This week, radio & television legend and Country Music Hall of Fame member Grandpa Jones with his wife, Grand Old Opry star Ramona and family recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews and a live performance from the Jones Family. Aubrey Atwater presents “The Mother of Folk Music” Jean Ritchie, and Mark Jones offers an archival recording of Ozark original, Jim Bullard.

Grandpa Jones was a performer during the golden age of radio, and later found success as a cast member on the syndicated television program, “Hee Haw.”  After years of living near Nashville, TN, Grandpa moved to Mountain View, Arkansas in the early 1980’s. Along with his wife Ramona, they ran the Grandpa Jones Dinner Theater. The theater employed many musicians, many of whom are still around the Ozarks today including their son Mark and guitarist Danny Dozier. We’ll dig deep into the archives this week for a set of music, featuring some of Grandpa’s finest performances at Ozark Folk Center State Park.

“The Jones Family Band” features a cast of all-star musicians, including Alisa and Mark Jones. This performance from the Jones Family Band was the last one recorded at the Ozark Folk Center State Park before Ramona passed in late 2015.

Renowned folk musician Aubrey Atwater profiles influential folk music icons Jean Ritchie and the Ritchie Family, as well as explores the traditional Appalachian music and dance that the Ritchie Family helped to perpetuate into the modern American folk lexicon. This episode focuses on Jean Ritchie as a songwriter, and features Jean’s performance of her original song “Black Water.”

Mark Jones' “From the Vault” segment features a rare recording of Ozark original Jim Bullard, performing the traditional song “Glory Land,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

This week, another special road trip episode featuring world renowned dobro and guitar Jedi duo Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

Take a 15-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Dobro Player of the Year and a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy who made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 11 and you have Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, a powerhouse acoustic duo that has electrified the acoustic music scene. Known for their white-hot picking, stone country vocals with soul and world class live musicianship, Ickes and Hensley meld together blues, bluegrass, country, rock and other string band music of all kinds to form a signature blend of music that defies restrictions of genre.  They are equally at home on stages of prestigious performing arts centers, theatres and the Grand Ole Opry as they are on Americana, jamgrass, bluegrass and jam band festivals. Ickes co-founded the highly influential bluegrass group Blue Highway and has been a sought-after Nashville session player and live performing musician for decades. Hensley has been called “Nashville’s hottest young player” by Acoustic Guitar magazine and his soulful baritone vocals have received acclaim as well. - https://www.robandtrey.com/about-the-band/

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 2016 archival recording of Ozark originals Bobby Glendy & Ruthie Haney performing the classic A.P. Carter song “You are my Flower,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins presents the final episode of his series recounting the history of the ill-fated Ozarkland Jamboree, a 1960’s country music variety show based in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas that never made it on the air.

This week, another special road trip episode featuring legendary bluegrass supergroup The Special Consensus recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

The Special Consensus, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, is a bluegrass band that has achieved a contemporary sound with traditional roots in five decades of performing. Band leader and founder Greg Cahill is a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and was inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) Hall of Greats. Special Consensus has released 21 band recordings and received seven awards from the IBMA and two Grammy nominations. The band’s sound is grounded in a deep appreciation and understanding of bluegrass music, incorporating both the drive and harmonies of the traditional sound with the more contemporary sounds and repertoire of today.  With the foundation of Greg’s unique banjo playing style and the vocal prowess of the 2023 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Greg Blake (guitar), Dan Eubanks (bass) and Brian McCarty (mandolin), these musicians effortlessly support each other and consistently maintain their bluegrass center whether they’re playing a jazz-tinged instrumental or a song from any of their award-winning recordings. These four talented vocalists and instrumentalists follow their creative desires without straying too far from their roots.

https://www.specialc.com/biography

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1991 archival recording of Ozark original Randall Hylton performing his original song “Over the Counter Drugs,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins presents part two of his series recounting the history of the ill-fated Ozarkland Jamboree, a 1960’s country music variety show based in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas that never made it on the air.

