Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at http://rockhousecenterforthearts.org/ Doors open at 6:30 for a potluck dinner, b.y.o.b. Music begins at 8. Please park across the street or anywhere downtown. Our backyard parking is reserved for the band and handicap parking. Call (417)272-8386 for more info.
The music of Aaron Smith and the Coal Biters is deeply rooted in Arkansas, telling tales of the Ozark hills and Buffalo River, singing stories of local legends and pioneers. Aaron grew up in the area, and after some time away, his love for the people and land brought him back to Harrison, Arkansas to raise his children with his wife. In 2013, Aaron met percussionist and vocalist Ryan Gentry, and a year later they were joined by multi-instrumentalist George Holcomb to become Aaron Smith and the Coal Biters.
These three generations of seasoned performers combine forces on guitar, banjo, upright bass, mandolin, hand drums, tambourines, and even washboards, foot cymbals, and clarinet. Aaron’s skilled guitar and banjo picking is reminiscent of John Prine, John Hartford, and David Wilcox, and with the Coal Biters behind him, their repertoire ranges from pensive, emotive ballads to southern roots grooves recalling The Steel Wheels or Old Crow Medicine Show. With timeless, singable melodies and foot-tapping bass and percussion, thoughtful lyrics are supported with a satisfying and entertaining musicality.
Justin Farren is an acclaimed yet unassuming singer-songwriter from Sacramento, CA. where he lives in a house that he literally built with his own two hands, about which he says "it's like living in a museum of my own mistakes". When it comes to his songs, Justin Farren is nothing short of a master craftsman painting lyrical pictures that are firmly rooted in the reality of day-to-day life. His delivery is humorous, thoughtful and engaging. His guitar playing is lively, intricate, and seemingly boundless. The Sacramento News & Review describes him as "The storyteller with an impeccable voice, a guitar and a headfull of funny, tender and engaging observation."