Still on the Hill, comprised of Donna Stjerna (L) and Kelly Mulhollan (R) are on the lineup for this years Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS.

Fayetteville, AR — If you have ever seen Still on the Hill perform, one of the adjectives you might attach to them is ‘passionate’. This energetic ‘folkgrass’ duo has graced the stages of the Walnut Valley Festival for several years as main stage performers, hosts of the NewSongs Showcase and as Toucan Jam, their multicultural, tour around the globe performance, for kids.

This year they have a project that they are more passionate about than anything they have tackled so far. For over a decade, Kelly and Donna have been getting back into the Ozark hills, where they hail from, and meeting some of the more ‘colorful’ characters that live there. They have written dozens of songs honoring these folks.

The duo is working with Jones Television on an Arkansas Heritage Grant to help preserve the Ozark culture and these unsung heroes by creating a CD/Booklet and documentary. They will also play 12 free concerts around the state of Arkansas, in the communities where the songs were birthed. All of the sales from the CD/Booklet sold in Arkansas will go to help get banjos, guitars and fiddles to rural, under-served children.

Some of the folks celebrated in song are; Ed Stilley from Hogscald Holler. He makes one-of-a-kind ‘folk-art’ guitars and fiddles that one would have to see to believe. Hand sawn wood, door springs and saw blades mounted inside, braising rod frets, door hinge tailpieces and pork chop bone bridges make these instruments sing! Still on the Hill will be playing a song about Ed on those very instruments in their concerts this year, and they encourage pickers and fiddlers to come up after the show and try them out, it’s truly an experience to play one.

Ed Stilley from Hogscald Holler makes one-of-a-kind folk-art instruments and has made instruments for Still on the Hill.Violet Hensley is a fiddle maker known for putting a rattlesnake rattle in her fiddles because the fiddle is the Devil’s instrument and the rattle would keep him away.

Another character in the project is Violet Hensley from Yellville, Arkansas. Violet carves fiddles and always puts a rattlesnake rattle in each one. She said her Ma told her that the fiddle was the Devil’s instrument and the rattle would keep him away. Violet plays the fiddle on top of her head. Donna says she’s working on that technique but it may take a while. The song they penned for her is called “Devil Snake.”

As passionate amateur historians, Still on the Hill got all fired up when their local librarian told them the story of Willie from Snowball, Arkansas. Apparently right after the Civil War, a young, deaf ex-slave was lost in the hills near Snowball. The story goes that a Confederate soldier on his way home found the tiny boy and raised him to be a fine stone mason. Ironically, she said there is no tombstone for him in the cemetery because he was an ex-slave. The duo went to explore the town of Snowball and wrote the song with that sad ending about the stone mason without his own stone only to find out years later, the town folk of Snowball bought a new stone for Willie with his name on it. Maybe they need to re- write the ending.

Of course there are 14 songs on the upcoming CD and it will be available this year at the Walnut Valley Festival…there’s no way to talk about each and every person in this short article. You will just have to come to one of their shows and get the CD to boot!

In this world of homogenization, where everything from coast to coast looks, sounds and tastes the same, Still on the Hill is passionately serving up a bit of Ozark culture for you to sit back and savor!

One more tidbit. Still on the Hill’s children’s program is usually called Toucan Jam but this year at the Walnut Valley Festival they will be doing a children’s version of their Ozark show. STILL ON THE HILL’S OZARK for KIDS! It will be hand clapping-foot stompin’ fun with lots of interaction. Several kids will even be invited up on stage to be part of an Ozarkestra with scrub boards, pickin’ bows, gourd banjos and other Ozark instruments. Good time for the whole family!

The 37th annual Walnut Valley Festival begins on September 17th in Winfield, Kansas with hands on music workshops and an evening concert of Western music presented by Bill Barwick, Roz Brown, Dave Stamey and the Diamond W Wranglers (formerly known as the Prairie Rose Wranglers). The four stages open September 18th and continue through September 21st.

