Special to Ozark Living
What do Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell
and Charlie Rich all have in common?
If you guessed e Natural State, you're
right. Arkansas has produced some of
the most diverse and iconic pioneers of
American music and contributors to the
American songbook in the country.
With that in mind, this year the
Americana Music Association selected
the state of Arkansas as the regional
music focus for its 22nd annual
AMERICANAFEST that took place in
Nashville in September. Working in
partnership with Arkansas Tourism
and Visit Bentonville, the festival featured
multiple panels, special events and music
showcases over four days.
"We promote everything that
Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas has
to offer and a big part of that has to do
with the arts. And a big part of our culture
and arts in Northwest Arkansas is music,"
explained Aaron Mullins, Director of
Marketing and Communications for Visit
Bentonville.
"We were beyond thrilled to spotlight
the state of Arkansas at this year's festival
and celebrate its rich musical heritage,"
said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the
Americana Music Association. "rough
this programming, attendees were able
to experience the sounds of delta blues,
rockabilly and Ozark folk, as we welcomed
our friends from the Arkansas tourism,
Singer-songwriter and Pangurn native
Greg Spradlin, whose latest album "Hi-
Watter" was released in July, was one
of the many Arkansas performers at
the recent Americanafest.
Photo special to the
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Rett Peek
Cultivating
rich
Arkansas'
heritage
musical
"Our main goal is
connecting people,
artists and fans. Our
focus is on artists
getting together
with other artists
that they can work
with in the future
and collaborate with
artistically."
- Graham Weber
30 • November 2022 • oZArK LIvING
