Winfield, Kansas ˗ Organizers have released the list of artists performing at the 52nd Walnut Valley Festival (WVF), Sept. 18-22. Over 30 acts, either solo artists or bands, have been hired to perform on the four official stages at Winfield over the third weekend in September.
Artists performing for the first time include AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Common Chords (Robert Jones and Matt Watroba), Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Scott Cook & Pamela Mae, Nathan McEuen, Rick Faris Band, Front Porch, Little Big Twang, and Sally & the Hurts.
Several performers in the 2024 lineup are artists who made many fans in their debut last year at Walnut Valley Festival, including The Barefoot Movement, Becky Buller Band, Tina Bergmann & Bryan Thomas, Haymakers, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Pixie & the Partygrass Boys, and RUNA.
Perennial favorites returning to Winfield include Socks in the Frying Pan, The Steel Wheels, Bing Futch, Beppe Gambetta, Shane Hennessy, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, John McCutcheon, Special Consensus, Roz Brown & Jim Ratts, Andy May, Karen Mueller, Old Sound, Barry Patton, Dave Stamey, Linda Tilton, and Weda Skirts.
Chris Jones returns to curate the festival’s songwriting exhibition, NewSong Showcase. Andy May also returns to host his Acoustic Kids Showcase, giving young musicians an opportunity to appear on stage and gain experience in front of a live, supportive audience.
WVF Executive Director Bart Redford: “Our hiring committee did a great job lining up a wonderful mix of performers for this year’s festival. Rising stars AJ Lee & Blue Summit are bringing their California bluegrass sound to Winfield. Another young California quartet, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, was recognized as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum band of 2023. Kansas native Rick Faris is one of a vanguard of younger musicians carrying bluegrass forward. Front Porch, Haymakers, Old Sound, Sally & the Hurts, and Weda Skirts, bands that folks have long enjoyed hearing in the campgrounds at Winfield, will play on the official stages this year. They are joined by veteran powerhouse artists that we know Walnut Valley Festival attendees enjoy.”
