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 fiddler and step dancer April Verch, Mark Bilyeu of the Ozark original group “The Creek Rocks,” international autoharp maverick and poet Bryan Bowers, Rhode Island writer, musician and traditional step dancer Aubrey Atwater, North Carolina old-time songwriter and clawhammer banjo slinger Joe Newberry, and Florida contemporary mountain dulcimer Jedi Bing Futch.