Homemade Hillbilly Jam
Homemade Hillbilly Jam is a documentary about 3 modern-day “hillbilly” families from southwestern Missouri and their music-making heritages.
I don’t want to get into a debate on the origin of the word “hillbilly” because I’ve heard them all and there doesn’t appear to be any consensus, but nonetheless the word does exist and, as well as to other people, is sometimes applied to the descendants of Scots Irish immigrants who have lived isolated lives in the Ozarks of southeastern Missouri.
Homemade Hillbilly Jam features music from Big Smith, The Baldknobbers, The Pine Ridge Sisters, Hosea Bilyeu Family, and The Waymakers - who are the parents of Big Smith’s Mark Bilyeu and Rik Thomas.
The first time I saw Big Smith was opening for Emmylou Harris, and personally I believe it’s impossible not to like them when you see them.
As well as the Ozark Mountains, and southwestern Missouri, the film was also shot in Lawrence, Kansas.
Homemade Hillbilly Jam will be available June 24, 2008 through www.firstrunfeatures.com the independent theatrical and home video distributor.
Visit the the official Homemade Hillbilly Jam website for more information, and for snippets of music.
The Springfield News Leader also has details of the DVD’s release.
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
“I believe it’s impossible not to like them when you see them.”
I heartily concur. I first saw them open for the Rainmakers in a parking lot in Springfield, and I was blown away. They are on the short list of bands I will travel long distances to see play.