Bryan Hembree

Bryan Hembree is a seasoned musician, songwriter, educator, and arts advocate. He is the Co-Founder of Fayetteville Roots Festival and the Folk School of Fayetteville, a nonprofit organization dedicated to music, education, and community. He currently serves as the Director of Arts & Culture for the Multicultural Center at the University of Arkansas, where he also teaches courses in Music Business.

Together with his wife and creative partner, Bernice Campbell Hembree, Bryan has toured extensively across the U.S. and internationally, first as part of the folk trio 3 Penny Acre, and now as the duo Smokey & The Mirror. Over the past 13 years, they have performed hundreds of concerts and released seven full-length albums, earning acclaim for their distinctive sound and compelling storytelling.

Bryan’s work extends beyond the stage. He has led numerous special projects focused on music history, songwriting, historic instrument preservation, and social justice through the arts, including initiatives centered on the Tulsa Race Massacre and the legacy of Greenwood. His creative and educational efforts are rooted in his belief in the transformative power of music to build community and preserve culture.