Mark Schatz & Friends

Years at Winfield: 

Mark Schatz is a prominent figure in the Nashville New Acoustic scene. Twice named IBMA Bass Player of the Year, he has worked an/or recorded with an impressive variety of artists including Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Maura O'Connel, Tony Rice, John Hartford, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Tim and Molly O'Brien.

Mark is also the musical director the internationally acclaimed percussive dance ensemble, Footworks, which showcases other talents for Mark's such as clawhammer banjo and Southern Appalachian clog dancing. Mark has his own solo recording, brand New Old Tyme Way, produced by Béla Fleck, on Rounder Records, and two instructional bass videos on Homespun.

Mark is joined by Jim Hurst, Missy Raines & Casey Driessen. Casey is steeped in traditional music. His banjoist father took him to bluegrass festivals in his formative years, and Casey received a degree in music production from Berklee College of Music. Recognizing the considerable ability and drive of this young fiddler, Tim O'Brien hired him to be part of a band to tour with Steve Earl in 1999.

Other Walnut Valley artists: