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Well, that was fun.

I mean it. This year’s Walnut Valley Festival was just plain fun. It always is, of course, but 2007 was one for the books.

First off, Dennis and I played Stage 3 for the third consecutive year — we sang “One Candle” in the Saturday edition of the New Songs showcase. Lots of great songs this year, as usual.

Then we played the coveted Saturday evening sundown show on Stage 5. Ace of bass Tom Wolf from St. Louis joined us for a handful of originals, and then we brought Barney Byard and Shalen Scheltgen out to sing backing vocals on the Abbey Road Suite. Everyone of a certain age loved it and sang along … remember, that dates back to 1969! I hope the rest enjoyed it as well. Judging by the smiles I saw, I’ll wager they liked it.

Other highlights included a 2 am concert by Drakkar Sauna, the casino down by the eastern teepee, a campsite walkthrough by Terry Quiett, Tammy’s fierce dance routine Shane’s guitar-and-vocal arrangement of the dirtiest song I heard all weekend, Wayne Gottstine’s relentless Human Jukebox episodes by the campfire and the magnificent bassoon and cello work of Nicolasa Kuster and Tanya Tandoc with Good Question.

I’m tired now, and all my clothes smell like a campfire. Only 365 days til the next one …

Later,
Bryan

The Buddha boys will be onstage at Winfield again this year, owing to Bryan’s win in the Walnut Valley Festival’s New Songs Showcase. His song “One Candle” was the Saturday winner in the Songs for a Better World category.

This is the third consecutive year that Bryan has had winners in the competition. Here are past winners:

• Small Town Kids (2005)
• Made by Hand (2006)
• September 14, 1966 (2006)
• You Again (2006, alternate)

Note that all the aforementioned songs (except Made by Hand) are available on the new CD, The Incredible Adventures of Back Porch Buddha. Just sayin’.

The New Songs Showcase is managed by the talented and endlessly cheerful Kelly and Donna of Still on the Hill. Many thanks to them for a job well done.