We have been working hard here at WVA, putting together an impressive lineup of musicians for the 53rd Walnut Valley Festival, in Winfield, KS, September 17-21, 2025. We welcome some new-to-Winfield entertainers, as well as several that you insisted you wanted to see again in 2025. If this is your first time to the festival, be sure to read our First Timers guide!
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Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian (sith-ee-yin) plays roots music from Celtic, Eastern European and Appalachian traditions with thunderous energy, technical prowess, and storytelling songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance, rock concert experience. Nashville’s Music City Roots says Scythian is ‘what happens when rock star charisma meets Celtic dervish fiddling’, and the Washington Post claims “Scythian’s enthusiasm is contagious, and shows seem to end with everyone dancing, jumping around or hoisting glasses.” The foursome made up of Alexander Fedoryka (Vocals, Fiddle, Mandolin, Harmonica), Danylo Fedoryka (Vocals, Guitar, Accordion), Ethan Dean (Vocals, Upright and Electric Bass, Percussion, Guitar) and Johnny Rees (Vocals, Drums, Percussion) brings various influences together to create a conglomerate which is technically precise and steeped in various folk traditions: The classically trained Fedoryka brothers grew up on Ukrainian folk music and bluegrass, while Ethan Dean was raised on the greats of 60’s & 70’s folk-rock. Lafayette LA raised Johnny Rees brings a Cajun backbeat to the Celtic-Americana fusion giving Scythian yet another dimension which keeps audiences entertained and moving. Scythian is coming off its most prolific year in 2020 with over 1,000 hours of live streams during the Covid Lockdowns, release of two new albums (Roots & Stones and Quaranstream: The Album) and four new music videos. You have to catch the live show to understand why The Cammel City Dispatch said of their Merlefest performance: “[Scythian gives] no quarter in their quest to entertain and bring a joy to their music that gives it an irony-free, wide open feel of manic possibility. The playing is technically brilliant, but it is the energy that carries the day.”
Rebecca Frazier began performing professionally in Telluride, Colorado, in the late 90’s. Frazier came to national attention in 2006 as the first woman on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, and after moving to Nashville in 2007, she was recognized as “a genuine triple threat as a singer, songwriter, and flatpicking guitarist” by The Nashville Scene. The Virginia native was later picked up by Compass Records for her flatpicking/songwriting solo showcase When We Fall, which was called “the best bluegrass album of 2013” by Henry Carrigan of The Bluegrass Situation. The album received heavy airplay on SiriusXM Radio and peaked at #3 on the national Roots Music Report Chart. In 2018, Frazier became the first woman to be nominated for SPBGMA Guitar Performer of the Year and was nominated again in 2019. Paste Magazine deemed Frazier one of “Seven Women Smashing the Bluegrass Glass Ceiling” in 2017. Other honors include Frazier’s featured appearance singing and playing “Keep on the Sunnyside” on Hank Williams’ biopic, the 20th Century Fox The Last Ride movie soundtrack released by Curb Records in 2012, and Frazier’s 2009 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year award for her work on the Daughters of Bluegrass’ Bluegrass Bouquet. Frazier is a founding member of Hit & Run, the first and only band to win all three high-profile bluegrass band contests—Telluride (2003), Rockygrass (2002), and SPBGMA (2005) Festival Competitions. Dubbed “East Nashville real deal bluegrass” by journalist Craig Havighurst, the band has toured throughout 41 states and Canada since 2002 and has performed as Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run since 2013. Frazier earned a B.A. in Music from the University of Michigan and studied guitar at Berklee College of Music. She has taught workshops across the U.S. and Canada since 2005, and was on staff at Nashville Music Academy from 2008 to 2021.
In their early days, Damn Tall Buildings didn’t rehearse – they busked. Now, whether live or on record, the band still radiates the energy of a ragtag crew of music students playing bluegrass on the street. But anchoring that energy is their instrumental chops, their strong songwriting, and their varied influences that stretch beyond bluegrass, even beyond American roots music altogether. Whether sharing lead vocals and instrumental solos or blending their voices into loose, joyous harmony, the three members of Damn Tall Buildings (guitarist/lead vocalist Max Capistran, bassist/lead vocalist Sasha Dubyk, and fiddler/vocalist Avery Ballotta) blend elements of bluegrass, blues, roots-rock and vintage swing to create a captivating, high-energy sound. Since their busking days, they’ve made three albums: 2014’s Cure-All, 2015’s self-titled, and their forthcoming third album, Don’t Look Down. The band has also relocated to Brooklyn, NY and toured widely, sharing stages with Sierra Hull and the California Honeydrops and appearing at festivals like Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, and Freshgrass Festival, where they took second place in the 2016 band competition. Their lyrics find beauty and glory in the mundane, workaday struggle of everyday life: time keeps passing, you don’t like your job, you drink too much, you laugh with your friends, you search for a home, and you dream about what else might be out there. You carry on. This is what Damn Tall Buildings sings about, what they seek to share with their audience.
