, traditional dancer, and multi-instrumentalist. Keith’s modern and soulful vocal style breathes new life into well known traditional folk songs. In this performance, Keith is joined by some of the Ozarks’ most talented musicians including Lukas Pool on clawhammer banjo, Sam Cobb on mandolin, Danny Dozier on finger style guitar, Gresham McMillon on bass, and thumb picking guitarist John Severs. In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark original Cathy Barton performing the traditional tune “Hecksham Races,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. From his series entitled “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins profiles the mysterious Prince Daruki, an enigmatic music teacher of questionable aristocratic origin who lived in the early Ozarks.

OHR Presents: Jimbo Mathus & Kinfolks Apr 27, 2019

Show notes

This week, Grammy award winning Mississippi singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and Squirrel Nut Zippers co-founder Jimbo Mathus with his “Kinfolks” recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this musical Mississippi maverick. Jimbo Mathus is a singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his work with the swing revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers. Born in Oxford, Mississippi to Jimmy Mathus and Jeanella (Malvezzi) Mathus, his early life was filled with music as his father and relatives were skilled instrumentalists and singers. He began joining the family musical circle at an early age and by age eight was proficient at mandolin. By age fifteen, Jimbo had been taught the rudiments of guitar, piano and harmony singing. The family's repertoire consisted of hundreds of folk, bluegrass, country blues and pre-recorded songs passed down through the Mathus and Byrd families. “Jimbo Mathus & Kinfolks” is a project that takes Jimbo back to his earliest musical roots. Alongside lifelong friend and mentor Jimmy “Buck” Bennett on dobro, Steve Butler on fiddle, Ernie Welch guitar, and Steve Craig on bass, “Kinfolks” recreates the family and social music gatherings of Jimbo’s youth. In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers an archival recording of banjo Jedi Jimmy Connor performing the tune “Old Ed Setser,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. From his series entitled “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins profiles the curious story of Katy Heidi, a woman of Austrian nobility who became a lifelong transplant to the early Missouri Ozarks.

OHR Presents: Amythyst Kiah Apr 20, 2019

Show notes

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 extension of the magazine, creating meaningful opportunities for the community to experience the most culturally significant artists in our region. “The OA has a longstanding history of curating great music. Our Winter 2018 issue is dedicated to the music of North Carolina. It is our twentieth installment of the series, which the Houston Chronicle calls "the single best music-related magazine of any given year." Each music issue comes with a sought-after CD, curated by the editors to showcase the region's hugely varied musical legacy.” More information about Oxford American programming, the magazine, and their mission can be found at https://www.oxfordamerican.org “A professed Southern Gothic songster born in Chattanooga but based in Johnson City, Tennessee, Amythyst Kiah’s commanding stage presence is only matched by her raw and powerful vocals—a deeply moving, hypnotic sound that stirs echoes of a distant and restless past. Accoutered interchangeably with banjo, acoustic guitar, or a full band (Her Chest of Glass,) Amythyst’s toolbox is augmented by her scholarship of African-American roots music. Provocative and coolly fierce, her ability to cross the boundaries of blues and old-time through reinterpretation is groundbreaking and simply unforgettable. Amythyst Kiah is forging an important path from her musical ancestry to a multi-cultural generation with contemporary sensibilities and undeniable flair.” Learn more about Amythyst Kiah at… https://amythystkiah.com/about In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1977 archival recording of Ozark original Aunt Ollie Gilbert performing the ballad “Springtime in Alaska,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

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