A mix of folk art and music: The Original Ozark Folk Festival features Ozark Daredevils, the HillBenders & Handmade Moments

This year’s Original Ozark Folk Fair is a full circle moment for the Ozark Daredevils, but it’s not a goodbye. It’s a see you later, maybe.

Founding Daredevil John Dillon says they are still going strong musically, but they are going to ease up on their concert schedule after their current tour concludes in November.

“We’re going to become scarce. We’re not going to disappear,” Dillon says. “We’re going to do shows if they’re meaningful, and we agree as a band, they’re important for us to do,” which means some shows on this tour are the last time the Daredevils will visit.

Founded in 1971, one of their first shows was a storied music festival on the outskirts of Eureka Springs in 1973. The one-off event also featured The Earl Scruggs Revue, John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Leo Kottke, Mason Proffit, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Jimmy Driftwood.

“For our band, that was our first big gig. We had played a lot of colleges and schools and bars and small, small venues. That was our first taste of playing in front of 20 or 30,000 people with a lot of artists that we were just amazed to be on the same bill as. We were literally a month from flying over to London to record our first album,” he says.

“It’s why we’re always thrilled to come play Eureka Springs, and especially The Auditorium, because it’s historic. … We’re historic at this point,” he exclaims with a laugh.

He says he’s touched by the amount of fans pouring in from around the world to attend their shows, especially the ones close to home.

“We always say that music is the one safe space. No matter what your political views are, no matter what your sexual orientation is, no matter what your religious thoughts are — when you come in that auditorium or music venue, everybody there is there for the same purpose, and that is to enjoy live music by this artist,” Dillon concludes. “For those two hours, it’s just the safest place in the world to be. And we kind of feel like Eureka Springs is that way too.”

THE ORIGINAL FOLK FESTIVAL

The Ozark Daredevils perform for the final evening of the Original Ozark Folk Festival, a music and arts celebration with roots reaching back to 1947 when a society of artists were looking for ways to preserve Ozark culture, which they felt was fading.

“It was the favorite town festival for decades,” says Nancy Paddock, organizer for the yearly fête. In decades past, she says the city even closed school on Thursdays and Fridays for the festivals’ parades and a pageant.

While the pomp and circumstance of the festival has shifted along with the decades, Paddock works to keep some of the earlier traditions alive. One of her favorites is when third graders from Eureka Springs peforms a traditional dance for the annual Hedgehoppers performance.

“They have been doing this every single year since 1947, so anybody who was born and raised in Eureka Springs has been a Hedgehopper,” Paddock adds. This year Ozark folk duo Still on the Hill perform with the kids.

Another tradition is the Barefoot Ball which dates back to 1951. It was named for a couple who won a vacation to Eureka Springs on the condition that they remain shoe-less the entire time. This year’s shoe-optional party will feature music from Front Porch and Patti Steel Band, who are local to music lovers in the Ozarks.

The second day of the festival is a free and family friendly day in Basin Spring Park with an all-day Ozark Folk Fair with art from locals including Jessica Ames Russell, Julie Khan Valentine, Rhonda Dixon, Vicki Hardcastle and Lisa Crews Potter. Instrument makers Ron Lutz and Bayard Blain will also have handmade guitars and more for sale.

Music includes performances by local favorites including the Mountain Gypsies, March to August, the Korey McKelvy Duo, Mountain Alice, Meadow Makers, The Bayard Band and the Creek Rocks, a Springfield-based duo that recently performed at the Library of Congress. Multi-instrumentalist Patti Steel will serve as emcee and sit in with a few acts.

Paddock says she’s particularly excited about Matt Axton and Bad Moon who will perform in the park too. Axton, she says, is the son of actor, singer and songwriter Hoyt Axton, who wrote “Joy to the World,” with Three Dog Night.

The annual Original Ozark Folk Festival is a labor of love for Paddock, a long-time Eurekan and music lover who oversees the festival’s booking, promotion and operation. Tickets, a full schedule and line-up are available on the festival’s website: ozarkfolk.com.

The 78th annual Original Ozark Folk Festival

WHAT — A celebration of the Ozarks, the festival includes the annual Hedgehoppers Dance performed by local third graders, with music this year from Still on the Hill. The annual Barefoot Ball with live music from Front Porch and Patti Steel Band. Headlining at the Aud are The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Handmade Moments with openers The Steel Wheels and The HillBenders. The Ozark Folk Faire returns with art, instruments and live music from The Mountain Gypsies, March to August, The Korey McKelvy Duo, Matt Axton and Bad Moon, Mountain Alice, Meadow Makers, The Bayard Blain Band, The Creek Rocks and a community square dance with Old 78s and caller Steve Green in Basin Spring Park. Live music and other fun happenings all weekend at other venues.

WHEN — Sept. 4-6

WHERE — The Aud, Basin Spring Park and other venues in downtown Eureka Springs.

COST — Barefoot Ball $15 online or $20 at the door; The Hillbenders & Handmade Moments, $20 online, $25 at the door; The Ozark Mountain Daredevils with special guest Steel Wheels, $39.50 online. Ozark Folk Fair is free with arts, crafts and more for sale.

INFO — ozarkfolk.com

The annual folk faire featuring artists, makers and music returns as one of the free events during the Original Ozark Folk Festival. The free and family friendly event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Basin Park. .(Courtesy Photo) .Handmade Moments perform Friday, Sept. 5 during the Original Ozark Folk Festival in Eureka Springs. .(Courtesy Photo)

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