Mountain View is a small town tucked in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. It claims to be the American Folk Music Capitol. It may well be. It is an amazing little town.

Mountain View is the home of the Ozark Folk Center. It's a State Park that has two indoor theaters and a crafts village that features over 40 artists and crafts people who demonstrate their skills daily in woodworking, black smithing, candle making, quilt making, soap making, cooking, broom making, pottery, the making and playing of folk instruments and more. Visiting craftspeople are featured. There is a music shed where musicians perform six times throughout the day. It's the home for statewide musical events and conferences. There are nightly peformances of local and visiting musicians.

In addition to the Folk Center, Mountain View also has 6-8 other venues where musicians perform each night. Some charge nominal admission. Some are free. Each day, around the town courthouse, there are gazebos and porches where musicians gather informally to play music. On a sunny day, the sound of guitars, mandolins, fiddles, base fiddles, dulcimers, harmonicas, and banjos fill the air. People come from all over the nation to pick with other musicians. Many locals, young and old also play. It was a little cold on this visit for many to play around the town center. A few hearty folk braved the cold and wind to play anyway.

One of the highlights of this visit, was the performance of Clancey Ferguson, an 11 year old who played the fiddle and sang. She was terrific. Her rendition of Mule Skinner Blues and The Orange Blossom Special were incredible.

Here are some of the highlights of the visit...