Eureka Springs and Sprungbilly

I want to start tonight’s post by saying just how impressed I am with the small community of Eureka Springs. It is a cohesive, kind, caring and remarkably diverse group of people. Maybe the history has engendered the diversity, but it is still remarkable, and not necessarily what I might have expected in rural Arkansas. Apparently my expectations were misguided. They are also very welcoming to outsiders, including travelers just passing through.

I spent most of the day “taking care of business” - laundry and other life issues that needed tending. I had time for a brief stroll down by the lake. But then, I did brave the windy roads and go into down to see Sprungbilly at the Gravel Bar bar at the Wanderoo lodge . Sprungbilly is a local and much-loved Bluegrass/Newgrass band. They perform every Monday at this venue for free. I could have walked in and sat down at a table without paying a cover or purchasing anything to eat or drink. My meager soda water (I had to drive back on those windy roads in the dark) was all of $2.50. I felt so guilty I put a 20 in the band’s tip jar.

More to the point, Sprungbilly is really good! They could easily hold their own in any major metropolitan area. When I looked on their Facebook page, I saw that several members of the band had been nominated for instrumentalist of the year in the Arkansas Country Music Awards. It was a very enjoyable show. The music was not overly loud - I did not need ear plugs - and the local crowd casual and friendly. I would encourage you to view the videos I took, posted below. You will not be disappointed.

I saw everything from kids to old ladies, to beer-bellied men to the tatted, dyed and pierced. They clearly all knew and cared for each other. We could all take a lesson from this community. I started out sharing a table with Jim, with whom I had a nice conversation. He shared just how annoyed he was with the deliberately provocative conversations taking place in the U.S. these days. I chatted with Gray and his dog Shirley. I really wanted his photo, but he shared that he had been burned by another person who took his photo and, without asking his permission, posted it on social media. I could completely understand his reluctance. He was still so sweet and polite in respectfully declining. And then Skyler and Chris came and sat down at my table. Two very kind and friendly young men who gave me a great tip for a lunch spot on my way to Little Rock tomorrow.

I’ll be leaving the Ozarks behind and heading to the big city (or at least a city) tomorrow.