September 7, 2024

On September 7, 2024, a mini festival “preview” is scheduled to take place in and around the civic center grounds. Attendees can expect music, storytelling, artisans’ demonstration and other activities represented at the festival. The annual event in downtown West Plains celebrates Ozarks music and culture. 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Click here for the latest schedule of events

Photo Gallery

Click here to view the gallery of September 7, 2024

PERFORMERS

In the Civic Center Theater

The Shortleaf Band has been a part of the Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival from the inception and for 30 years has built a strong relationship with the festival. They will open the music programs for this inaugural Ozark Heritage Festival. Celebrating the people, land, and music from the first “Scots Irish” settlers in the area, Michael and Tenley Fraser use their talents with fiddle and vocals to create a story in a traditional and contemporary style of the Ozarks while they entertain. To know the stories yourself, you will just have to come and listen for yourself.

Duane Porterfield has a passion for music that started in his childhood when he started learning acoustic instruments and honing his skills alongside his brothers Dennis and Les Crider at festivals and fairs. Duane in 1997 then stumbled into the Mountain Music Shop in Shawnee, Kansas, where he was introduced to the mountain dulcimer. Reminded of his great-grandfather playing a similar instrument in Duane’s youth, he would pick up the mountain dulcimer and go on to be a former National Mountain Dulcimer Champion along with his current Arkansas State Old Time Banjo Champion title in the senior division.

The Ozark Hellbenders, deriving their name from the local salamander with the same name, have Gordon Johnston on piano, Randy Aufdembrinke on guitar, and CD Scott on guitar and mandolin, they create an eclectic sound with their instruments and vocals. Playing with a range of older rock and roll, country, bluegrass, Celtic, and gospel music, there is a little something for everyone to enjoy.

Hogmolly features Bo Brown on guitar, Mat Calton on mandolin, and Jeff Sowards on bass. The Springfield-based trio have thoughtful originals along with reimagined covers that have the eclectic, folk, and bluegrass style that Bo, Matt, and Jeff have known from their upbringing. Having performed since their formation in the late 90’s, Hogmolly have played in clubs, concerts, and festivals to share their unique sound.

STORYTELLING

1-2:30 PM Storytelling with Marideth Sisco – Stories as performance

Marideth Sisco using her story “Polly” to examine narrative, interpretation, and the use of linguistics while highlighting the importance of family and community archives to conserve resources. Marideth’s talk is sponsored by Missouri Humanities, Speakers Bureau.

2:30-3:30 PM Storytelling with Marideth Sisco -The importance of family archives and how to start one.

Marideth Sisco’s observations on life in the Ozarks are carefully distilled from a wealth of hill-country lore handed down through generations of rural and small-town living. Today, her writing skill is heard regularly through “These Ozarks Hills,” her radio program on KSMU that focuses on the daily life, joys, and lore of the region. She is a Missouri Master storyteller and is the 2018 winner of the Quill Award from the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame. Sisco says, “We’ll be talking about the importance of storytelling to capturing and preserving history of a place and its people.”

DULCIMER WORKSHOPS

Twenty-five beginner instruments have been purchased by West Plains Council on the Arts for this purpose and will be available to the first who claim them.

Cockrum bought her first dulcimer in Ohio in the 90s because her young daughter, Naomi, was introduced to it and learned to play a song at a festival booth. They played together for several years.

Dulcimer playing had taken a back seat for other life ventures, but now they have started again, including Naomi’s daughter, Kay. “Now we have 3 generations that sit around and have fun with our at-home jam sessions. The other grand kids (as young as 4) enjoy strumming along with us,” says Cleo.

Duane Porterfield is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist. In 1997 he entered the Mountain Music Shop in Shawnee, Kansas and was introduced to the mountain dulcimer.  He recalled as a young child watching his great grandfather strumming on a similar stringed box with a stick and feather.  Duane left the music shop that day with his first mountain dulcimer failing to realize the impact this instrument would have on his life.  “The mountain dulcimer has been the medicine that relieves my headache, has taken me back to a simpler time, and has introduced me to some of my closest friends,” he says.

Retiring in 2013, Cindi and Duane moved to their Arkansas home where they volunteer at the many various festivals in the region and at The Ozark Folk Center State Park.  Duane now spends much of his time as a regular performer and emcee at the Folk Center’s live shows.  He also assists with sales, promotions, and the creation of McSpadden Dulcimers in Mountain View.

“I want those attending my workshops to be able to take only what they need from my classes and combine it with what they can use from other instructors and/or resources to develop their own style and uniqueness with the mountain dulcimer.  Then share your music.  There’s room for us all.”  Duane Porterfield 

EXHIBITS

Civic Center Mezzanine

Join Dennis and Cowboy Rick for a visual treat – some of the photos taken on their 2024 Dust in the Wind Stagecoach Journey.

Civic Center Lobby

The committee has assembled a display of items and artifacts to represent the 30 year history of the Old-Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival – available to view 1-7 p.m. in the Civic Center Lobby.

ACTIVITIES ON THE WEST LAWN

TRADITIONAL SQUARE DANCING

We announce an addition to our indoor activities lineup for the Ozark Heritage Festival Preview on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

From 5 pm to 7 pm in the Civic Center Exhibit Hall, Kelly Pompei will coordinate and teach Old Time Style dance, which is different from the typically known American square dance.

We will have Hawken and Emily Boldman helping by providing live music for our dancers. Both are traditional musicians who care deeply about preserving the history and music of the Ozarks. The Boldman’s will offer a fantastic addition to this dancing activity. Familiar with performing for local square dances, it is something Hawken and Emily enjoy when not being a part of the dance themselves. When not at the festival, you can see the Boldman’s perform at the Traditional Music Jam in McClurg, MO, as well as other parties and festivals in the area when they can.

So come on in and join us for some old-time dancing and fun at the Ozark Heritage Festival Preview.

To learn more about the Ozark Heritage Festival Preview, visit our website at https://www.oldtimemusic.org/?page_id=7245.

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