Ozark Folk Center State Park Voted Venue of the Year at 2018 Arkansas Country Music Awards
The Ozark Folk Center State Park received the award for “VENUE of the Year” at the inaugural Arkansas Country Music Awards show hosted by Collin Raye last Monday, June 4, at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Over 100,000 online ballots were cast by voters across the state for their favorite Arkansas musicians, promoters, and entertainers, according to Nathan Hunnicutt, the event’s producer. The award show’s audience, which was a veritable “who’s who” of Arkansas legends and up-and-coming artists, included family members of Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell.
Miss Arkansas, who hosted the VIP Red Carpet Event before the awards ceremony, congratulated Ozark Folk Center staffers Daren Dortin and Keith Symanowitz during their interview which was recorded for rebroadcast on AETN and Little Rock television networks.
Daren Dortin, Music Director at the Ozark Folk Center State Park, recognized Jimmy Driftwood, one of the founding fathers of the Ozark Folk Center, during his acceptance speech, and Keith Symanowitz, the park’s newest Program Specialist had this to say after the awards ceremony:
“We accepted the award for all the Ozark folks past and present who kept Mountain Music alive in their hearts all these years. Locals in Mountain View have been playing their tunes and songs on the [Ozark Folk Center] stage for the past 45 years and counting, and we accepted this award with them in mind.”
Bonnie Montgomery, who performed as a Feature Performer at the Ozark Folk Center last month took home two awards including AMERICANA/ROOTS Artist of the Year and FEMALE VOCALIST of the Year. The park will be hosting up-and-coming performer and recipient of ACOUSTIC ACT of the Year, Caleb Ryan Martin, on Wednesday, June 13 for a matinee performance from 2-3pm in their artisan Craft Village.
The Ozark Folk Center State Park auditorium hosts performances every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from 7-9 pm throughout the season. For more information, go to OzarkFolkCenter.com or to reserve tickets for upcoming Feature Performers visit OzarkFolkCenter.TicketLeap.com.
