Feb 24 2025 58 mins 3
This week, Louisiana old time and traditional Cajun music father-daughter duo the inimitable Dirk Powell with his daughter Amelia recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with Dirk.
“Dirk Powell is known as a “musician’s musician” in the circle of American roots music and beyond. He learned banjo and fiddle from his Kentucky grandfather, James Clarence Hay, and has been a part of the thriving Cajun/Creole music community in Louisiana since his early 20s. He has toured and recorded with musicians such as Joan Baez, Rhiannon Giddens, Eric Clapton, Buddy Miller, Loretta Lynn, and Levon Helm, while his contribution to film has found him collaborating with directors like Anthony Minghella ("Cold Mountain"), Ang Lee ("Ride with the Devil"), and Spike Lee ("Bamboozled"). His solo records, which often combine a traditional foundation with a wide-ranging commitment to emotion and original songs, have had impact around the globe. His original song “Waterbound” has been recorded over 100 times. He is also in demand as a producer and owns his own studio, the Cypress House, on the banks of Bayou Teche near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. On this performance, Dirk is joined by his daughter Amelia.” - https://www.dirkpowell.org/about
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers an archival recording of Ozark originals Aunt Lilly Freeze and her son Ervin Freeze singing the gospel classic “Just One Drop,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater deconstructs how melodies are played on the mountain dulcimer.
“Dirk Powell is known as a “musician’s musician” in the circle of American roots music and beyond. He learned banjo and fiddle from his Kentucky grandfather, James Clarence Hay, and has been a part of the thriving Cajun/Creole music community in Louisiana since his early 20s. He has toured and recorded with musicians such as Joan Baez, Rhiannon Giddens, Eric Clapton, Buddy Miller, Loretta Lynn, and Levon Helm, while his contribution to film has found him collaborating with directors like Anthony Minghella ("Cold Mountain"), Ang Lee ("Ride with the Devil"), and Spike Lee ("Bamboozled"). His solo records, which often combine a traditional foundation with a wide-ranging commitment to emotion and original songs, have had impact around the globe. His original song “Waterbound” has been recorded over 100 times. He is also in demand as a producer and owns his own studio, the Cypress House, on the banks of Bayou Teche near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. On this performance, Dirk is joined by his daughter Amelia.” - https://www.dirkpowell.org/about
In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers an archival recording of Ozark originals Aunt Lilly Freeze and her son Ervin Freeze singing the gospel classic “Just One Drop,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.
In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater deconstructs how melodies are played on the mountain dulcimer.