This week, a special road trip episode featuring up and coming high energy traditional Irish trio Socks in the Frying Pan recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Also, a performance from world famous singer-songwriter and folk music icon John McCutcheon.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

Socks in the Frying Pan, a multi-award-winning trio from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland—the Mecca of Irish traditional music—was formed in 2014. Forged together by a fire of pure joy and passion for their art, the band comprises Aodan Coyne on guitar and lead vocals, Shane Hayes on accordion, and younger brother Fiachra Hayes on fiddle. Their ‘Socks Sound’ combines virtuosic musicianship with a burning passion for the music and tradition, pitch-perfect harmonies and a big splash of quick wit and banter. Their electrifying performances and on-stage charm have established them as kingpins on the Irish traditional music scene, today. They have toured extensively, capturing hearts in 46 US states, dozens of countries, and every continent, showcasing at renowned festivals such as the Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas, Electric Picnic in Ireland, Tønder Festival in Denmark and the world-famous New Orleans Jazz Festival. To date, Socks in the Frying Pan have released three studio albums, each adding to their list of accolades including ‘Best New Band’, ‘Best Live Band‘, ‘Album of the Year‘, and ‘Best Live Performance of the Year’, Their latest release, Raw & Ríl, recorded live at Glór Theatre, was immediately awarded ‘Best Live Album’. - https://socksinthefryingpan.com/band/

John McCutcheon is an American folk music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has produced 45 albums since the 1970s. He is regarded as a master of the hammered dulcimer, and is also proficient on many other instruments including guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, and jaw harp. He has received six Grammy Award nominations. Born and raised in Wisconsin, in his 20s, he travelled to Appalachia and learned from some of the legendary greats of traditional folk music, including Roscoe Holcomb and Tommy Hunter. - https://www.folkmusic.com/

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1984 archival recording of Ozark original Sheryl Irvine performing the traditional Child ballad “Sweet Peggy,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins presents part one of his series recounting the history of the Ozarkland Jamboree, a 1960’s country music variety show based in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas that never made it on the air.

This week, a special road trip episode featuring Walnut Valley original Pecan Grove campground jam band Old Sound recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Also, a performance from renowned singer-songwriter and folk music legacy Nathan McEuen.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

A trio of longtime friends and musical collaborators, Kansas City's Old Sound crafts an original brand of liquid folk music. The well-worn trio travels through song with evocative acoustic compositions, imagery-filled lyrics and beckoning three-part harmonies.  The band holds deep roots running back to Winfield, KS where they grew up and cut their teeth in the picking circles and campground stages of the Walnut Valley Festival.  Old Sound continues to evolve and bend the possibilities of modern acoustic music with rich, effects-driven live performances, while also creating a unique sound that could just as easily be heard around a campfire. - https://oldsoundmusic.com/

Nathan McEuen grew up surrounded by incredible music and talented musicians. By age five he started performing with his father, John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Nathan soon became a natural showman.  With over 40 years of touring, more than 3,000 shows, and appearances on American Idol, The Stagecoach Festival, the Grand Ole Opry, The Tonight Show, Music City Roots, and XM/Sirius Radio, his music has reached audiences around the world. Held in the highest esteem by his musical colleagues, Nathan has shared the stage with an impressive lineup of artists ranging from Bon Jovi to Willie Nelson.

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1984 archival recording of Ozark original Kenny Sims performing the traditional American Civil War song “Goober Peas,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins discusses the Ozark roots for one man’s inspiration that would ultimately result in the founding of the Grand Old Opry.

