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Ozark Highlands Radio

Ozark Highlands Radio

By: Ozark Folk Center State Park
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About this listen

 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 on a musical journey with historians, authors, and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region.All rights reserved Music
Episodes
  • OHR Presents: The Special Consensus @Walnut Valley

    OHR Presents: The Special Consensus @Walnut Valley
    Oct 24 2025
    This week, another special road trip episode featuring legendary bluegrass supergroup The Special Consensus recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival. The Special Consensus, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, is a bluegrass band that has achieved a contemporary sound with traditional roots in five decades of performing. Band leader and founder Greg Cahill is a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and was inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) Hall of Greats. Special Consensus has released 21 band recordings and received seven awards from the IBMA and two Grammy nominations. The band’s sound is grounded in a deep appreciation and understanding of bluegrass music, incorporating both the drive and harmonies of the traditional sound with the more contemporary sounds and repertoire of today. With the foundation of Greg’s unique banjo playing style and the vocal prowess of the 2023 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Greg Blake (guitar), Dan Eubanks (bass) and Brian McCarty (mandolin), these musicians effortlessly support each other and consistently maintain their bluegrass center whether they’re playing a jazz-tinged instrumental or a song from any of their award-winning recordings. These four talented vocalists and instrumentalists follow their creative desires without straying too far from their roots. https://www.specialc.com/biography In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1991 archival recording of Ozark original Randall Hylton performing his original song “Over the Counter Drugs,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins presents part two of his series recounting the history of the ill-fated Ozarkland Jamboree, a 1960’s country music variety show based in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas that never made it on the air.
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    59 mins
  • OHR Presents: Socks in the Frying Pan @Walnut Valley

    OHR Presents: Socks in the Frying Pan @Walnut Valley
    Oct 10 2025
    This week, a special road trip episode featuring up and coming high energy traditional Irish trio Socks in the Frying Pan recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Also, a performance from world famous singer-songwriter and folk music icon John McCutcheon. The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival. Socks in the Frying Pan, a multi-award-winning trio from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland—the Mecca of Irish traditional music—was formed in 2014. Forged together by a fire of pure joy and passion for their art, the band comprises Aodan Coyne on guitar and lead vocals, Shane Hayes on accordion, and younger brother Fiachra Hayes on fiddle. Their ‘Socks Sound’ combines virtuosic musicianship with a burning passion for the music and tradition, pitch-perfect harmonies and a big splash of quick wit and banter. Their electrifying performances and on-stage charm have established them as kingpins on the Irish traditional music scene, today. They have toured extensively, capturing hearts in 46 US states, dozens of countries, and every continent, showcasing at renowned festivals such as the Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas, Electric Picnic in Ireland, Tønder Festival in Denmark and the world-famous New Orleans Jazz Festival. To date, Socks in the Frying Pan have released three studio albums, each adding to their list of accolades including ‘Best New Band’, ‘Best Live Band‘, ‘Album of the Year‘, and ‘Best Live Performance of the Year’, Their latest release, Raw & Ríl, recorded live at Glór Theatre, was immediately awarded ‘Best Live Album’. - https://socksinthefryingpan.com/band/ John McCutcheon is an American folk music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has produced 45 albums since the 1970s. He is regarded as a master of the hammered dulcimer, and is also proficient on many other instruments including guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, and jaw harp. He has received six Grammy Award nominations. Born and raised in Wisconsin, in his 20s, he travelled to Appalachia and learned from some of the legendary greats of traditional folk music, including Roscoe Holcomb and Tommy Hunter. - https://www.folkmusic.com/ In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1984 archival recording of Ozark original Sheryl Irvine performing the traditional Child ballad “Sweet Peggy,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins presents part one of his series recounting the history of the Ozarkland Jamboree, a 1960’s country music variety show based in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas that never made it on the air.
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    59 mins
  • OHR Presents: Old Sound @Walnut Valley

    OHR Presents: Old Sound @Walnut Valley
    Sep 25 2025
    This week, a special road trip episode featuring Walnut Valley original Pecan Grove campground jam band Old Sound recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Also, a performance from renowned singer-songwriter and folk music legacy Nathan McEuen. The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival. A trio of longtime friends and musical collaborators, Kansas City's Old Sound crafts an original brand of liquid folk music. The well-worn trio travels through song with evocative acoustic compositions, imagery-filled lyrics and beckoning three-part harmonies. The band holds deep roots running back to Winfield, KS where they grew up and cut their teeth in the picking circles and campground stages of the Walnut Valley Festival. Old Sound continues to evolve and bend the possibilities of modern acoustic music with rich, effects-driven live performances, while also creating a unique sound that could just as easily be heard around a campfire. - https://oldsoundmusic.com/ Nathan McEuen grew up surrounded by incredible music and talented musicians. By age five he started performing with his father, John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Nathan soon became a natural showman. With over 40 years of touring, more than 3,000 shows, and appearances on American Idol, The Stagecoach Festival, the Grand Ole Opry, The Tonight Show, Music City Roots, and XM/Sirius Radio, his music has reached audiences around the world. Held in the highest esteem by his musical colleagues, Nathan has shared the stage with an impressive lineup of artists ranging from Bon Jovi to Willie Nelson. In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1984 archival recording of Ozark original Kenny Sims performing the traditional American Civil War song “Goober Peas,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins discusses the Ozark roots for one man’s inspiration that would ultimately result in the founding of the Grand Old Opry.
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    59 mins
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