Advance tickets are on sale now at the Walnut Valley Festival office, 918 Main Street in Winfield, Kansas or by calling 620-221-3250. For more information log on to the festival’s website at www.wvfest.com

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L-R Aaron Thornton(3rd), Joe Collins(1st), and Rob Pearcy(2nd)

After three 3rd place finishes in the National Mountain Dulcimer Contest at the Walnut Valley Festival, Joe Collins of Shelby, NC finally took the first place trophy. He also won $150 and a 4FHKK Custom Mountain Dulcimer by the Dulcimer Shoppe/McSpadden of Mountain View, AR. Joe is a veteran of this contest having placed in ‘04, ‘05 and 2006. Joe has been playing the mountain dulcimer for 29 years. He was first introduced the dulcimer by a high school friend, Ellen Fishbwine. She had one and told Joe, she wanted him to teach her to play the instrument. Joe said, ” I had no idea what it was, so she sent it home with me where I learned to play it and fell in love with it.” His own first Mt. Dulcimer was a Father’s Day present from his family.

A longtime festival fan from Smyrna, TN took second place this year. For fourteen years, Rob Pearcy has been coming to the Festival here in Winfield. Rob is a fixture at many of the contests not only entering this competition but also the mandolin and flat-pick guitar contests. He also helps out fellow contestants in by playing back-up. He has been playing the mountain dulcimer for the past 27 years and says “stubbornness” caused him to enter the contest again. Rob is a multi talented individual and also plays the guitar, mandolin, Dobro, old time banjo, harmonica and the bass. Coming to Winfield and the Festival is the high point of the year. Rob adds, “The rest of the year seems irrelevant.” The second place trophy, $125 and a 6FHCRB Mountain Dulcimer by the Dulcimer Shoppe/McSpadden of Mountain View, AR is what Rob takes back to Smyrna, TN.

Aaron Thornton of Carrier, MS was the third place winner in this contest. Aaron has entered the contest three times and this time he made the cut to the final five and eventually to third place. He wanted to enter this contest because it is a “National” contest and placing in this would be important. His uncle, Bill Burks who builds mountain dulcimers gave him his first instrument nine years ago. Thornton loves playing music and jamming here at the festival. This is his third time to come to Winfield. Thornton has a hobby of collecting old stringed musical instruments and old music records. . The third place trophy, $1o0 and a 4FGCS Mountain Dulcimer by The Dulcimer Shoppe/McSpadden of Mountain View, AR, was the result of his efforts.

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L-R Roy Curry (3rd), Dillon Hodges (1st) and Carl Miner(3rd)

Dillon Hodges of Florence, AL, this years first place winner, had entered this contest four times but had never placed in the top five. A 17-year old high school senior, Dillon, has been playing the guitar for the past six years and also plays the mandolin. He got his first guitar from his uncle because he wanted to learn to play an instrument. He has a CD, “Stormy Weather,” produced by Nashville flat picker, Tim May. It was fun watching Dillon choose his first place guitar. You see, Dillon plays left-handed and all the prize guitars were for right-handed players. Trying to finger backwards and to strum up instead of down was a feat that Dillon did quite well. For his efforts Dillon won $2,000, the 1st place trophy and he choose the Collings Winfield Model Mahogany/Adirondack Spruce Guitar by Collings Guitars Inc. of Austin, TX.

Second place went to an individual who also placed second in 1998 and first in 1999. This was the sixth time Carl Miner of Austin, TX has entered this contest. He also enters the mandolin, and finger style guitar contests here at the Festival. He’s been playing the guitar for the past 17 years. His first guitar was given to him by his step-dad who also taught him the basics. His efforts netted him a Martin D-18 Golden Era Guitar by C.F. Martin and Company/the Martin Guitar Company of Nazareth, PA and also the 2nd place trophy.

