Ozark Mountain Daredevils to play on July 4 during Smithsonian Folklife Festival

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Ozark Mountain Daredevils  will participate in the nation’s birthday celebration this July 4, when the band will perform on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

“I continue to be amazed at all the places in my life that music has taken me,” said John Dillon, a founding member of the Daredevils. “I’m even more amazed by the number of new experiences that have come our way in just the past two years.

“We played the Grand Ole Opry last year and are invited back again this year. We played with the Springfield Symphony last fall, and we are playing with the Topeka Symphony later this year. Now, on July 4, we are playing on the mall at our nation’s capital for the Smithsonian. It is such an honor. What a truly magical trip this has been. We are grateful.”

The concert is held as part of “The Ozarks: Faces and Facets of a Region,” one of two programs at this year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Missouri State University Libraries is the lead partner for the program, which features representatives from the region showcasing local music, arts and crafts, foodways and other local traditions.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the Daredevils to the national stage, and particularly on our country’s birthday,” said Tom Peters, dean of Missouri State University Libraries and director of its Ozarks Studies Institute. “OMD was born and grown in the Ozarks, and exhibits local drive, determination, ambition and talent. They will do us proud on the National Mall.”

The concert is scheduled for 6 p.m. and is open to the public.

“As a band in the ’70s, we played to welcoming, enthusiastic crowds in the D.C. area – there are lots of fond memories,” said Michael “Supe” Granda, who is also a founding member of OMD. “This experience in 2023 builds on that experience and is especially meaningful for the fact that we will be shining a light on the Ozarks, of which we are very proud.”

To follow updates about festival planning, click here.