This week, original Ozark Old Time folk minstrel and songwriting group “Sad Daddy” performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these interesting and innovative songwriters.

Sad Daddy combines the talents of four unique Arkansas musicians in one convenient package.  The group features Brian Martin on guitar, Melissa Carper on bass, Joe Sundell on banjo, and Rebecca Patek on fiddle.  Sad Daddy performs all original material, and their songs have the unique quality of sounding familiar yet new at the same time.  Music fans in these parts are notoriously very selective about “new” or “original” music.  Suffice it to say, Sad Daddy easily won over a tough room.  Oh, and the name?  Guitarist Brian Martin tells the story of an old Arkansas backwoods man who’s common refrain to something in less than a good state of operation….”that’s one Sad Daddy….” 

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark legend and dance banjo maven Bookmiller Shannon, playing the traditional song “Shortnin’ Bread.” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

Author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage presents an historical portrait of the people, events and indomitable spirit of Ozark culture that resulted in the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and its enduring legacy of music and craft. This week, Charley continues our celebration of 50 years of the Buffalo National River. 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 photographer Ed Alexander.