The New York based Progressive Americana group Nefesh Mountain Band has been hailed as one of the formative boundary-pushing ensembles in roots music. The band’s creators and dynamic husband and wife team of Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff have created a world and sound all their own; blurring the lines between Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz and Blues with a masterful hand as songwriters, instrumentalists and composers alike. The band, declared “A Powerhouse Unit” by Rolling Stone and “Introspective lyrics and world class musicianship” by American Songwriter, takes the listener on a deeply personal journey that embodies their own wild nature and unbridled free spirits, bridging compositional prowess and prolific songwriting with deft instrumentals and jams.
Since their formation nearly a decade ago, Nefesh Mountain has been proudly open and vocal about their background and heritage as Jewish Americans, and are among the first preeminent Americana / Bluegrass bands to infuse Jewish tradition and soul into the beautifully diverse tapestry of American roots music. For them the music is wholly American, freely expressing their own identities while at the same time addressing the hate, discrimination, anti-semitism and racism that still remains at large in America and the World today.
In 2021 they made their debut at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN and in recent years have performed various Festivals, PACs, and countless venues including Mountain Stage, Merlefest, Wintergrass, Ossipee Valley, Kaw River Roots, Thomas Point Bluegrass and more. Through the years Nefesh Mountain has officially showcased and been a proud member of AmericanaFest, Folk Alliance, and the IBMA.
When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond running naked through the wide open fields of bluegrass/Americana JigJam is born. Bluegrass and American Folk music originated from the group’s home, and now JigJam is here to take it back!
JigJam made its Grand Ole Opry Debut in Nashville in March 2023 to critical acclaim receiving a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd on Country Music’s biggest stage. The group was joined on the night by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Earle, Lauren Alaina, and many more. This Offaly and Tipperary-born band has started the first wave of attack in the new Irish invasion of Americana.
‘Foot stomping’, ‘high energy’ badassery is what you’re in for when you see this musical powerhouse live in concert.
Founding members from Offaly Jamie McKeogh (Lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (5 String Banjo and Dobro) were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (Mandolin and Tenor Banjo) in 2016. This year they are joined by Kevin Buckley (Fiddle) to make up this iGrass (Irish Bluegrass) quartet.
Described as ‘The best Irish band in bluegrass’ and ‘sparkling, infectious’ these lads have been hailed as ‘Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival’
Bluegrass has its roots in Irish music and Irish immigration. iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son.
When you think of Canadian music, who are the first contemporary artists that come to mind?
Is it a globe-touring sextet that, in a single set, can be counted on to stomp through Celtic reels, traditional Mexican folk, fiddle tunes, New Orleans brass band music, classic pop songcraft, bluegrass, and even a philosophical waltz or two, before bringing it all home with a Latino/West African singalong? Is it a fearless, freewheeling band sometimes referred to as the “Los Lobos of Canada,” veterans of an estimated 4,300 shows since the band’s 1992 formation?
What if I told you that this band doesn’t just exist—they flourish, and have been converting full concert halls of indifferent strangers into devoted fans for the last 30 years? The name of this musical collective is The Paperboys. They are a Canadian treasure.
The heart of The Paperboys is a trio of gifted songwriters and musicians: Founder Tom Landa, a fedora-hatted vocalist/guitarist/bandleader who immigrated from Mexico to Canada in his teens; Kalissa Landa, a lifelong fiddler/vocalist with a preternatural command of melody; and Spirit of the West’s flautist/guitarist/vocalist Geoffrey Kelly, already a Canadian musical icon when he hopped on the P’boys bus in 1997.
Though by no means a jam band, The Paperboys reinvent their show every time they step onstage. Once the band agrees on the opening song, there is no set list. The song finishes, the crowd reacts, Landa reads the room, and the journey begins. Every night. The world has changed seismically since 1992, but The Paperboys fan base has stuck with the band, and grown.
In a career that spans six decades, 28 albums and three GRAMMY awards, Hudson Valley Troubadour Tom Chapin has covered an incredible amount of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist, concert performer, storyteller and activist, heʼs performed on Broadway and worked extensively in television, radio and film.
As a music-maker, Chapin maintains two long and productive parallel careers, both as a respected contemporary folk artist and as a pioneer in the field of children’s music. During the height of the Covid shutdowns, Tom and his daughters The Chapin Sisters streamed 200 live concerts under the moniker “Mornings with Papa Tom.” All are archived on YouTube.