This week, a special road trip episode featuring up and coming Irish finger style guitar Jedi Shane Hennessy recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Also, a performance from each of the top three 2024 Walnut Valley International finger style guitar champions, Hiroya Tsukamoto, Mikey Bilello, and Stephen Bennett.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

Shane Hennessy is a virtuoso fingerstyle guitarist, singer/songwriter, and composer. With an upbringing in the world of Irish traditional music, Shane has been captivating audiences globally for the past few years, with sell-out solo tours in Europe and North America under his belt, as well as regular appearances at major international music festivals including MerleFest, Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival, Sound of Europe Festival (Düsseldorf, Germany), and Milwaukee Irish Fest. He has released four albums of original music, and his most recent studio album ‘Rain Dance’ was hailed as “a triumphant reaffirmation of his virtuosity and compositional excellence” by Irish Music Magazine. Shane has collaborated with Tommy Emmanuel, worked with Grammy-winner Bill Whelan (composer of Riverdance), and made his début on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee in March 2023. A musician from a young age, Shane credits his background in Irish traditional music as the base on which he has built his genre-defying musical explorations. Initially a concertina player, he achieved successes in competitions in Ireland. He then turned to the guitar aged twelve inspired by the music of James Taylor. Becoming more interested in songwriting and in music in general, it was when he discovered the styles of Tommy Emmanuel and Chet Atkins that his interest in solo performance blossomed. Described by legendary guitarist and mentor Tommy Emmanuel as “a brilliant entertainer and an amazing musician who transcends the guitar the same way Muhammed Ali transcended boxing”, Shane has since developed an unmistakably unique voice as a fingerstyle guitarist, blending his native Irish music with elements of jazz, country, blues, funk, classical, soul, world, and hip-hop. With the addition of some smooth vocals and improvisations, it makes sense why music legend super-producer Nile Rodgers (CHIC) remarked that “[Shane’s] style is killer, it’s really cool stuff.”

https://www.shanehennessy.ie/bio

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 2015 archival recording of Ozark original guitarists Danny Dozier and Randy Buckner performing the 1924 Isham Jones song “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins concludes his three part series on the surprisingly violent history of tornadoes in the Ozarks.

This week, a special road trip episode featuring world renowned cowboy singer-songwriter and story teller Dave Stamey recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

Cowboys and Indians Magazine has called him “the Charlie Russell of Western Music.” Western Horseman Magazine has declared his “Vaquero Song” to be one of the greatest Western songs of all time. True West Magazine named him Best Living Western Solo Musician four years in a row. Dave Stamey has been a cowboy, a mule packer, a dude wrangler, and is now one of the most popular Western entertainers working today. He has been voted seven times Entertainer of the Year, seven times Male Performer of the Year and Five times Songwriter of the Year by the Western Music Association and received the Will Rogers Award from the Academy of Western Artists. He’s delighted audiences in twenty-three states and finds that he prefers this to being stomped by angry horses. In November 2016, Dave was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame. - https://davestamey.com/

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1978 archival recording of Ozark original cowboy Glenn Ohrlin performing the song “Tying Knots in the Devils Tail,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins continues his three part series on the surprisingly violent history of tornadoes in the Ozarks.

This week, a special road trip episode featuring Salt Lake City, Utah based progressive bluegrass explorers Pixie and The Partygrass Boys recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Also, a bonus first main stage performance by original Walnut Valley campground jam band Sally & The Hurts.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound and Sally & The Hurts that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

Pixie and The Partygrass Boys may be far from their humble beginnings but they still don't take themselves too seriously. What began as a group of ski bums playing house parties in the Cottonwood Canyons of Salt Lake City has evolved into a nationally touring band that always aims to have the most fun possible. The band is Katia "Pixie" Racine on vocals & ukulele, Amanda B. Grapes on fiddle & vocals, Zach Downes on upright bass, Ben Weiss on mandolin & vocals, and Andrew Nelson on guitar & vocals. Pixie and The Partygrass Boys create a uniquely American sound that can turn the room into a ruckus but offers a full variety of other dynamics as well - approaching bluegrass/folk with a classical and jazz background while incorporating elements of broadway and pop-punk. They have captivated audiences across the nation with their unique blend of heartfelt songwriting, high velocity instrumental excellence, silly outfits, and sing-along anthems. Pixie and The Partygrass Boys invite the audience into their world every time they take the stage, hoping to share a piece of the magic they've found on the mountain tops and in the desert canyons of their Utah home.

- https://www.pixieandthepartygrassboys.com/band

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1984 archival recording of Ozark originals Janis Dooley & Pam Sanders performing a cappella the song “No Mortal as Happy as I,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins begins a three part series on the surprisingly violent history of tornadoes in the Ozark region.

