Journey back in time to the early days of roots music, blues, and American folk with guest star Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. The concert opens with a special performance by the Music Roots Ensemble featuring youth from Mountain View Schools.
Proud sponsor: STONE BANK, a community bank, supporting the Music Roots Program in Mountain View Public Schools
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Music & Craft Season Passes are honored at this event. Season pass holders gain admission to all OFC-produced music festivals, contests, and evening concerts at the Ozark Highlands Theater. (A $250 value for $79.) Passes also include unlimited visits to the Craft Village at the Ozark Folk Center for live mountain music, craft demonstrations, shopping at 20+ artisan shops, and old-fashioned fun every Tuesday through Saturday during the season (Apr. 11 through Oct. 28).
About the guest star:
Blind Boy Paxton is an American musician, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. Paxton’s style draws from pre-World War II blues and jazz and is influenced by Fats Waller and “Blind” Lemon Jefferson. According to The Wall Street Journal, Paxton is “virtually the only music-maker of his generation — playing guitar, banjo, piano and violin, among other implements – to fully assimilate the blues idiom of the 1920s and ’30s, the blues of Bessie Smith and Lonnie Johnson”. Paxton’s talent and contributions to traditional, acoustic blues music have earned him comparisons to contemporary artists such as Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, and Corey Harris. His sound is similar to groups such as the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Our Native Daughters, Paxton is one of the few contemporary African-American banjo players touring today.
Still in his 30s, Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton has earned a reputation for transporting audiences back to the 1920’s, making them wish they could stay there for good. Paxton may be one of the greatest multi-instrumentalists of his generation.
Along with Buddy Guy, Eric Burdon, Edgar Winter, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and others, Jerron performed at a sold-out Lead Belly Tribute at Carnegie Hall. It is no exaggeration to say that Paxton made a huge impression. In recent years since his incredible performance at that star-studded show in one of the world’s great concert houses, Paxton’s own star has been rising fast. He opened for Buddy Guy and also Robert Cray, and has performed at numerous other festivals throughout the USA and internationally.
Paxton was featured on CNN’s Great Big Story and appeared in the multi-award-winning music documentary “American Epic” produced by Robert Redford, Jack White & T-Bone Burnett. ‘Blind Boy’ toured the U.S. with the musicians from the groundbreaking music documentary.
Get tickets to Music Roots Showcase feat. Blind Boy Paxton
Need a place to stay? The Cabins at Dry Creek, located at the Ozark Folk Center, offer modern duplex rooms to meet a variety of needs including pet-friendly rooms, suites, and family-style rooms.
Call the Ozark Folk Center with questions about planning your stay in Mountain View, Arkansas at 800-264-FOLK (3655) or 870-269-3851.
