RISON — Singer-songwriter Ward Davis is set to return to his South Arkansas roots next weekend when he takes the stage as a special guest performer at the annual Rison in the Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10.
The Monticello native recently joined the hosts of the Free Range Conversations podcast to discuss his upcoming appearance, his decades-long career in Nashville, and his evolution from hit songwriter to independent touring artist.
For Davis, performing in Cleveland County offers a special homecoming.
“I grew up in Monticello, right down the road. So, I’m going to have a lot of friends there that I haven’t seen in a long, long time. I’m pretty stoked to get down there,” Davis shared.
Despite performing in cities and venues across the country, Davis expressed a deep appreciation for the community spirit behind small-town events like Rison’s festival.
“In my travels, you’d be surprised how many small towns are doing exactly what you’re doing. All over the country, really,” Davis said. “You go to these places... then out of nowhere, it’s like these masses of people show up and it’s a phenomenon, man. That’s really cool you guys are doing it.”
A Diverse Setlist Built on Decades of Songwriting
Festival-goers can expect a dynamic, unscripted performance when Davis takes the Main Street stage. With a career spanning over 25 years in Music City, Davis has built an extensive catalog, both through his own records and through high-profile collaborations.
Over the years, Davis has co-written numerous tracks with longtime friend Cody Jinks, as well as Paul Cauthen. Notably, he also co-wrote "An Old Outlaw Cowboy," recorded by country legends Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard—a career milestone Davis describes as "double overwhelm."
“I’m never locked into an actual setlist. I kind of get there and I look at the crowd and I kind of figure out what they want, who they are, and I just kind of go from there,” Davis explained. “It’s more fun for me to do it that way... that way I’m not cornering myself into doing the same show every night.”
Reflecting on his journey from aiming to be a commercial hit songwriter to carving out his path as an independent performer, Davis noted that hitting the road and connecting directly with audiences brought him true success.
“I write songs when I want to, I only go play where I want to. It’s a nice life that I’ve made, I’m cool with it,” Davis said. “I’ve been able to keep food on the table and a roof over the kids’ heads with music.”
Festival Lineup Details
The Rison in the Fall Festival will shut down Main Street for a full day of live music, food vendors, and community activities.
Ward Davis will perform in the special guest slot directly preceding headliner Bryan White. The day's music roster also features performances by Whoa Dakota, Cori Kennedy, and Wyatt Putman.
Davis’ full episode of the podcast is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ClevelandCountyHerald.com