The Phoenix
WINFIELD series - 2017
Photograph by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee
Text by Tom James
In 2017 we returned to the Pecan Grove for the Walnut Valley Festival, also known as Bluegrass or Winfield. Last year, the musical camping community was forced to the lake and surrounding area after the Walnut River flooded for the second time in the festival’s 47 year history. The lake fragmented the tight knit community, and while the change obscured paths to old friends and familiar camps, it helped us forge new ones and appreciate the wholeness of life in the Grove.
As summer gave way to fall this year, we found ourselves returning home to the banks of the Walnut River. The world has changed in the two years since we made camp here. May we find strength and solace in each other by continuing to inhabit our yearly Brigadoon. Time wears at us all, but for a short time in September it stands still.
This is the tenth installment of the WINFIELD series. My first year at the festival in 2008 marked an important turning point in my life as a photographer. Thank you to all the people I have met over the years wandering the Grove. This wouldn’t be possible without you.
-Ryan
The Phoenix: Winfield 2017 zine ($25) is now available for order!
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The Law family at Bluegrass (Walnut Valley Music Festival) in Winfield, Kansas on September 14, 2017.
Fine Time Camp before their suit parade during Bluegrass in mid September 2017.
Kyle chats with Josh during Bluegrass in mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Landon chats with Rob during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Morning yoga along the Walnut River, during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Breakfast of onion rings and eggs at Yeppers Camp, during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Breakfast during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Unpacking during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Riverat Camp's Annual Riverat Band Scramble Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Rat Camp's Annual Riverat Band Scramble during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Carp Camp parade through the Pecan Grove, during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
The Skirts play Stage 5 during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Handmade Moment play Stage 5, during Bluegrass in Winfield mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Aero at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Walt and Adele at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Sandi and Jessica at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Making gumbo at Webb's Camp during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Gumbo at at Webb's Camp during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Dinner time at Webb's Camp during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Necklaces made by Pam for her camp and friends throughout the Grove, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Thomas during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Charlie at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Rat Camp jam during Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Fine Time Camp's Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Fine Time Camp's Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Phil before the start of the Suit parade, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Fine Time Suit parade, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
WVF security watches the Fine Time Suit Parade pass by during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Amy enjoying the Fine Time Suit parade during Bluegrass in September 2017.
The Fine Time suit parade ends with people jumping into the Walnut River, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Hey Leon performs at Stage 7 during Bluegrass in September 2017.
Camp jam during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Brooke at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Tom at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Clint at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Ma Dank at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Zach at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Justin at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Dimension Bill Edwards presents: Horse Man at Heavy Petting Zoo Camp, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Matt, Melissa, and Rosie Weinman at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Matthew at Bluegrass in September 2017.
Matthew and Ben at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Brody at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Handmade Moments' Joel and Anna at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Lucy at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Mike at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Dylan speaks during a memorial for Split Lip Rayfield member Kirk Rundstrom ten years after his passing, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas September 2017.
Yepper Camp jam during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Happy Hands Camp during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Old Fangled plays Stage 7, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Amanda at Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Sandy Bottom Camp preparing for their Winfield Thanksgiving dinner, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Making dinner at Sandy Bottom Camp, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Eric in the kitchen for Sandy Bottom Camp's Thanksgiving dinner, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Making dinner at Sandy Bottom Camp, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Sandy Bottom Camp Thanksgiving, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Sandy Bottom Camp jam, duing Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Yeppers Camp during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Camp Cheers jam during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Road jam during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Camp Wood-n-Head during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Fine Time Camp during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Good Time Charlie play a set at Fine Time, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Good Time Charlie play a set at Fine Time, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Kansas City Bear Fighters play a set at Fine Time, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Quinn of the KC Bearfighters plays a solo set at Stage 11, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Sunflower Stage jam during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Steve talks to family and friends as part of the Camp Family Business tradition of burning a broken down guitar, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017. This years the burning was dedicated to Steve's recently passed son Jerad.
Camp Family Business tradition of burning a broken down guitar the final night of the festival. This years the burning was dedicated to Steve's recently passed son Jerad.
The Breakfast Sides plays Stage 7, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Robin and Billie play Stage 7, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
The Heresies play Stage 7, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Pattie plays with Soapbox Jr. at Stage 7, during Winfield Bluegrass in September 2017.
Tornado Rose play at Fine Time Camp, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
The Fumblebuckers play at Fine Time Camp, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy play at the circus tent, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Tragic Prelude play Stage 7, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Camp jam during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Indagrass play Fine Time Stage, during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Road jams during the final night of Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Road jam during Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Hartman sisters at the end of Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Steven-go-lightly at the end of Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Kyle and Luke as camp is broken down at the end of Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Sunday afternoon at the Comfortable Shoes Camp area, during the closing Sunday of Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
The closing Sunday of Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
The closing Sunday night of Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Bluegrass in Winfield, Kansas mid September 2017.
Aero makes camp post festival. He grew up in Winfield, and has been a long time volunteer at WVF. His sister's declining health made him decide to stay in town, and help support his family. Until he can figure out his living arrangements, Aero planned to remain camping along the river he played in as a child and enjoyed so many Bluegrass moments along.