Folk Music Spotlight: Arkansas Folk Festival & The Parker Unit

Spotlight on Heritage: The Parker Unit & Gresham McMillon at the 2025 Arkansas Folk Festival

Date: April 18 & 19, 2025 Location:  Stone County Courthouse Square, Mountain View, AR Broadcast: Live on KWMV 88.5 FMFeatured in: Timberlane Spotlight Blog | Mountain View Spotlight

Each spring, as the dogwoods bloom and music fills the hills, the Arkansas Folk Festival brings the heart of the Ozarks to life. In 2025, one performance stood out as a beautiful blend of tradition, talent, and family legacy—The Parker Family & Gresham McMillon, live from the Stone County Courthouse Square in Mountain View, Arkansas.

This exceptional Bluegrass Folk performance was not only a highlight of the festival but also broadcast live on KWMV 88.5 FM, capturing the spirit of the folk music capital of the world for listeners far and wide.

🎶 Meet the Musicians:

Mary Parker: A nine-time state fiddle champion, Mary Parker continues to lead the way for young folk artists in the Ozarks. Whether she's lighting up a stage with a fiery fiddle tune or guiding students through old-time music traditions at the Ozark Mountain Music Association, Mary is deeply rooted in talent and purpose.

Gordon Parker: On mandolin and vocals, Gordon brings a rhythmic drive and smooth voice, adding power and polish to the family sound. His performance hinted at even greater things to come, with many locals saying they could see him making waves in the country music world.

Charlene Parker: The youngest of the trio, Charlene plays with the confidence and heart of a seasoned pro. Her youthful energy on the fiddle is balanced by a deep reverence for tradition—a true example of how the folk spirit lives on in the next generation.

Gresham McMillon: Known and loved throughout Mountain View, Gresham is the band's heartbeat with his steady, upright bass. A fixture at the Ozark Folk Center and a frequent collaborator with artists across the region, Gresham’s musical journey—including trips to Ireland, where his family has deep ties—has even been featured on Folk Music Rewind. His passion for cultural storytelling and deep love for the Ozark life come through in every note.

🎙️ A Legacy of Sound

Long before they graced the festival stage, Mary and her siblings performed since childhood at renowned venues like the Ozark Folk Center, The Jimmy Driftwood Barn, and numerous jam sessions around Mountain View. In 2019, the Parker siblings sat down for an interview with Joe Hart in the little studio barn at KWMV 88.5 FM. This moment—just a stone’s throw from Club Possum and The Meeting Place—introduced listeners to a young musical family committed to honoring the past while propelling it forward.

Since then, their story has only soared to new heights! In a recent Folk Music Rewind interview, Gresham McMillon enthusiastically shared his cherished memories of playing in Ireland, his passionate work at the Ozark Folk Center, and the sheer joy of performing alongside Mountain View’s most extraordinary young talents, like the Parker Unit and many other incredible pickers here in Mountain View, the Folk Music Capital. He spoke of music as a craft and a vibrant connection to culture, place, and people.

🎥 Capturing the Moment

This 2025 Courthouse Square performance wasn't just another concert—it was a powerful reminder of what Mountain View stands for: community, tradition, and the living legacy of folk music. Audiences clapped, danced, and stood in awe as generations of Ozark heritage came to life through the strings and voices of this remarkable group.

As we look back, we celebrate not only the music that was made that day but also the community that nurtures it. Mountain View remains a place where roots run deep, and every note is a thread in a much larger tapestry.

📌 Stay tuned for more artist features, event recaps, and musical history in each edition of the Timberlane Spotlight Blog.🌐 For radio archives, artist updates, and future performance schedules, visit TimberlaneMusic.com or follow us on Facebook.

📻 "Folk Music Rewind" airs every Monday at 4PM on KWMV 88.5 FM.

Written by Al Timberlane, founder of Timberlane Entertainment Company, “Imagine Tomorrow Today.”