This week, a special road trip episode featuring up and coming California based bluegrass phenomenon AJ Lee & Blue Summit recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Also, a bonus performance from IBMA award winning hit maker Chris Jones & The Night Drivers.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound, that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

AJ Lee & Blue Summit are an award-winning energetic, charming, and technically jaw-dropping band quickly rising on the national roots music scene. Based in Santa Cruz, California, the group met as teenagers, picking and jamming together as kids at local music festivals and jams until one day, they decided they would be a band.  Their first gigs were local, small venues, cafes, restaurants, coffee shops, where they’d play for multiple hours honing their set list and learning shared musical vocabularies. Now, as they criss-cross the country performing hundreds of shows a year to larger and larger audiences, you can sense the intention they had back then – to make music together not for just aspirational reasons, but because it’s fun – and it’s all you want to do as young musicians. Currently made up of Lee on mandolin, fiddler Jan Purat, and guitarists Scott Gates & Sullivan Tuttle, the band carries that youthful, festival-parking-lot energy with them still today, but at the same time there’s a genuine ease and confidence to their music making. This is not the bluegrass of ambitious musicians intent on industry success, this is music made firstly for the joy of making it and primarily made for each other.

https://www.bluesummitmusic.com/about-us-1

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. Collectively, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers have won 12 IBMA awards and have racked up 24 #1 songs. In July of 2022, they made their debut on The Grand Ole Opry and were soon asked to return.

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1984 archival recording of Ozark originals Bob Momich & Adam Fudge performing a banjo duet on the tune “Protecting the Innocent,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater dives deep into Aesop’s classic fable about the ant & the grasshopper.

This week, a special road trip episode featuring Celtic-American Roots music “super group” RUNA recorded live at the 2024 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield Kansas, a four day acoustic music marathon and arts & crafts fair held every September in Winfield, Kansas.

The annual Walnut Valley Festival, now in it’s 53rd season, is one of the oldest and most respected acoustic music festivals in the world. Held at the Winfield, Kansas fairgrounds, more than 30 musical acts will perform on four separate stages, presenting over 200 hours of live music. Also, there is a dedicated contest stage where contestants vie for national and international championships in Finger Style Guitar, Flat Pick Guitar, Bluegrass Banjo, Old Time Fiddle, Mandolin, Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, and Autoharp. There is a juried arts and crafts fair, exhibits by renowned instrument makers and music shops, family activities, a bevy of food vendors, a farmer’s market and even a pub! An unusual aspect of Walnut Valley is its campground tradition. Campsites are not reserved and campers line up to claim a choice campsite during the "Land Rush.” Walnut Valley Festival goers often bring their own musical instruments to participate in the sometimes all night campground jam sessions. Bands like Old Sound, that began as "Jam Bands" in the campgrounds, have even been invited to perform at the festival.

Celebrating fourteen years together as a band, Celtic-American Roots music “super group” RUNA continues to push the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats. Interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and blues, they offer a thrilling and redefining take on traditional music. Seeking to preserve and continue a traditional culture in a modern age, RUNA creates the backbone of its signature roots sound from the musical and geographical diversity of its individually established band members.  Their strive for excellence and creativity blazes a trail for the future of folk music, earning them the reputation as one of the most innovative Irish folk groups of this generation. RUNA consists of vocalist Shannon Lambert-Ryan of Philadelphia, Dublin-born guitarist, Fionán de Barra, acclaimed drummer Cheryl Prashker (Full Frontal Folk, Jonathan Edwards), fiddler Jake James of New York, and three-time Canadian fiddle champion Tom Fitzgerald, who also plays mandolin. - https://runamusic.com/about

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers an archival recording of Ozark original Mike McGhee performing the Classic Child ballad “Barbara Allen,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In this week’s guest host segment, renowned traditional folk musician, writer, and step dancer Aubrey Atwater profiles the legendary Ozark song catcher, Mary Celestia Parler.