Pictured left to right: Allen Shadd of Ft. Mill SC ( 2nd Place), Tyler Grant of Nashville, TN ( 1st Place ), Brandon Davis of Independence, VA ( 3rd Place). Photo by Gary Hanna

Winfield, KS — The Walnut Valley Festival recently crowned Tyler Grant of Nashville, Tenn. this years National Flatpick Guitar Champion. Grant beat out 31 other contestants from the USA, Canada and France. Grant was awarded the 1st place trophy, $2000 in cash and a Collings Winfield Model Mahogany and Adirondack Spruce guitar by Collings Guitars of Austin TX.

Runner up in the Flatpickin’ contest went to Allen Shadd of Ft. Mill, SC. Shadd was awarded the 2nd place trophy and a Martin “Walnut Valley Festival” D-21 Special Guitar by the Martin Guitar Company from Nazareth, PA. You can vist Allen Shadd on MySpace.

Third place in the National Flatpick Championship contest was awarded to Brandon Davis of Independence, VA. Along with the trophy, Davis took home a Taylor GC8 Grand Concert Guitar made by Taylor Guitars of El Cajon, CA.

About the Walnut Valley Festival

Held annually each year on the 3rd weekend in September, the Walnut Valley Festival is the home of the International Autoharp Championship, the International Fingerstyle Guitar, the National Mountain Dulcimer, the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship, the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship and the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship. Other contests held at the Walnut Valley Festival are the Walnut Valley
Mandolin Championship and the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle.