Ozark mountain soul

What do you get when you mix roots music like bluegrass, folk, and country with influences from jam bands, gospel, R&B, funk, and blues?

That’s OK, no one else knows what to call it either. Some fans go with “newgrass” or “jamgrass”. Local singer Opal Agafia, a vocal force to be reckoned with, dubbed it “Ozark mountain soul” and organized the festival of the same name running this Thursday through Saturday.

If you have to ask where it’s held, you’ve probably never heard of The Farm, the Eureka Springs campground, mountain biking destination, and event venue that has become an under-the-radar center of the jamgrass scene.

The Farm and the local sound will be featured in a chapter in my upcoming book, Welcome to Eureka Springs: The I-Sh*t-You-Not History of America’s Quirkiest Town. That means I’ll be there Saturday not only to enjoy grooves and grub but also to soak in the soul of the place.

The line-up includes area standbys such as Arkansauce, Red Oak Ruse, and Brick Fields along with road warriors like jam band legend Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon and the Grammy-winning, Nashville-based SteelDrivers. Opal headlines two nights herself.

For more information, visit the Ozark Mountain Soul website.