Old Time Friday

Live Music at the Grove Park Stage

Ken Tillery

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
&
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM

Ken Tillery is a fingerstyle guitarist rooted in traditional American styles. He takes his inspiration from some of the great country, ragtime, and blues players, such as Sam McGee, Mississippi John Hurt, and Blind Blake. Over the course of his musical journey, Ken has befriended and studied with Andy Cohen and Roy Book Binder, who both continue to dedicate their lives to the preservation of early American roots music.

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Ken Tillery will be performing a selection of instrumental guitar songs in various early southern styles. The songs selected date from the 1850s up to the early 1940s and are from both white and African American traditions.

Rackensack Folklore Society & the Arkansas Country Dance Society

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
&
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM

The Rackensack Folklore Society, Pulaski County have met continuously in Little Rock since 1963, to preserve and perform the old-time music of the Ozarks.  Lively dance tunes, upbeat ragtime and melodic waltzes are performed on traditional acoustic instruments. Their songs tell stories of the past, and their toe-tapping music will lift your spirits and take you back to an earlier time.  They will be joined by dancers from the Arkansas Country Dance Society, a group of recreational dancers based in North Little Rock, who perform and teach traditional dance with roots in English and North American Culture. 

Arkansas Highlands Stringband

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
&
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

The Arkansas Highlands Stringband evolved from the Arkansas Highlands Folk Project, a collaborative effort of The Garland County Library and The Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance to educate, entertain and preserve the music, arts, culture and heritage of the Arkansas Highlands...the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. The band consists of Arkansas musicians who are dedicated to the preservation of Old Time Traditional Music.   Members are Jenny & Tom Sartain-Mt. View, Judy Warner-Sheridan and Charlie Moore-Hot Springs. Their program will feature Traditional Old Time music, a little history,  bit of humor and audience friendly conversations.

Common Ground Band

9:00 AM

The COMMON GROUND BAND is a refreshing and distinctive four-member acoustic ensemble which has been entertaining audiences throughout the central Arkansas area since 2012. The band describes their music as a blend of early rock, blues and country, performed in its own unique style. In 2017, Common Ground auditioned for the Arkansas Arts Council and was selected as one of the bands to represent Arkansas in the council's "Artist on Tour program". From back-yard parties to concerts and festivals, the COMMON GROUND BAND will complement any event

Mike Bearden

11:00 AM

Mike grew up listening to The Beatles. The Lennon/McCartney songwriting team introduced him to music that he cared about. The Vanilla Fudge taught him that great songs can be interpreted to fit your style. Cat Stevens, Dan Fogelberg, Jackson Browne, Janis Ian, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and many others solidified his love for the acoustic guitar. All writers are kings/queens. Without them, what would we play?

Jacob Flores

1:00 PM

Former American Idol contestant, Jacob Flores, is an award-winning, one-man band. His music features live looping and an extremely diverse repertoire of both American and Latin-American styles. With the release of his breakthrough album titled ‘Cupid,’ Flores is solidifying his position as a stunning icon in the genres of Pop, R&B and Soul. 

Buddy Case & Casey Penn

3:00 PM

Buddy Case was recently named the 2021 ACMA Guitar Player of the Year! Case and Penn combine their talents to put together a unique show that features an inviting on-stage chemistry and an easy, genuine rapport with fans.