3 Penny Acre CD Release Concert

 

Sunday we attended the 3 Penny Acre CD Release Concert for their new album, Rag and Bone.  3 Penny Acre is an awesome Folk Americana band from Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Over the last few years, they have been my favorite band. Their name comes from the fact that the price of the Louisiana Purchase was three cents an acre. 3 Penny Acre is Bayard Blain, Bernice Hembree, and Bryan Hembree. They are all wonderful musicians, vocalists and songwriters.

Rag and Bone is their third album following the self titled 2008 release and Highway 71 released in 2010.  Highway 71 debuted on the folk radio charts at #3, including the title track “Highway 71” as the #1 song, and held that position for two months. Highway 71 runs through Mena, and my shop is located on the highway. When we first moved to Arkansas in 1981, Highway 71 still had one lane bridges and there was a popular bumper sticker that stated, Please pray for me; I drive Highway 71.

I first heard 3 Penny Acre when they came to Mena, Arkansas and gave a concert at The Ouachita Little Theater. I was curious about them because Bernice Hembree grew up here in Mena. I was blown away by how talented they were. I attend their concerts whenever it is possible. The CD Release Concert was something really special. They not only played the songs off of the new album but lots of old favorites. As the music flowed, it was obvious to the audience that the band was having a great time.

Here is a video I recorded at the concert of Bayard Blain singing his song, "Cowbird".  As someone who enjoys birdwatching, I got a kick out of the song.  

At the concert I took a series of sepia toned photos.  Here are some of the better shots.

After the concert we enjoyed visiting with Bernice and Bryan. We also visited some people from Mena who made the trip to Fayetteville for the concert.  On the long drive back home to Mena we listened to the new album until it felt like an old friend.

If you enjoy Folk or Americana music and appreciate insightful songwiting be sure to check out 3 Penny Acre.

Highway 71

The ABC Wednesday Meme is a fun way to see some great blogs. This week the letter is H.  H is for Highway 71.

Highway 71 is a north–south United States highway that runs from International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border to South Louisiana.  It travels through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.  My place of business is on Highway 71 in Mena, Arkansas.  Highway 71 is the main road that travels through Mena.

The original 1926 route of Highway 71 has remained largely unchanged.  Interstate 49 is planned along the Highway 71 corridor. 180 miles of current US Highway 71 between Interstate 435 in south Kansas City and Route H at Pineville, Missouri has been upgraded to interstate standards and is now designated Interstate 49.  No section in Arkansas has been signed as Interstate 49, although completed sections of Future Interstate 49 are currently signed as I-540, Highway 245 and State Highway 549.  Construction of I-49 in Louisiana began in the early 1980s, the first signed segment from I-10 to Washington, Louisiana, opened in 1984. The entire length of the 212-mile road was completed May 1, 1996 and runs from Shreveport to Lafayette.

In 2010, one of my favorite bands, 3 Penny Acre, released an album titled Highway 71. The album debuted on the folk radio charts at #3, including the title track Highway 71 as the #1 song, and held that position for two months. When the annual charts were compiled, they had the #10 song and the #36 album of 2010.

I was able to see 3 Penny Acre at the 2010 Ozark Folk Festival held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  Here is the video of the song Highway 71 from that performance.