Chapin’s latest project is “The Make A Wish Songbag.” Sundance Music has released a “lost” CD of songs from “Make A Wish” which Tom recorded in 1976. Make A Wish was an Emmy and Peabody Award winning TV show, presented by ABC News from 1971-1976. Tom was the show’s host, and he got his then unknown brother Harry the job to write the songs – 2 per episode. This is a selection of Tom’s favorite songs from the Make A Wish years.
In addition to his musical and media endeavors, Chapin has long been an advocate for environmental causes, issues of hunger and social justice, and a supporter of music and the arts in public schools.
Michael Mark received a Drama Desk Award for best supporting actor in the role of Stanley in the original Broadway cast of “I Love My Wife.” From there, he signed on as musical director for the national tour of “I Love My Wife” starring Tom and Dick Smothers. Michael is perhaps best known for writing the theme for TV’s “Entertainment Tonight” program. In 1981 Michael was cast in the original production of “Cotton Patch Gospel” by Harry Chapin. It was there that Michael met Tom Chapin. Michael and Tom have collaborated on music for the children’s musical “The Magic Fishbone.” Jon Cobert is a studio musician, composer and arranger. He has recorded with John Lennon, John Denver, Harry Chapin, Loudon Wainwright III, Dion, Henry Gross, Phyllis Hyman, Klaus Nomi, Linda Eder, and Laura Branigan, among others. He has also written the themes for ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” and “College Football Gameday” shows, as well as hundreds of TV and radio jingles for Rolling Rock, Budweiser, Canon, Rite-Aid, Dr. Pepper, Pepperidge Farm, Wendy’s, and Burger King, to name a few. Both Michael and Jon have collaborated with Tom and are featured musicians on his award-winning children’s and adult recordings, and appear in Tom’s live concert video. They have each earned 5 Grammy nominations for their work as producers on Tom Chapin’s recordings.
Chris Jones & the Night Drivers make some of the most distinctively elegant yet driving bluegrass music heard anywhere today. Deeply rooted in tradition but never bound to it, they deliver original music with tight arrangements, emotional authenticity, and engaging humor. As actor and banjo player Steve Martin says, “Chris Jones’ voice is there with the great masters,” adding that the Night Drivers are “some of the best players in bluegrass.”
Collectively, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers have won 12 IBMA awards and have racked up 24 #1 songs. The band’s full-length release, their first all-original album, Make Each Second Last, has received rave reviews and yielded an unprecedented eight consecutive #1 songs, including the title track “We Needed This Ride.” Their song, “Riding the Chief,” co-written by Chris and Thomm Jutz, was nominated for 2022 IBMA Song of the Year. They have topped both the Bluegrass Today and Roots Music Review airplay charts with the latest album. Their new EP is Pages in Your Hand, has also yielded two more #1 songs, including the title track.
In July of 2022, they made their debut on The Grand Ole Opry and were soon asked to return.
Chris Jones & the Night Drivers have become popular repeat performers at major festivals like Merlefest in North Carolina, California’s Huck Finn Jubilee, and the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. They have filled a wide variety of venues around the world, touring across the U.S. and Canada, and all over Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Ireland.
Characterized by No Depression as “the future of bluegrass”, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road twine innovation, tradition, and excellence into a unique musical experience. Though only in his 22nd year, North Carolina’s Liam Purcell has already established a name for himself in the world of American Stringband music. Growing up less than a mile away from the legendary guitarist Doc Watson, Purcell was steeped in Appalachian Old-Time and Bluegrass traditions from an early age. Taking inspiration from the local Deep Gap legacy, Liam began writing, performing, and storytelling from an early age.
Entering the professional bluegrass circuit during his teenage years, Purcell formed the stringband-supergroup Cane Mill Road. He would go on to lead the virtuosic ensemble through regional appearances, building a fanbase across the Southeast and bringing his homespun rapport to some of the most revered festivals in the scene. By the time Purcell was 17, the project had seen multiple entries on the Billboard Top 10 Bluegrass charts, performed in 25 states, and was recognized by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2019 as the recipient of their Momentum Band of the Year Award. In 2022, Purcell shook the bluegrass world by sweeping the Rockygrass Instrumental Championships in Colorado, taking home first place honors on mandolin, banjo, and guitar. He is the only person to ever achieve a simultaneous victory in multiple championships.
