Folk Center Evening Concert Highlights Women Performers Annual concert honors past and present women musicians

“There’s always a story that accompanies a woman’s reason for playing music,” says Mary Gillihan, MC for this concert. Sometimes it’s the common need; soothing a fretful child, helping to make the work time pass or singing in church. Some women came from families of singers and players while others took up a profession on their own.

On August 9th, the Ozark Folk Center State Park will present an entire evening of women and the songs they sang. There will be performances that remember women who are no longer with us and songs in honor of those who have been at the Park for a good many years. The music is varied and crosses all ages with the younger girls from the group Twang, those in the middle such as Ruby Pines, Crystal McCool and Shay Poole to those who have been here awhile such as Bette Rae Miller and Bess Kelly plus several others. A complete list can be found at ozarkfolkcenter.com clicking on the date of the concert and then looking at “today at the Folk Center.” There will also be songs from the Shape Note singing style by the woman who regularly perform with the Center’s mixed group of Shape Note Singers.

The concert is from 7-9 pm with an intermission. There will be time to get popcorn, soft drinks and such before the second half of the show. There will also be a chance to meet the performers at the end of the evening as they gather in the rear of the theater. This concert is always a special treat for those who have been coming since its inception and a wonderful evening for the women who perform with others they may not be usually scheduled with as a group.

The Craft Village is open during the day from 10am to 5pm and the Skillet Restaurant serves from 7am until 8pm. If it’s comfort and rest you want, the Cabins at Dry Creek can be your overnight accommodation. Call the Ozark Folk Center State Park at 870-269-3851 for further details and we hope to see you at the “Women’s Concert.”