Civil Wars Talk Johnny Cash Festival | Community Spirit

The Civil Wars have been one of the biggest "new" acts on the national scene in the past year.

They made an appearance on the Grammy's, had music featured in the hit novel adapted film "The Hunger Games".

They even found time to play an intimate birthday show at Playhouse on the Square.

Now, the duo are part of an all-day festival to honor one of their musical inspirations: The Johnny Cash Music Festival.

“I felt Johnny Cash was relatable to me—being a rebellious youth—and through him I started to see the genius of Merle Haggard and George Jones going back to Hank Williams,” said guitarist/vocalist John Paul White.

“I did not start out a big country music fan: I wanted to be a rock ‘n’ roller! But I listened to my dad’s records, and Johnny Cash became the gateway drug to the genius of country music and how different it can be—as well as the link to all the people I loved. He was like the common denominator—the voice of God.”

White and the other half of the duo, singer Joy Williams play at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center on October 5.

The Johnny Cash Music Festival was established to raise money for the restoration of Cash’s boyhood home in Dyess, Arkansas.

It's a cause Williams and White have a personal connection to having become quick friends with Roseanne Cash.

Their performances have been compared to those of June and Johnny Cash because of the playful repartee they exchange.

They will share the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Dierks Bentley and host Rosanne Cash.

“We haven’t played with most of them before, and just the idea of being on the same stage with Willie is extremely intimidating—as it should be because he’s such a selfless and welcoming performer. But he’s still royalty, man!”