Recording their latest album “Yellow Line”, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road dug deep into the writing and arranging facets of creativity. Purcell described the responsibility of carrying on a living tradition; “It was very important to me that I began this project the way I had learned from my heroes. Just us, telling stories in songs, building on the rich and diverse folk culture I had grown up in. However, I couldn’t simply leave it there. Everyone I’ve ever looked up to as an entertainer, Doc in particular, had never acknowledged boundaries between genre, style, origin, or influence. While I cared deeply about honoring the Appalachian Stringband music I loved, I also have my own songs inside, my own feelings to express, and my own innovations to contribute.”
Pretend Friend is a nationally touring progressive bluegrass and folk-rock band based in Wichita, Kansas. Known for combining musical elements from a variety of genres, Pretend Friend melds raw energy and soulful expression into timeless original songs “that seem to have always been.” Pretend Friend grew from the combined inspiration of rock and roll, Kansas bluegrass culture, and the campground jamming tradition of the Walnut Valley Festival. Their music is a fusion of styles, showcasing intricate musicianship and delivered through electrifying performances comparable to any rock show.
Pretend Friend was founded in 2015 by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Grant Boesen. Boesen’s commanding tenor voice serves as the unmistakable identifying force driving the band’s sound, drawing comparisons to iconic vocalists like Shannon Hoon (Blind Melon), Geddy Lee (Rush), and Chris Cornell (Soundgarden). Boesen is a classically trained vocalist, guitarist, and music school dropout, and he has won awards for songwriting, flat-picking, and finger-style guitar playing.
In 2017, Pretend Friend’s lineup was enhanced with the addition of Evan Ogborn, a champion mandolinist whose creativity and dynamic style have been formative in developing the band’s unique sound. Ogborn’s jazz training, relentless dedication, and uninhibited performance energy make him a formidable stage presence and songwriter. Together, Boesen and Ogborn have earned a reputation for their innovative arrangements and fearless musical approach.
In 2024, Pretend Friend further elevated its lineup with the addition of Caleb Drummond, a virtuoso bassist from Wichita known for his punctual style and deep groove. Drummond brings a new dimension to the band’s sound, anchoring the rhythm section with an expert sense of musicality. Drummond’s work across multiple genres, including jazz, folk, and bluegrass, lays a solid foundation for Pretend Friend’s sound while adding a rich complexity to their performances.
Also joining Pretend Friend in 2024 is Rami Stucky, a skilled drummer from Wichita whose finesse, rhythmic precision, and refined experience have energized the band’s live shows. Stucky’s background in jazz injects a fresh, percussive energy into the group, enhancing their ability to seamlessly blend the acoustic and the electrifying. His drumming adds an exciting layer of intensity to Pretend Friend’s high-octane performances.
With Boesen, Ogborn, Drummond, and Stucky at the helm, Pretend Friend has become a more powerful force than ever, pushing the boundaries of acoustic music. Whether performing original material or putting their spin on a classic tune, Pretend Friend captivates audiences with their infectious energy, virtuosic musicianship, and fearless exploration of new sonic landscapes.
No one remembers when the neighbors started calling the McCutcheons to complain about the loud singing from young John’s bedroom. It didn’t seem to do much good, though. For, after a shaky, lopsided battle between piano lessons and baseball (he was a mediocre pianist and an all-star catcher), he had “found his voice” thanks to a cheap mail-order guitar and a used book of chords.
From such inauspicious beginnings, John McCutcheon has emerged as one of our most respected and loved folksingers. As an instrumentalist, he is a master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer. His songwriting has been hailed by critics and singers around the globe. His thirty recordings have garnered every imaginable honor including seven Grammy nominations. He has produced over twenty albums of other artists, from traditional fiddlers to contemporary singer-songwriters to educational and documentary works. His books and instructional materials have introduced budding players to the joys of their own musicality. And his commitment to grassroots political organizations has put him on the front lines of many of the issues important to communities and workers.
But it is in live performance that John feels most at home. It is what has brought his music into the lives and homes of one of the broadest audiences any folk musician has ever enjoyed. People of every generation and background seem to feel at home in a concert hall when John McCutcheon takes the stage, with what critics describe as “little feats of magic,” “breathtaking in their ease and grace…,” and “like a conversation with an illuminating old friend.” Whether in print, on record, or on stage, few people communicate with the versatility, charm, wit or pure talent of John McCutcheon.
Blue Flame is a fusion bluegrass trio that blends different genres into their own sound. The trio uses bluegrass, swing, and country in their songs and they thrive on improvising and creating something new each and every time they perform. Blue Flame features Savanna Batan on fiddle and lead vocals, her brother Ethan Batan on mandolin and harmony vocal, and Luke Lovejoy on guitar and vocal. Luke Lovejoy and Ethan Batan have won instrument contests across the country, including the National Flatpick Guitar Championship and National Mandolin Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival. Starring nationally awarded musicians, Blue Flame is a group you won’t want to miss!
