Summary: Renowned Arkansas Americana and true folk singer-songwriter and film actor Joe Purdy recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Joe Purdy is joined in this performance by duos the Honey Dewdrops and also Smokey & the Mirror. Also, interviews with Joe. “From his home state of Arkansas to his home in Los Angeles, Joe Purdy has recorded a baker’s dozen worth of albums. His songs have turned up on numerous TV shows and film soundtracks. Most notably, however, in recent years the singer, songwriter and self-described “hillbilly” has come to see the world and his role in it somewhat differently, charting this direction on his latest album, "Who Will Be Next?” Here he firmly plants his feet deep in the tradition of folk artists such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs, applying his unique skills as writer and vocalist as a passionate observer and participant of our times.” - http://www.joepurdy.com Joe is joined onstage by two different husband and wife Americana and true folk duos The Honey Dewdrops and Smokey & the Mirror. “Based out of Baltimore, MD, the Honey Dewdrops continue a long line of husband and wife duos making beautiful music together. Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish now reside in Baltimore, but have strong connecting roots to the music in their home state of Virginia.” https://www.thehoneydewdrops.com “Smokey & The Mirror is husband and wife duo Bryan and Bernice Hembree. Based out of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Smokey & The Mirror have toured nationally/internationally over the past decade. The band has supported tours for Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wood Brothers, I’m With Her, Elephant Revival, John Fullbright, and many of their musical heroes.” - http://www.smokeyandthemirror.com In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1978 archival recording of Ozark original Sam Younger and himself performing the song “Kicking Mule,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins investigates historic outlaws of the Ozarks. Many famous outlaws including Bonnie & Clyde and Pretty Boy Floyd have hidden out in the Ozarks. Brooks guides us through this cult of criminality, recounting details of the Ozark experiences of Bonnie & Clyde in part three of this series called “Public Enemy.”
