My husband had been bugging me for years to go with him to Winfield, Kansas to the bluegrass festival. At first, I was reluctant to do so because I am not exactly a bluegrass music fan. But I decided to go. How can I explain the experience? I cannot. Words simply cannot describe the atmosphere of Winfield. You must go there yourself but it will be well worth your time because there is no event in the world that comes even close to this. Where else would you be able to see an outdoor jamming session, which is more like a huge outdoor orchestra (whose members dress for a particular theme, such as “jammin’ in the jungle”) that plays the hora (traditional Jewish folk dance) to which a man from Kansas with an orange wig on dances an Irish jig. This sounds crazy but it is true at the Carp tent (one of my favorite camp sites where the music is awesome and the atmosphere is even better!)
First, the raw facts: the Walnut Valley Festival (generally referred to as Winfield by non-residents or simply Bluegrass to Winfield locals) is a well-known acoustic music festival, held annually in Winfield, Kansas. The main genre of music is bluegrass but other acoustic styles are represented as well such as: Irish music, 20s-30s swing music, folk music, etc. The festival is held on the Wednesday through Sunday that includes the third Saturday of September. There are four simultaneous stages and many impromptu venues, notably “Stage 5,” that allow for a wide range of musical interests. Besides the world-class paid performers (the Dixie Chicks, Alison Crouse, Nickel Creek started here), Winfield is known for its instrumental contests. The headline contest is the National Flat-Pick guitar Championship. Other contests include the National Bluegrass Banjo, Hammer Dulcimer, fiddle, and Mandolin Championship.
Camping on the grounds of the Cowley County Fairgrounds opens one week before the Thursday when the stage acts begin. Even before that, many regular campers are in line for choice campsites. This event is known as the Land Rush after the Oklahoma Land Rush that happened nearby. Approximately half of Winfield campers bring a musical instrument, so the campgrounds are particularly conducive to all-night jamming. Many of these campers do not only come from different parts of the country but of the world. Other visitors to the festival, like us, stay at a nearby hotel.
Now, the personal impressions: the people you meet at Winfield are incredibly nice and laid-back -- be it a federal judge, a cowboy, an attorney or a surgeon. What binds them together is their love of music. Be it freezing cold or steaming hot, the people who come here to listen to their favorite music or jam until 4 am are not deterred by weather. They come here to Winfield to play and have fun.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Walnut Valley Festival
My husband had been bugging me for years to go with him to Winfield, Kansas to the bluegrass festival. At first, I was reluctant to do so because I am not exactly a bluegrass music fan. But I decided to go. How can I explain the experience? I cannot. Words simply cannot describe the atmosphere of Winfield. You must go there yourself but it will be well worth your time because there is no event in the world that comes even close to this. Where else would you be able to see an outdoor jamming session, which is more like a huge outdoor orchestra (whose members dress for a particular theme, such as “jammin’ in the jungle”) that plays the hora (traditional Jewish folk dance) to which a man from Kansas with an orange wig on dances an Irish jig. This sounds crazy but it is true at the Carp tent (one of my favorite camp sites where the music is awesome and the atmosphere is even better!)
First, the raw facts: the Walnut Valley Festival (generally referred to as Winfield by non-residents or simply Bluegrass to Winfield locals) is a well-known acoustic music festival, held annually in Winfield, Kansas. The main genre of music is bluegrass but other acoustic styles are represented as well such as: Irish music, 20s-30s swing music, folk music, etc. The festival is held on the Wednesday through Sunday that includes the third Saturday of September. There are four simultaneous stages and many impromptu venues, notably “Stage 5,” that allow for a wide range of musical interests. Besides the world-class paid performers (the Dixie Chicks, Alison Crouse, Nickel Creek started here), Winfield is known for its instrumental contests. The headline contest is the National Flat-Pick guitar Championship. Other contests include the National Bluegrass Banjo, Hammer Dulcimer, fiddle, and Mandolin Championship.
Camping on the grounds of the Cowley County Fairgrounds opens one week before the Thursday when the stage acts begin. Even before that, many regular campers are in line for choice campsites. This event is known as the Land Rush after the Oklahoma Land Rush that happened nearby. Approximately half of Winfield campers bring a musical instrument, so the campgrounds are particularly conducive to all-night jamming. Many of these campers do not only come from different parts of the country but of the world. Other visitors to the festival, like us, stay at a nearby hotel.
Now, the personal impressions: the people you meet at Winfield are incredibly nice and laid-back -- be it a federal judge, a cowboy, an attorney or a surgeon. What binds them together is their love of music. Be it freezing cold or steaming hot, the people who come here to listen to their favorite music or jam until 4 am are not deterred by weather. They come here to Winfield to play and have fun.
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If anybody is interested in the "Carp Tent" you can read about it, listen to music from it, and download music tablature from their website at http://carpazon.com/
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