Expanded Kings Prairie Music Festival finds notable success

Crowds concentrate at historic rural Monett schoolhouse for annual affair
With 16 vendors, four hours of music and bigger crowds than in recent years, the Kings Prairie Music Festival on Sept. 7 in rural Monett expanded this year to include an afternoon craft show under ideal weather conditions for a successful run.
“We’re all pleased with the turnout for the Kings Prairie Craft show and Music Festival,” said Jacquetta Hyde, part of the organizing committee. “The weather was perfect for the outdoor event. This was the first year for the vendor craft show and there was a steady stream of people all day starting at 10 a.m. We heard many positive comments on this addition. Some came for the crafts, some for the great music, foods and raffle chances that started early afternoon. Some just came for the fellowship on a beautiful September day.”
The school building, built in 1948 after the original structure burned, was open to the public. Many of the original school books still sit on shelving under the wall of high windows. Concession sales were active through the day, even selling out of the festival’s popular selection of pies.  
“The variety of the entertainment bands had something for everyone,” Hyde noted. “We don’t have attendance numbers, but feel it was up from last year, partly due to it being an all-day event.”

Music kicked off around 4:15 p.m. with the soft rock and jazz stylings of Robin’s Hood, led by vocalist Robin Braun on Monett and original songs written by Mica Miller. The Flyin’ Buzzards followed with a cast of several fill-in players in addition to founder Wayne Clevenger and original bass player Bill Harris of Cassville. They played gospel, string band instrumental, bluegrass and pop numbers in their style. On Ronnie Hinson’s classic gospel song, “The Lighthouse,” Emmy Clevenger, daughter of Wyatt and granddaughter of Wayne, joined her father singing on the refrain from the stage.
Making their first appearance at the festival was the Good Shepherd Pickers from northwest Arkansas, a quartet offering gospel, bluegrass and classic country numbers. Pierce City songwriter and band leader Mark Chapman, another first-timer at the festival, closed with a solo acoustic set of original songs and favorites from bands such as Alabama, Coldplay and Eddie Rabbit.
Each act played at least a dozen songs.
Proceeds go to the upkeep and restoration of the historic one-room Kings Prairie schoolhouse, one of the few remaining in the area.