Every year at Winfield you can see some amazing bands playing in the campground at the Walnut Valley Festival. Some bands are on the smaller stages scattered around, but others are jamming at camp sites or along the side of the road as you wander the campgrounds.
We thought we would bring some of the flavor of that to our virtual festival by bringing back a VERY OLD institution—the Battle of the Bands! (In the early years of the festival there was a battle of the bands as a separate contest. The competition was discontinued as the individual instrument competitions grew)
Votes will be taken until midnight on Monday, March 7, 2022.
The winner will be announced in the week following voting. Winner will be invited to become part of the lineup to play on the interior at our 50th Walnut Valley Festival in 2022.
Current Leaderboard
Please Note: There may be a delay between casting your vote and it appearing in the band's totals.
Voting ends in...
Route 358
Bentonville, AR
“Route 358’s tracks have that love for their craft feeling. You know these guys would be amazing to see live after hearing just a few songs. You almost itch for it. ” The Sounds Won’t Stop, 2020
Best known for bending and blending of Americana music, Route 358 has been touring for the past six years in support of their first two albums, “Fragile Hearts,” which received national and international air play, and their 2020 release “Peregrination I,” which continues in that same trajectory.
The trio prides themselves on staying true to their acoustic roots, their imaginative storytelling and connecting with their fans along the journey. Whether they’re performing at a intimate venue or festival, you’ll want to see them live and support their music!
- Voting has ended
Check back after March 7, 2022 to see the announcement, and find out who won 2022's WVF Battle of the Bands!
Outlaw Bodhi Linde
Rapid City, SD
Outlaw Bodhi Linde is a Guitar, Banjo, Cello, Bass, Mandolin playing and songwriting 13-year-old flame thrower from South Dakota. He plays Jazz like he was born in the French Quarter and blues like he fell out of a car at the Crossroads. He is happiest when he is on stage playing his heart out. He plays anything with strings as well as brass the reed family. He writes songs from a perspective that betrays his age. He feel in love with Walnut Valley Festival when he played Stage Five in 2021 and all his talent is pulling him back. Catch him while you can as he starts to tour the world.
- Voting has ended
Check back after March 7, 2022 to see the announcement, and find out who won 2022's WVF Battle of the Bands!
Folk in the Flow
Lawrence, KS
We simply honor the stories of life. To see, feel and bring understanding through the heart is our calling. Music is the undeniable response.
- Voting has ended
Check back after March 7, 2022 to see the announcement, and find out who won 2022's WVF Battle of the Bands!
Black Mountain Fever
Eureka Springs, AR
Black Mountain Fever is a North West Arkansas – based four peice string band blending old-time and bluegrass together into a tastful progression with original music, bluegrass favorites, and a unique experience with high energy harmonies, flatpickin’ attacks, lonesome fiddle breaks, a driving upright bass, and some of the hottest licks in and around the Ozarks. We welcome you, Black Mountain Fever.
- Voting has ended
Check back after March 7, 2022 to see the announcement, and find out who won 2022's WVF Battle of the Bands!
Roving Gambler Band
Fayetteville, AR
Straight from the Arkansas Ozark Hills, The Roving Gambler Band have been entertaining audiences and ourselves for over 30 years. Our driving statement : “ If we can make one person forget their troubles for five minutes – our show is a success”
- Voting has ended
Check back after March 7, 2022 to see the announcement, and find out who won 2022's WVF Battle of the Bands!
Red Mountain Boys
Colorado Springs, CO
The Red Mountain Boys are a hot new bluegrass supergroup lighting up the Pikes Peak region.
A longtime staple of the scene, Alan Begley (Willie Bean Bluegrass) fronts the Boys with his Martin flat-top guitar. Lewis Mock (Kansas State Hall-of-Fame musician, Radford & Lewis Band) brings the fire with his five-string banjo. Jon Murphy (Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, The Grass is Dead) keeps the Boys rock solid with his metronome-like bass playing. Jeff Daugherty (2014 John Hartford Songwriting Award winner) plays his mandolin like a man possessed.
Take their instrumental prowess, add in four-part vocal harmonies and world-class songwriting and LOOK OUT – it’s a recipe for powerful, hard-driving bluegrass music.
- Voting has ended
Check back after March 7, 2022 to see the announcement, and find out who won 2022's WVF Battle of the Bands!
Whiskey Mash Band
Kansas City, MO
High velocity bluegrass ground out of Kansas City, MO. The new-found ensemble thrives on improvisation and genre-bending around core bluegrass instrumentation: guitar, mandolin, (bumpin’) upright bass and banjo. At a live performance, expect to see them effortlessly step in and out of a mix of Americana, country, traditional, R&B, blues and psychedelic music.
The group draws on their collective musical inspirations and aspirations to put together an energizing unique and fun performance fit to turn any occasion into a once-in-a-lifetime party.
- Voting has ended
Check back after March 7, 2022 to see the announcement, and find out who won 2022's WVF Battle of the Bands!