Some Fayetteville farmers markets, some Ozark mountains and some Dickson St. groove tunes all melded into a wonderful couple of days recording for this little Mutual of Omaha film crew.

From all of us here, thank you NW Arkansas for welcoming us with your stories (and petit fours, snacks, and hot chocolates). 

Here are some of the highlights of our trip!

Jess

One of the fine folk we met in Fayetteville was Steve Wilkes. His Aha Moment came when he discovered a note in his father’s wallet years after he was killed in a tragic car accident.

Steve was at a point in his life where he was struggling to improve with his music, and the note gave him practical tips on how he could better himself as a drummer. It was as if his father was communicating with him directly.

We decided to go and check out Steve’s skills on the skins at Copeland’s restaurant. In this “In the Moment” video, Steve talks about the relationship and influence of his father, and we get a tasty glimpse of one of Fayettville’s finest drummers.

-Dave

Well it’s official. I just got Punk’d by Mother Nature.

After the 35 mph Wacoan winds left me tentless in the scorching 96 degree heat and several bird friends from the trees above dropped triple bombs on me at the check-in desk, I marveled at what jokes the ole broad had up her sleeve. No, no… She didn’t stop there. As we approached Fayetteville, Gary’s truck thermometer plummeted to the high 40s. “Do we think Arkansas realizes it’s May?” I asked the crew as we set up the Airstream and turned on its heat for the first time ever.

9 hours, 5 layers, 3 hot chocolates and loads of horizontal rain later, I am proud to say I survived the magic tricks of Mother Nature and will be forever grateful to the kind Fayettevillian souls who brought me the socks and the hot chocolates.

-Natalie, the tour’s newly named EWM (Extreme Weather Magnet)

(sunrise over Fayetteville)

Sometimes things take you by surprise. Fayetteville was one of them.

Hidden behind the cloak of the Ozark mountains, this gem of a city boasted a great restaurant scene, very socially-conscious residents and although the weather was cold and dreary, the personalities of people we met kept us warm.

One of my favorite moments was catching this Arkansas sunrise from my hotel room on the first morning of our tour stop. Foreshadowing the great things and people to come!

Jess