A former champion, Roy Curry of Chattanooga, TN, placed third in this competition. Roy was the champion in 1980 and 1991 and placed second in 1999 and third in 2004. He has entered this contest ten times and says he has played the guitar “40 long years.” Roy teaches some and also plays the banjo. Will he be back, “Yep,” he says. He also enjoys playing in the band called “Lone Mountain Band (www.lonemountainband.net) which he has done for the last 6 or 7 years. The 3rd place trophy and a Taylor GS Guitar by Taylor Guitars of El Cajon, CA were the results of his efforts.

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L-R James Schlender (3rd) Brook Wallace (1st) and Ellie Goodman (2nd)

Brook Wallace of Burleson, TX, an 18-year old student took first place. Brook is a college student majoring in music at Tarrant County College and she plays in the TCC Jazz Band. This was her second trip to Winfield. She says she had to come back because she had the desire to place first in this contest. She has been playing the fiddle most of her life, taking up the instrument when she was only 7-years old. Brook also plays the guitar, mandolin and piano. Wallace’s parents gave her the first fiddle she says, “Because I kept after them to get me one.” She also plays in her family’s band, The Wallace Family Band. Brook takes back to TX the 1st place trophy, $250 and a Simon Nandor Violin provided by Keller Strings of Topeka, KS.

Ellie Goodman of Edmond, OK took home the second place trophy and a Euorpean Violin provided by Keller Strings of Topeka, KS. This is the first time she has been to Winfield and the Festival and she considers it “a wonderful and inspiring experience.” She has been playing the fiddle for around seven years and also plays mandolin. Ellie says she actually became interested in the fiddle because of the music she was exposed to as a child… music by Ricky Skaggs and Bill Monroe. She was 10 when she got her first fiddle. Her parents bought it from a local fiddle shop. “I’ll be back,” she says, because it’s a great experience and is wonderful for players like me who want to expose themselves to a wide range of music styles.”

A 13-year old student, James Schlender of Bozeman, MT captured 3nd place in this year’s contest. This was James’ second time entering the Winfield contest. Last year he finished 2nd. James said, “I came to have fun and compete against the big guys.” He has been playing the fiddle for only four and one-half years and also plays a little mandolin and guitar. James got his first fiddle from his teacher’s wife’s cousin and he now plays the one that he won last year. He takes back to MT the 3rd Place Trophy and $250.

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L-R Tim Thompson(2nd), Don Alder(1st), and Dan Bliss (3rd)

Don Alder of Vancouver, BC, Canada placed first in this prestigious contest. Alder is a Technical Production Manager for the Rick Hansen Foundation. This is his fifth time attending the Festival. He is also a songwriter and has placed three years in a row in the instrumental portion of the Songwriter’s Showcase here at the Festival. At the age of 13 he was given an electric guitar when he got sick and had to miss school for 6 months. In addition to the guitar he also plays the harp guitar. Don chose the Larrivee LV-10 Guitar by Jean Larrivee Guitars USA Inc of Oxnard, CA. He also takes back to Vancouver, BC the 1st Place Trophy and $3,000.

Second place went to Tim Thompson of Hendersonville, TN. Tim came to Winfield last year for the first time and placed in the top five in this competition. He is a full-time musician in Nashville doing session work and some live shows. In addition to the guitar Tim plays mandolin. He says he has been playing the guitar since he was 12 years old and got his first guitar, an old Sears Airline Guitar with the amp built into the case, from his older brother Denny. When asked if he will come back to Winfield and the Festival? “Of course,” he says “I have to try for first place in this contest.” Tim won the 2nd place trophy and a Triggs Flattop Guitar by Jim & Ryan Triggs of Lawrence, KS.

Dan Bliss, a 48-year old professional musician from Merriam, KS placed third in this competition. Bliss has entered this contest three times and in 2005 he placed second. He plays a lot in the greater Kansas City area, the upper mid-west and does some teaching. When asked about his early playing days he says he has been playing for 37 years and began playing on his older brother’s Epiphone guitar. About the Festival, Dan says, “I’m starting to feel at home here.” For his talents he won the 2nd place trophy and a Gallagher GA-70 Cut-a-way Guitar by J.W. Gallagher & son of Wartrace, TN.

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