Arial photo of the 2007 Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival, Home of the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship.Kenny & Amanda Smith onstage at the 2007 Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival in Winfield, KS.

Winfield, KS — With the cost of travel reaching all time highs throughout the country, bluegrass music fans and musicians alike have been forced to either limit or totally curtail annual excursions to some of their favorite musical haunts. However things seem to be business as usual at the Walnut Valley Festival office this year. The telephones have been busy and the mail bags are heavy with letters from folks wanting tickets and information about this year’s festival. Correspondences have come from around the globe literally, with 12 different foreign countries and at least 40 states having representation at this year’s festival.

The Walnut Valley Festival will continue to host eight different acoustic instrument contests. These contests consist of four “National” Championships – Flat Pick Guitar, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammer Dulcimer, and Bluegrass Banjo, and two “International” Championships, the Autoharp and Fingerstyle Guitar, plus the Walnut Valley Championships for Old Time Fiddle and Mandolin.

Music is always in the center at the Walnut Valley Festival. This year is no exception, from September 17th through September 21st, the “official” days of Walnut Valley, there will be about 220 hours of music on four stages that operate continually from nine in the morning to after midnight. “Winfield” as it has become known to the always faithful fans and musicians, also boasts the best campground picking found anywhere. It has been said the music never stops.

New performers for 2008 will include the Randy Kohrs Band, Thomas / DeLancey Trio and the Rockin’ Acoustic Circus. Western style music will come from Bill Barwick, Dave Stamey, and the Diamond W Wranglers. Bluegrass music styles range from the contemporary sounds of Kenny and Amanda Smith, to the more traditional music of The Byron Berline Band and Chris Jones and the Night Drivers. A touch of “Americana” music will be provided by Michael Reno Harrell, folk duo Small Potatoes, and one of Walnut Valley fans favorites, Roz Brown. Making their first visit to the Walnut Valley Stages for a Sunday only appearance will be the Dailey & Vincent band. Jamie Dailey and Darren Vincent have received rave reviews for their inspirational songs and beautiful harmonies.

Each year festival promoters work hard to bring in new, up and coming musicians, as well as established veteran performing artists. This year fans will have a chance to experience acoustic music as interpreted by the next generation; Mountain Heart has been taking bluegrass music to a new energy level. The fans looking for good times, high-energy, swing and progressive music will enjoy the foot tapping fun of The Greencards and from Ireland, the David Munnelly Band. Never leaving out the instrument that has brought the world to Walnut Valley, guitar players will be awed by the internationally famous guitar greats, Beppe Gambetta, Pete Huttlinger, and Stephen Bennett.

The 37th annual Walnut Valley Festival would not be complete without the return of favorite performers that will include, John McCutcheon, Marley’s Ghost, Roz Brown, Tom Chapin, Julie Davis, Misty River and Small Potatoes. Andy May will again be hosting the Acoustic Kids programs, and Still on the Hill will be hosting the New Song Showcase as well as songwriting workshops.

The Walnut Valley Festival also includes one of the premiere arts and craft fairs in the region, some of the best food this side of the Mississippi River, hands on, pre-festival music workshops with award winning instructors, plus one of the best acoustic music trade shows for folks interested in taking a close look at some of the top professional quality instruments on the market today. All held in a comfortable, family environment.

Advance tickets are currently available for the Walnut Valley Festival set to begin on September 17th at the Winfield Fairgrounds. Additional information can be found on festival website at wvfest.com or from the Walnut Valley Office at 918 Main Street in Winfield, Kansas. Tickets are available at the office or by calling 620-221-3250.