Last year when I traveled to Winfield to cover The Walnut Valley Festival it was hot, I was fasting for Ramadan and I got pulled over on my way to cover the story. That seems like all the ingredients for a miserable day, but in actuality it was one of the best days of my career.

Due to some unforeseen complications, I cannot cover the festival this year. But if you can, you should go. I don’t need to describe the amazing bluegrass and folk musicians you’ll see down there, but I would like to urge you to go see the belle of the ball, Barry “Bones” Patton.

Barry is probably the happiest folk musician in Kansas. He plays “the bones,” and by that I mean he makes beats with real animal bones.

Have a looksie:

Barry is also someone you can walk up to after a show and have an earnest conversation with. He’s actually a Winfield native, and even though he travels across the world to play the bones (he was also featured in an episode of Deadwood), he always comes back to his diesel shop in Winfield. The town loves him, and he loves them back. It seems everyone has a story to tell about Barry.

I am bummed that I can’t go to Winfield this year, but if you want to check it out, it runs September 16–20. You can check out more (including a schedule) here.