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Homemade Hillbilly Jam Press
Big Smith, a hippie-tinged roots band is the nominal focus of (Homemade Hillbilly Jam), but (it) captures an extended family, descended from Ozark hillbillies and bound together by music…the clan keeps the old mountain repertoire alive, singing with a passion and grace that need no elaboration. - Jason Anderson, TORONTO WEEKLY As their music evolves, so does their audience, but they never forsake their hillbilly DNA on this rich journey through a cultural legacy. -Johnny Leahan, INDIE WIRE A portrait of dying musical traditions…quirky insight into an America that most Americans would barely recognize. -Steve Dalton, LONDON TIMES Homemade Hillbilly Jam passes the test of a great documentary. -Mike Armitage, CHARK ATTACK, Canadian Music Source (Homemade Hillbilly Jam) fully captures how an unyielding faith in music, family and religion keeps one family grounded enough in the past to ensure that their heritage and culture will have a future. Entertaining, enlightening and special. -WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL …rare breed of documentary: a sophisticated yet entertaining film that has the potential to resonate with broad audiences of all backgrounds. -Andrew Rodgers, Director of River Run Film Festival, Winston-Salem, NC The entire state received an injection of pride when closing-night film Homemade Hillbilly Jam beautifully portrayed the Ozark countryside and the music it has nurtured through generations of families such as the Bilyeus, whose most well-known progeny are members of Big Smith. -COLUMBIA TRIBUNE Homemade Hillbilly Jam introduces us to Mark Bilyeu, Big Smith's unpretentious, rootsy and soon-to-be-legendary singer-songwriter. -Paul Sturtz, Director of True/False Film Festival, Columbia, MO There's nothing wrong with being a hillbilly and holding onto the music of your ancestors is as important as keeping a hold on your land. -Ann VerWiebe, Folk Alley Mark Bilyeu and his cousins from Big Smith are refreshingly anachronistic in today's frenzied world, and a vivid reminder of the hell-raising antics of their bootlegging ancestors. Big Smith's firm commitment to preserving their family's musical heritage has earned them accolades from fans of all persuasions. -International Documentary Festival Amsterdam Mark Bilyeu makes a wonderful center point for the film: combining gentle humor with deep feeling about his home and his family. The close-harmony family singing was beautiful and uplifting, and the sense of community and tradition inspiring. All of this soundtracked with music that was by turns haunting, ancient, raucous, comic, patriotic, and deeply religious. -Nick Pett, London, England Bona fide Hillbilly Band. Forward-thinking, floor board rattling Ozark hill hollering good times. -Infinity Press, Tulsa, OK Big Smith gives you that certain hootenanny in your nook and cranny with a bluegrass style that is unbelievable. -Little Rock Free Press When Big Smith-fever hits the crowd...there's enough perspiration, chills, delirious laughter, spilt beer and falling tears to meet the quota of entire festivals. -Pitch Weekly, Kansas City Their strengths abound in the array of instruments that chisel out country-fried melodies. And then there are the lyrics-fun and flavorful, a real kick in the pants...Big Smith delivers big time. -Joanna Caldwell, Music Row Magazine If you like your music with true American twang, if you dig music that resonates the real sound of the real country, then brother you must go forth and get this recording. This is the real deal, bros. It's bona fide. Best thing I've heard in years. -Steve Werner, Biker Magazine I had a grand soul-savin' time with Big Smith recently. If you haven't experienced this band, you need to. What you have here are a bunch of seriously good pickers in overalls playing what can only be described as evangelical-turn-of-the-century-electrified-acoustic-rock-and-roll hymns to a bunch of seemingly godless hippies in tie-dyes, and everybody gets off. The crowds following Big Smith are so intense that the fire marshall actually suggested they literally take out all the furniture. -Nightflying It's a wicked thudding beat laced with exact harmonies, pleas and proclamations. They bring life to the room. -StantonStreet.com Big Smith sets the area on fire every time it comes to town. -Northwest Arkansas Times More than a band, they're already a local legend in the music scene. There's a true beauty in the sound- by turns haunting, hilarious, frightful and full of hope. -417 Magazine Their harmonies resonate some space in me, set inner parts moving that had been needin' a little shakin'... time to get on the floor and dance. -Fayetteville Free Weekly When this band plays, these sounds reverberate from any local or Midwest regional bar, club, theater, church or family reunion and send the masses into a toe-tappin', foot-stompin' frenzy. -Southwest Standard Big Smith proves that you don't have to come from Appalachia to produce great bluegrass. They also prove there's better country music in the Ozarks than Branson. -Country Standard Time The band combines a little bluegrass, a bit of blues, hints of early country and talented musicianship. Even if you aren't a fan of the aforementioned styles, give this entertaining piece of work a chance... -University Daily Kansan Talent, talent, talent! Big Smith has somehow managed to capture the heart and soul of traditional Ozarks music. -Free Press of the Ozarks Big Smith offers good performances of interesting original lyrics, complimented by rich family harmonies. -Music City News I don't care if you don't think you even like bluegrass music, as with this superb musicianship, combined with their twisted sense of humor, you WILL like this band. -Nightflying I wasn't really into country music all that much. Big Smith just blew my hat into the creek. -Fayetteville Free Weekly
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