Now in its 33rd year, The Walnut Valley Festival draws contestants and acoustic traditional music fans from around the country and indeed, the world. This year was special in that for the first time, the word "International" was substituted for "National" in the championship instrumental performance categories, as in "International Flatpicking Championships".

2. In contrast to last year's rain and near-sleet conditions, Winfield 2004 was hot and dusty, but fans didn't seem to mind the sun or temperatures in the 90s.

3. Originally from Australia but now living in Nashville, acoustic guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel unveiled a new guitar percussion piece at the Winfield festival.

4. A victim and obvious survivor of last year's hurricanes, Winfield Champion Stephen Bennett of West Virginia entertains with his signature harp guitar.

5. The "Men of Steel"- Don Ross, Tony McManus, Beppe Gambetta, and Dan Crary- served up an international repertoire for an appreciative Winfield Crowd. Crary has inadvertently become the senior statesman of flatpicking guitar, McManus is the leading Celtic player, and Ross- a Canadian of Scottish and aboriginal descent- is well known for his fresh approach to the acoustic guitar and spot-on vocals. Beppe Gambetta has recently issued a fine album called Blu di Genova (Blue Jeans), whose title concept was derived from the fact that denim cloth was produced in his hometown of Genoa, Italy as early as the sixteenth century.

6. Members of the "Waybacks" make their first appearance at Winfield. This band of California virtuosi refuses to be labeled, throwing in a large dose of humor on the side.

7. Jamming amongst professionals or amateurs can happen anywhere and any time. Here, Stephen Bennett and Tommy Emmanuel play into the wee hours for a select group of guests at Winfield's Comfort Inn.

8. Rehearsal or just for fun? Stephen and Tommy frequently appear on the same international concert rosters. An appreciative bystander at the motel asked good- naturedly, "Were you guys separated at birth?" to which Tommy instantly replied, "Yes, but not for long!"

9. Tommy's new maple Maton guitar features the letters "CGP" (Certified Guitar Player) inlayed at the twelfth fret plus a knockout pickup/equalizer system powered by two simple AA batteries.

10. A contestant hammers out a tune during the dulcimer competition.

11. Various manufacturers and private luthiers donate artist model instruments to be awarded as prizes to the top three contestants in each instrumental category. Here, two Deering banjos and an Ome await three lucky and talented winners.

12. The prizes for fiddlers and flatpickers, Winfield's best-known competition. Complete unknowns match wits and licks with seasoned recording and studio artists in flatpicking and fingerstyle guitar, 5-string banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and mountain and hammered dulcimer categories. Contestants are allowed to perform with a backup instrumentalist but the accompanist is not miced and no one is allowed to utter so much as a "thank you" as that might give away their identity. With blind judging, the various instrumental competitions at Winfield are as fair as they possibly can be, with often unpredictable results.

13. Keith Taylor of Salt Lake City logically chose a Taylor Guitar in his first-place win in the 2004 flatpicking competition.

14. Thousands of campers invade the area surrounding the festival fairgrounds a week or ten days before the first concert of the Winfield Festival. Campers often coalesce into distinct neighborhoods and some even maintain email contact with one another throughout the year to prepare jamming tunes in specific keys.

15. Space is at a premium in the areas with camper hookup facilities.

16. A cryptic sign communicates the spirit of the encampment.

17. A broad spectrum of instruments distinguishes this large spontaneous jam. Note the Intellitouch tuners clipped to a couple of the headstocks. Mark Wilson of OnBoard Research www.tuners.com, inventor and manufacturer of the device, was on-hand in the vendor's area to examine tuners and replace batteries- for free!

18. Year to year, I'm told, there is always at least one teepee at Winfield. Notice the beanbag toss game to the right of the entrance.

19. "Miss Scarlet" from Georgia poses with a willing innocent bystander.

20. "Madam Pickle" flashes the peace symbol spreading humor and goodwill in troubled times.

21. The Mel Bay Publications booth was well-patronized throughout the festival. Even though two or three attendants were available 6-11 hours/day, there were still times when clients were waiting three-deep to be served. Although Winfield is certainly a significant source of revenue for Mel Bay Publications, its overriding value for us is that it allows us to keep a finger on the pulse of the industry- to learn "what's going on" as well as what fresh niche markets we might address.

For example, Gypsy jazz guitarist Alfonso Ponticelli introduced himself and informed us that he is organizing a city-wide Djangofest in Chicago October 5-9 [see djangofestchicago.com]. New Mel Bay author Stefan Wremble [Getting into Gypsy Jazz Guitar] will be a guest artist at this event.

22. Dan Miller of Flatpicking Guitar magazine and Flatpicking Mercantile is marketing two models of Saga (Gitane) Gypsy jazz guitars at $595.00 each; both appear to be an excellent value for the money. Dan also presented his new Intro to Gypsy Jazz Guitar Book+CD+DVD (#2207) by John Jorgenson, which Mel Bay is distributing.

23. Matt Raum, author of Mandolin Technique Studies (20671) placed third in the Winfield International Mandolin Championship and received a beautiful Webber mandolin and other prizes for his effort. [For a complete list of Winfield winners, please see the Walnut Valley Festival website at wvfest.com.]

24. Steve Mason of Steve Mason Luthiers in Lawrence, Kansas scmiv@aol.com with a "hambolin" made from a genuine ham tin. This unique instrument is actually equipped with a pickup. Steve and his staff mounted an effective fretted instrument setup and repair shop on-site at the Winfield festival. Steve's assistant, Robert did an excellent neck reset on my own A-style mandolin. Thanks guys!

25. Two young banjo enthusiasts with nice hats draw a crowd at the Deering Banjo booth www.deeringbanjos.com. While involvement of young people at music festivals helps guarantee the survival of a folk tradition, neither instrument being played here is what one would expect at a bluegrass gathering; The instrument at left is a B6 6-string banjo while at right is Deering's new Goodtime tenor banjo.

26. An altogether appropriate license plate for a Tommy Emmanuel fan in attendance at Winfield.

Our sincere thanks to the Walnut Valley Festival organizers and all those who stopped by the Mel Bay Publications vendors' booth to chat or make a purchase. For this and the many friendships, insights, and publishing opportunities offered to us over the years at Winfield, we are deeply appreciative.

See you next year!
Stephen Rekas