2008 Guest Artists Lori McKenna An acclaimed singer-songwriter who was thrust into the limelight last year when superstar Faith Hill included three of McKenna's songs on her Number One album Fireflies, including Hill's poignant single "Stealing Kisses." Hill (herself a wife and mother of three) heard in McKenna's work what a steadily growing audience has been hearing since her 1998 debut, Paper Wings & Halo: an intimate understanding and honest expression of the realities of domestic life. McKenna's latest album, "Unglamorous" was co-written with Nashville songwriter Liz Rose. ---------------------------------------------------- Songwriters in the Round The hosts of the festival, Jimmy Fortune and Robin and Linda Williams, ask a special guest each year to be on the show.   Jimmy's guest this year is Karen Staley Born in Weirton,WV and raised in Western, PA this award winning songwriter has had #1 hits by Faith Hill, Tracy Byrd, IIIrd Tyme Out and Michael Martin Murphy. She has also had top hits by stars like Terri Clark, Trick Pony, Dolly Parton, and Reba. Songs such as Take Me As I Am , Let's Go To Vegas, Every Time I Cry, On A Night Like This, and many more. Karen won the ACM Song of The Year award with Tracy Byrd's classic Keeper of the Stars which was recently featured on CMT's 100 Greatest Country Love Songs of All Time TV special. Her songs have been nominated for both Dove and Grammy Awards. As a backup singer and rhythm guitarist, Karen has toured with Faith Hill, Reba, Patty Loveless and Russ Taff. Robin and Linda's guest is Tim O'Brien Though he first won renown as a member of one of bluegrass's premiere bands, Hot Rize, O'Brien's been doing solo performances for a long time. "The folksinger with a guitar is a sort of an unassailable icon," says Tim. "Dylan, Woody Guthrie -- Doc Watson..."

September 26, 27, 28 Festival Hosts: Jmmy Fortune and Robin & Linda Williams "Blending Music with Education and Culture" Staunton, VA Directions TICKETS: on sale soon GUITAR RAFFLE check back for details soon Weekend Schedule TBA 2007 Festival Reviews 2006 Festival Reviews Cochran Pavilion

2008 Guest Artists John Anderson His memorable hits from that musical era included Wild and Blue, I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal, 1959, I Just Came Home To Count The Memories, Black Sheep and Swingin'.  Swingin' was not only the Country Music Association's 1983 Song of the year; more recently it was cited by the A.M.O.A. as one of its all-time top-forty jukebox hits--right up there with Hey Jude and other perennial favorites by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, George Jones, and The Rolling Stones. Straight Tequila Night, the lead-off single from Seminole Wind (Anderson's debut album for BNA Entertainment), went to number one across the board on every country chart. The vocal genius who won the Country Music Association's 1983 Horizon Award and helped lay the cornerstone for the late 1980's neo-traditionalist boom with his aforementioned early '80's stone-country hits.  Those hits which showcased Anderson's arresting, instantly recognizable vocal style; a provocative mixture of honky tonk fervor, rockabilly/outlaw gusto, sly, tongue-in-cheek humor, and just a hint of rock n' roll swagger.  The Anderson we hear today is merely the new and slightly mellowed adult version of the stylistically headstrong, fiercely determined 17-year old who hit Nashve. Grandstaff The Reid cousins, who seem more like brothers, have sung together as Grandstaff for over 15 years. They are energetic, enthusiastic, and above all, very, very talented. Along with their outstanding harmony, which is an inherent trademark from their fathers, Harold and Don Reid, members of the Statler Brothers, Wil and Langdon are prolific songwriters who have had over 30 songs published and recorded. They can also play many different instruments, which makes an impressive portfolio and contributes to their unique style. But when Wil and Langdon plug up and strap on their electric guitars and turn on their natural entertaining abilities, you can expect to be fulfilled with a musical delight. SteelDrivers A group of seasoned veterans ­ each distinguished in his or her own right, each valued in the town's commercial community ­ who are seizing an opportunity to follow their hearts to their souls' reward.  In doing so, they are braiding their bluegrass roots with new threads of their own design, bringing together country, soul, and other contemporary influences to create an unapologetic hybrid that is old as the hills but fresh as the morning dew.  This is new music with the old feeling. SteelDrivers fan Vince Gill describes the band's fusion as simply "an incredible combination."