Hailing from Hays, Kansas, 80 Proof Alice is a high-energy trio that artfully fuses various musical influences to create their unique bluegrass sound. They have been making waves across the state, appearing on numerous Midwest festival lineups. The group features Tyson Lesage, whose dynamic flatpicking brings a spirited energy to their performances, and the 2022 Kansas State Banjo Champion, Jason Riegel, whose melodic banjo riffs add depth and texture to their music. Completing the ensemble is Aimee Riegel, whose steady bass lines provide a solid foundation, enriched by her soulful vocals and harmonious melodies that resonate with emotion.
In March 2024, the trio busted onto the scene with the release of their debut self-titled EP, showcasing their exceptional talent and musical versatility. They followed this with a full live album in December 2024, capturing the raw energy of their performances. Looking ahead, 80 Proof Alice has exciting plans to launch a full studio album in 2025, promising even more captivating tunes for their growing fanbase.
The Cowboy Way is a trio of award-winning musicians from New Mexico consisting of Mariam Funke, Doug Figgs, and Jim Jones. They have been named Western Group of the Year six times by the International Western Music Association and have taken home numerous group and individual awards from the IWMA, the Western Writers of America, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and the Academy of Western Artists, among others. Their music captures the spirit of the West…the past, the present, the future; the values, challenges, and allure, while their lively shows feature tight harmonies, high energy and smokin’ instrumentals. These prolific songwriters take you on the ride of a lifetime as they honor traditional cowboy songs then bowl you over with their dynamic contemporary original Western tunes. The Cowboy Way presents professional, crowd-pleasing entertainment.
One of the most well regarded finger-style guitarists of his generation, Stephen Bennett is also a leading exponent of the harp guitar. A challenging teacher, a gifted composer, and a performer of “great sensitivity”, the Toronto Finger-Style Guitar Association has referred to him as “the Jedi Master of Finger-style Guitar”.
Stephen has performed around the world, shared the stage with some of the finest guitarists there are, and created a sizable body of work.
He won the National Flatpicking Guitar Championship in 1987 and the International Finger Style Guitar Championship in 2024. Both contests are held in Winfield, Kansas, at the Walnut Valley Festival.
It is rare for there to exist a defining moment that changes the trajectory of four lives at once. But, clear as a lightning bolt in an open field, so electric was the moment The Fretliners first played together around a single microphone in the Cloverlick banjo shop barn one fateful evening, they knew they would be inseparable from that moment on.
The Fretliners (Tom Knowlton – guitar, Sam Parks – mandolin, Dan Andree – fiddle, Taylor Shuck – bass) are a genuine and powerful bluegrass quartet recognized for their songwriting and undeniable chemistry. Their newfound camaraderie produces an energy that is as infectious on stage as it is on record. So much so that in the summer of 2023, they won both band competitions at Telluride Bluegrass and Rockygrass Festivals—a feat that had only been accomplished once before. That September, they released their debut eponymous album to acclaim and adoration.
With one eye on the rear-view, inspired by that traditional high lonesome sound, The Fretliners navigate a road less traveled into the peaks of Rocky Mountain original bluegrass.
Common Chords was established in 2018 as a way to directly address issues of race and equity. Matt Watroba and Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. discovered that their audiences, more often than not, commented on how they were impacted on how the duo communicated with one another as much as the music that they had just heard.
They began to explore what had allowed them to work so well together, in spite of coming from two, supposedly, different backgrounds. They came to understand that their shared values and commonalities were more important to them than their personal differences. The question arose, could the things that they had learned working with one another be taught to others who couldn’t get past their differences? Matt and Robert started working to discover the things that separate people, and to work to tear those things down.
Our methods are simple. We use music and stories as a means to have conversations that are otherwise difficult. Music and stories bypass the brain go to straight to heart . They move us past “tolerance”, the things we have to put up with, to celebration, the things that we enjoy.
Over the years Robert and Matt have brought their programs to businesses like the Ford Motor Company, Matrix Human Services, The Ark in Ann Arbor and institutions like Oakland County Schools, The University of Michigan, and the Tupelo Public School system. Always the message is the same, the values that we have in common are more important than our differences.
3 Trails West is passionate about vintage Western Music. We’ve dug deep to uncover songs that got left in the dust. Our journey has taken us down some old, rutted swales, “Trails Less Traveled”, you might say. We hope our music sounds familiar in the way that only a good Cowboy song can, like putting on a favorite shirt; A little faded and frayed at the collar, but more comfortable for the wear.
