Walnut River String Band

The Kansas Arts Commission has announced the renewal of the Winfield based Walnut River String Band for a second three year term as a member of the Kansas Arts on Tour program. The mission of the Kansas Arts Commission is to ensure the people of Kansas value and celebrate the arts throughout their lives. The Kansas Arts Commission awards grants through the Kansas Arts on Tour Program (KATP) to presenters of concerts, performances, workshops and other events for both general and younger audiences. Touring artists listed on the KTAP Roster are chosen by a panel review process and recommended to the program on the basis of their artistic quality, management skills, and professionalism. The Walnut River String Band first became a part of the KTAP in 2004.



The band’s commitment to the Kansas Arts on Tour Program has also led to an invitation to be included as members of the Mid-America Arts Alliance. The Walnut River String Band will be included as touring artists on the Regional Touring Program. The Regional Touring Program, formerly known as The Heartland Arts Fund, is the Mid-America Arts Alliance performing arts cooperative venture with the National Endowment for the Arts to support regional touring artists in performing at venues across a multi-state region, in partnership with the six state art agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.



Created in 1972, the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) emerged and developed as the first regional arts organization in the country. M-AAA constituents and partners include small and large museums, presenting organizations, performing arts touring companies and artists, arts councils, county historical societies, community colleges, and other types of organizations that are interested in bringing exhibitions and performers to their communities. These organizations and institutions partner with Mid-America Arts Alliance's programs and services to reach into communities of all sizes and types—from major metropolitan areas to the smallest towns in rural America, distributing high-quality performing and visual arts programming to over 300 communities each year.



Participation by the Walnut River String Band in the Kansas Arts on Tour program has resulted in the band being invited to perform at a number of widely acclaimed events, celebrations and venues across Kansas. Beginning in 2004 through this fall the band has been included in the multi-state bicentennial celebration of Lewis and Clark’s journey, the Gold Dust Days Festival in Fredonia, Atchison’s Amelia Earhart Festival, and the 27th Annual Chisholm Trail Festival in Abilene. This fall the band has been invited to perform at venues that include the Kansas Book Festival held in Wichita at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and two of Kansas’ most beautifully restored theatre’s, Salinas Watson-Stiefel built in the 1920’s and at 7:00 pm. on November 11th, Concordia’s Brown-Grand Theatre, constructed in the early 1900’s.



Restored to its original 1907 splendor, the 650 seat Brown Grand Theatre now serves as a tourist attraction and performing arts / community center for Concordia and North Central Kansas. The theatre has two balconies, eight box seats, and features a grand drape, which is a reproduction of a Horace Vernet painting titled, "Napoleon at Austerlitz. For tickets or concert information call 785-243-2553.



The band will return to Winfield for a concert at the Quail Valley Fun Barn. On

November 18th the Walnut River String Band will be joined on the Fun Barn stage by the

Oklahoma band Mountain Smoke. Mountain Smoke has recently reformed after a successful history that includes former members, Vince Gill, bluegrass star Bobby Clark,

and current band member, Jimmy Gyles, the first (and second) Walnut Valley National Flatpick Guitar Champion and first Walnut Valley Mandolin Champion. Tickets for the concert are first come, first serve. The price is $15 and does not include a meal.

For tickets or additional information call 620-221-4744.

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