Ozark Highlands Radio

This week, more songs out of style performed by various artists recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Songs can transcend musical styles and those styles can also transcend their traditional roots. “More Songs out of Style” continues our exploration of the movement of great songs across musical genres. We’ll hear modern songs remade into traditional acoustic styles. Artists featured on “M...

This week, songs about saying goodbye performed by a variety of artists recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Farewells have produced some of our most powerful and emotional works of art. Goodbye is a theme endlessly explored in paintings, sculpture, literature and film. Music is no different. In this episode, we’ll hear songs of farewell written for everything...

This week, legendary songwriter, performer, folklorist, historian and Ozark original Jimmy Driftwood recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Dave Smith gives an historical portrait of the life of this remarkable Ozarker. There was never a more popular, outspoken or controversial musician or personality to come out of Stone County, Arkansas than James Corbitt Morris (better known as Jimmy Dr...

This week, It’s Dulcimer Jamboree! A whole host of mountain & hammered dulcimer national champions recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with the some of these interesting and eclectic musicians. For over 35 years, Ozark Folk Center State Park has hosted the annual Dulcimer Jamboree. The annual event takes place in mid-April and features three d...

This week, Ozark original multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, audio engineer and OHR host, our very own Mark Jones recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Mark as well as with his long time friend, country music superstar Marty Stewart. Anyone who listens to Ozark Highlands Radio will be familiar with the fun loving and friendly voice of Mark Jones, the keeper o...

This week, Nashville, TN based high energy neo-traditional oldtime music sensation The Hogslop String Band returns to Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this rowdy rabble. “Staying true to tradition while maintaining a bold irreverence is something that rarely goes hand-in-hand but Hogslop String Band manages to walk that line. With their roots in old-time string band music and th...

This week, Ozark original and Mountain View, Arkansas based seventeen year old award winning fiddle prodigy Mary Parker and her band of rising bluegrass superstars, Sylamore Special, recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with this up and coming fiddle wunderkind. For over ten years now, Mary Parker has been a regular performer here at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Tha...

This week, Gatlinburg, Tennessee based neo-traditional bluegrass quintet The Po' Ramblin’ Boys recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with Ramblin’ Boys guitarist and vocalist, Josh Rinkel. “At a time when most people feel constantly distracted by technology and barraged by the news, authenticity and straightforward honesty are paramount. There’s something about the music...

This episode continues our tour of places “you shouldn’t miss” and other remarkable spots along the 135 miles of America’s first national river, as well as where to find information about park events, facilities and services. Featured are interviews with park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton and Buffalo National River Partners Board Chairperson...

This episode guides us on a tour of places “you shouldn’t miss” and other remarkable spots along the 135 miles of America’s first national river. Featured is an interview with park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton. In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo N...

This episode recalls early efforts to conserve and protect America’s first national river. Featured is an interview with long time area resident and photographer Ed Alexander, who’s father, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Harold Alexander was one of the early pioneers in seeking to protect the river. In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charle...

This episode investigates the impact of human activity on the river environment and ecology, as well as policies and guidelines designed to mitigate such issues for America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with park ranger and interpreter Lauren Ray, park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton, and long time area resident and photograph...

This episode describes the park staff and volunteer support structures as well as the immense logistical challenges of maintaining America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with Buffalo National River Chief of Interpretation Cassie Branstetter, area native and long time Buffalo National River staff member Zed Davenport, Buffalo National River Partners Board Chairperson Terrie Martind...

This episode inventories natural resources and the history of economic activity around America’s first national river. Featured is an interview with park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton. In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s fi...

This episode recounts the controversy over, and political maneuvering that resulted in the creation of America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with writer, professor, and regular Ozark Highlands Radio contributor Dr. Brooks Blevins, and Buffalo River area native and long time Buffalo National River staff member Zed Davenport. In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, fo...

This episode examines the history of human activity and historic cultural sites along America’s first national river. Featured is an interview with Buffalo National River archaeologist Suika Rivett. In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, Pr...

This episode details planned park festivities for the 50th anniversary celebration year and profiles a unique volunteer support organization for America’s first national river, the Buffalo National River Partners. Featured are interviews with Buffalo National River Chief of Interpretation Cassie Branstetter and Buffalo National River Partners Board Chairperson Terrie Martindale. In this special Oz...

This episode explores the myriad of wildlife that thrive both above and below the waters of America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Rachel Norton and Buffalo National River ecologist and aquatic wildlife specialist Shawn Hodges. In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates...

This episode explains the geology and natural water systems that created and continue to sustain America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with Buffalo National River biological sciences technician Ashley Rodman and park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton. In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwrite...

This week, Cincinnati, Ohio based post-punk neo-folk acoustic oldtime string band The Tillers recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with The Tillers’ fearless leader, Mike Oberst. “The Tillers have been thumping their own distinctive sound of string band style folk music for a decade, riding it all over the country and across the sea. Four studio albums and one live recor...

This week, outlaw country music icons the legendary Billy Don Burns and his protege Josh Morningstar recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these artistic outlaws. As country music moved towards a more slick commercial “Nashville sound” in the 1970s, some of its most notable artists bucked the trend. Influential country musicians such as Willie Nelson and Waylon Jenni...

This week, postmodern folk singer-songwriter McKain Lakey and neo-acoustic folk-rock duo Jamie Lou & Garrett Brolund recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with these innovative trouveurs. Artists featured on this week’s show embody the spirit of folk nouveau or “new folk.” They’ve taken in sounds and stories of traditional folk music as well as...

This week, Ozark original singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Ryan Martin recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Caleb. “Caleb Ryan Martin has, according to one reviewer, ‘a lonesome voice and rhythm that can at times invoke a lonesome ramblin' man sound, a voice that will haunt you with some type of mysterious mountain holler...

This week, a pair of fascinating internet born musical celebrities, Hillary Klug & Abby the Spoon Lady recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these online auteurs. The internet and its many social media outlets have created a space where regular folks can showcase their talents to the entire world. This vast endless digital showcase is mentoring a renaissance in folk...

This week, a boisterous bounty of Bluegrass bands both regional and international recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these peppy pickers. In the 1940’s, Kentucky mandolinist Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys band coined a brand new sound onto the American popular music landscape. Named after Monroe’s band, this new “bluegrass” music was an evolution of the tradi...