3 Trails West is comprised of a tight vocal trio/rhythm section backed by a “Cowboy Orchestra” including accordion, fiddle and steel guitar. Our approach is drawn from the Silver Screen Era of Cowboy Music and Bob Wills-style swing. Laced with humor and audience interaction, 3TW is a family-oriented show band. We also spend as much as we make on Wardrobe, so our on-stage appearance is an eye-catching sight.
Formed in 2006, we are proud of our accomplishments and have twice been recognized as “Duo/Group of the Year” by the International Western Music Association; In 2016 and again in 2024. We also received the same award from the Academy of Western Artists in 2015, as well as the Crescendo Award from the IWMA in 2011.
Over a career spanning six decades, Andy has earned a reputation as a “troubadour of life,” an “Americana music pioneer,” a “master of traditional American music styles,” and an “upbeat roots rocker.” His deep-rooted music brings together a variety of influences: blues, bluegrass, folk, old-time and contemporary country, and good ol’ rock-and-roll — all delivered with the masterful singing, guitar, and mandolin styles he’s developed over a lifetime as a performer and a student of American music. In his shows, he plays rootsy original songs alongside traditional and classic gems in a winning combination that’s uplifting and fun.
Along the way, Andy also trained as a visual artist and earned a BFA in fine arts and arts education; created Acoustic Kids Showcases, a non-competitive mentoring program for young musicians; taught hundreds of students to play guitar or mandolin; and founded Swift River Music, an IBMA award-winning record label and production service. He has released eight CDs as an artist himself featuring his original songs alongside old-time country and traditional tunes. His songs have contributed to critically-acclaimed international TV series, highly successful fundraising drives, and regional documentaries and have charted as high as number two on Americana music industry charts.
Weda Skirts hail from the Flint Hills of Kansas, where bluegrass, folk, roots, and pop music blend to bring forth a group of original songstress darlings ready to entertain any room. These women continue to grow and evolve as a group, keeping originals as the core of their repertoire, but throwing in their homemade renditions of popular rock and folk songs. Formerly “The Skirts”, “Weda” is the universal mother, sister, and daughter, a name that reflects their view of the world and a new chapter in their lives and work.
“The Skirts” were born when former Elexa & The Hitchhikers members Elexa Dawson and Melissa Tastove joined with their friend Sarah Bays, who had recently taken up the upright bass in the summer of ’09. Emily Wilson was quick to join them on mandolin. Rachel Allai was added the night before she recorded “Many Moons”, The Skirts’ first full-length studio album with her fiddle. The group recorded their second album, Mother in 2017. At the beginning of 2019, they reintroduced themselves as Weda Skirts.
Rooted in tradition but with a fierce commitment to innovation, Jake Leg forges their own path through the expansive world of acoustic music. Consisting of award-winning musicians Eric Wiggs on guitar and vocals, Dylan McCarthy on mandolin and vocals, Justin Hoffenberg on fiddle, and Aaron Hoffenberg on bass, Jake Leg breathes new life into modern progressive bluegrass, crafting a captivating landscape of high-level instrumental ability and thoughtful songwriting. Drawing something new from the well of tradition, the band takes the listener on a journey through rich narratives and evocative melodies, proving that within every note lies both a connection to the past and the promise of a bold musical future.
Since forming in 2021, the band has quickly garnered national attention. They were recently nominated for 2024 IBMA Momentum Band of the Year and named one of “10 of the Top Colorado Bluegrass Bands” by Denver Westword. With steadily growing momentum and their all-original, debut album Fire on the Prairie released May 11, 2024, Jake Leg stands out as a unique voice in bluegrass music.
Bing Futch brings big energy to every stage, no matter the size. His first trip to Winfield as a performer was in 2017, unleashing a torrent of music using Appalachian mountain dulcimer, ukulele, Native American flute, and a looper pedal. With each show, Bing paints a wide variety of sonic images using both traditional and modern brushstrokes. From blues to bluegrass, his genre-hopping concert sets are presented with warmth, wit, stories, history, and a flair for the unpredictable. This is his seventh appearance at the Walnut Valley Festival.
Originally a founding member of the Americana rock trio, MOHAVE, Bing enjoys showcasing the versatility of his favorite instrument in all musical forms. He’s opened for both Molly Hatchet and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, appeared on the Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour twice, and won the “Best Solo Guitar” award at the 2016 International Blues Challenge, all while playing mountain dulcimer. His other hats include musical director (“Jungle Book: A Musical Adaptation”), composer (The Castle of Miracles at Give Kids The World Village), and producer of numerous recordings, including two albums by 2018 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion Wendy Songe.
