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 through the Ozark hills with historians, authors and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region.

This week, award winning Missouri Ozark traditionalist Van Colbert performs live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. A performance from Old Time musicians Dave Para & Cathy Barton. Also, interviews with Van Colbert, Dave Para & Cathy Barton. Ozark Highlands Radio host Dave Smith and producer Jeff Glover discuss the fine points of what makes “folk music,” and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of famed songwriter and Ozark original Jimmy Driftwood.

Like an old pair of jeans, Van Colbert and his family band are familiar and very comfortable in almost any setting. Van leads the group on banjo and vocals, with a laid back and easy style. Van and his family have been playing music all of their lives, in and around the Springfield, MO area. Van also performs with the “Blackberry Winter Band,” whose music was the soundtrack for the 2010 Oscar nominated film Winter’s Bone.

Performing together for over 30 years, the husband and wife team of Dave Para and Cathy Barton have long been tuned into the sounds, traditions, and ways of old time musicians. Cathy Barton was an early adopter of Grandpa Jones’ “claw-hammer” style of banjo playing. She worked with both Grandpa and Ramona in Mountain View, AR and Nashville, TN among other musical hot spots over the years.  Dave Para (guitar/vocals) moved to rural Missouri in the late 70’s and began what has been a long and fruitful career as a musician. The duo was recorded as part of the annual “Tribute to Grandpa Jones” event at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.

Ozark Highlands Radio host Dave Smith and producer Jeff Glover discuss the fine points of what makes “folk music,” drawing from interviews & perspectives of various folk musicians.

Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment offers an archival recording of famed songwriter and Ozark original Jimmy Driftwood performing a song, using a hickory leaf as a musical instrument, from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.