Online, Bing focuses his energy on Patreon, where he produces monthly workshops, and Dulcimerica, a video series on YouTube that’s been viewed by tens of millions of people worldwide and is currently in its 18th year. Over 30 years of downloadable books, CDs, and videos are available for a $5 monthly subscription at Patreon.com/BingFutch. Bing lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Jae, and five happy rescue kitties.
MoonShroom is a vibrant, up and coming Americana act, based in Kansas City, known for blending their bluegrass roots with futuristic cosmic grooves. Formed by songwriters Lily B Moonflower & Jake Keegan, MoonShroom’s sound is both nostalgic and fresh, appealing to a diverse audience. Combined with the instrumental prowess of bandmates, Colby Allen Walter & Zach Bozeman — MoonShroom delivers a one of a kind musical experience.
Since their formation in 2022, MoonShroom has become a staple in the national music scene, captivating audiences with dynamic live performances that showcase instrumental conversation and tight, organic harmonies. MoonShroom has been direct support for bands including: Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, Split Lip Rayfield, Kyle Tuttle Band, & more, they have won the hearts of many music lovers & quickly established themselves as a fan favorite. MoonShroom’s unique, earthy sound is characterized by intricate dobro, mandolin, and guitar work, punctuated by rhythmically rich bass lines and driving percussion, all woven together with vibrant vocal melodies. Their songs explore themes of love, nature and introspective self-discovery, portrayed through passionate high-energy shows that encourage audiences to let loose and connect with themselves and those around them.
The band’s upcoming debut album, “Take A Trip” is incomparably innovative, demonstrating their versatile range and commitment to their authenticity. MoonShroom’s music is as much about aptitude of expression as it is about creating an immersive experience, inviting fans into an atmosphere of spontaneity, acceptance, and unity. Whether under the stars at a festival or a show at an intimate venue, MoonShroom continues to inspire and ignite the live music scene, one show at a time.
The Lost Keys are a family string band from Lawrence, KS. Headed by renowned fiddlers, artists, and multi-instrumentalists Tricia Spencer and Howard Rains of the duo Spencer & Rains, they are a blended family that have played music together since Tricia and Howard met in 2012.
The band costsis of Tricia and Howard on fiddle and guitar and vocals and their kids, Isaiah, Orion, and Ru on fiddle and guitar, banjo-uke, and bass respectively. Together, they play a mix of old-time string band music, bluegrass, and hillbilly swing. Both Tricia and Howard’s families have been playing music for five (documented) generations so their music goes way back on both sides, and when The Lost Keys make their music, it shows just how deep their traditions go.
In 2024, The Lost Keys got 2nd place in the band contest at the Appalachian String Band Festival (Clifftop) in West Virginia and 1st place in the band contest at the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships. As they continue to grow and dive deeper into their family and regional traditions, they keep alive family music that has been played by their family for over 150 years.
Though Winfield’s own Barry Patton celebrates 28 years of playing the bones at this year’s Festival, his history with the event goes back to when he was a boy. He first heard the bones played by Cecil Hiatt here at the festival. Known as the Grand Master of the bones, Cecil was playing on stage with Barry’s grandfather, Lue Berline, and his uncle Byron Berline. During the festival, his grandfather accidentally shut Barry’s fingers in a car door and felt so bad about it that he gave Barry his first pair of oak bones and one short lesson. From then on, he practiced and practiced, broken fingers and all, and the rest is history.
Today Barry is one of the premier bones players in the world. Not only can Barry play the bones with either hand, he can play the bones with both hands, and at the same time. He is one of the few “two fisted bone rattlers” in the world. Traditionally bones were made out of cattle ribs, but Barry prefers to make his own out of Osage wood. A regular fixture at the festival, Barry has played with numerous performers over the years. His fans are always delighted by his energy and big grin.
Barry won the senior division bone competition at the 25th Fleadh by the Feale traditional music festival. The festival is held in Abbeyfeale, Ireland and the bone competition is its main event.
John Depew hails from the wide-open prairie where there are more cows than people, and he likes it that way. Nominated to be a face on the “Mt. Rushmore of Awkward Kansans,” he takes his role seriously and only participates in medium- to-large talk. He definitely never overthinks small decisions like how many potatoes to cook for dinner or how many compliments to give himself in his own bio. His songwriting and musicianship have been described as ‘a nightmare for your ears…like…in a good way!’
Depew is by far the handsomest, most intelligent, funniest and most humble professional mandolin player ever to permanently reside exactly 5 and 1/2 miles outside Arlington, KS. He is not in the least filled with self-doubt and never questions his divinely ordained position at the pinnacle of the huge market power belonging to weird banjo and mandolin music. You will not on any planet find better fried chicken than his. Depew has been playing music since before people recognized it as ‘music.’ He enjoys being outdoors, watching cows eat, sitting by a fire, and spending time with his family.
Kara Barnard has entertained audiences from coast to coast and internationally. She has 7 recordings, played countless studio sessions, appeared on national television programs, and has been featured in articles in publications including Sing Out, Dulcimer Player News and Guitar Player Magazine.
In 2022, Kara won the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship in Winfield, Kansas. She is currently touring, performing and teaching at festivals across the country.
In addition to her recordings, Kara has self published several popular instructional books.
Kara’s sister Pam will be joining her on stage at the Walnut Valley Festival this coming September in Winfield Kansas.
Karen & Paul joined forces in 1996, musically and soon thereafter matrimonially, creating “wonderfully energetic and exquisitely arranged collaborations” (Washington Post). They perform and teach at festivals around the USA as a duo and individually. Their most recent recording, KA/PO in Concert from a 2013 live performance, showcases their dynamic ensemble music.
Their first recording together, Celtic Café on the Maggie’s Music label “explores pan-European music with uncommon enthusiasm, grace and imagination” (De Morgen, Belgium).
The Flemish folk journal Goe Vollek! mused that “Denizens of the old country, should be very grateful to Ashbrook and Oorts for the way in which they introduce our traditional music to the Americans…we cherish this brilliant CD.”
Karen Mueller is one of the top autoharp and mountain dulcimer players performing today. Her exciting and innovative performing style, featuring Appalachian, Celtic and contemporary music, has been applauded by critics and audiences from LA to Boston. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has said “Karen Mueller’s touch, timing and taste make her a true virtuoso. Her talent and clarity deserve a wide audience.”
Karen won the 1986 International Autoharp Championship and was a National Dulcimer finalist in 1985, both at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. In 2006 she was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame. A native of Winfield, she first attended the festival while in high school and was inspired to learn to play the autoharp and dulcimer by the performers she saw there.
She has performed from coast to coast as well as in the UK. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Karen is in demand as a performer, instructor, school residency artist, and studio musician. In 2000, the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association awarded Karen its “Recognition of Excellence.”
Adding hot mandolin and guitar picking along with soaring tenor vocals, Geoff Goodhue has been playing music all his life, first in The Goodhues Band and later with a number of groups including the Bryan Bowers Band, which have taken him to performance venues across the US. He has performed with Jim Kweskin, Jim Rooney and Laurie Lewis, as well as his award-winning bluegrass quintet, Beg, Steal or Borrow. Sporting a degree in Percussion Performance, Geoff was the drummer on the 2016 J.D. Hutchison release, “You and the World Outside”, produced by and featuring Tim O’Brien. He hails from West Fairlee, Vermont.
Premier autoharpist, singer and Colorado folk legend Roz Brown has built an impressive career as a captivating entertainer and recording artist, performing and recording classic folk music on his own terms for over 40 years. Roz has released five albums, the latest being A Cowboy and His Sweetheart, which was produced by his son, Memphis/Nashville keyboardist and producer Paul Brown. Inspired by his sweetheart, Barbara, the album is a collection of romantic love songs which were originally recorded by country legend Don Williams. Roz performs more than 300 dates a year giving back to the community by performing in retirement and nursing homes. Roz is a regular at the Buckhorn Exchange in Denver where he’s performed over thirty years.
Jim Ratts has been Roz Brown’s record producer and engineer for 25 years, providing vocal harmony for those releases. Born in St. John, Kansas, Jim’s Lubbock, Texas college band Colours moved to Colorado in ‘71 and toured for 5 years with the likes of John Hartford, Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. That Dirt Band connection led to a 40-year partnership with Jimmy Ibbotson, including their Wild Jimbo’s MCA record produced by Sam Bush. Jim and his wife Salli have performed with their band Runaway Express since 1980, and have done extensive touring with the Dirt Band’s John McEuen. Jim’s written songs for The Dillards, The Limeliters, and The Kingston Trio, and penned “Howlin’ At The Moon”, a bluegrass chart hit for Sam Bush. Their latest album release “Yeah, Buddy! 2022” explores a more bluegrass side of Buddy Holly’s music.
Linda has not missed a festival since she first started in 1989. She became interested in sigh language when her third grade teacher made her write a book report. Linda chose to write about Helen Keller, learned the manual alphabet from the back of the book, and, as they say, the rest is history. All you need to do is watch her exhibit her artful blend of sign language and dance and you’ll soon realize how much she enjoys her work.
Besides interpreting at the festival, Linda continues to interpret events in the greater Kansas City area and in the Midwest. She will be on stage with a variety of performers at the festival this year. Look for the “hands” symbol on the schedule for her performances.