Headliners enjoy widespread recognition

Friday, June 2, 2017

McCOOK, Neb. — Storyteller Kim Weitkamp enjoys the role of being one of the most sought after storytellers and speakers in the country. She — along with Grammy-award nominees Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen — headline this year’s Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival June 9-10.

Other headliners include Chuck Peek winner of the 2016 Nebraska Book Award for his poetry, “Breezes on Their Way to Being Winds” and fifth generation Nebraska writer Jeff Barnes.

Weitkamp describes herself as “the redheaded child of exhausted parents.” She grew up as a “middle child” who was allowed to roam free in the heart of Amish Country where her imagination was “ripened by a life lived outdoors.”

She has eight audio collections, the latest two being “A Wandering Mind” — a recent Storytelling Award Winner — and a folk operetta “The Ballad of Ronnie Calloway” which was recorded live at the National Storytelling Festival.

Her material is played regularly on National Public Radio and SiriusXM Radio.

She travels the continent full time performing at theaters and at festivals. She has made numerous television appearances, hosted a successful morning show and has keynoted for some of Forbes most recognized companies and high profile national non-profits.

In her work as a humorist, storyteller, singer and songwriter, she has taken home a full armload of awards and recognitions. She has worked on and created successful peace projects including the Peace by Piece Project in collaboration with the Taubman Museum of Fine Arts.

She will perform story concerts Friday at the dinner cabaret and Saturday at the Fox Theatre. She will present a free storytelling workshop for youth at the library on Friday and entertain children on Saturday afternoon. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with Kim at the free event Saturday morning at the High Plains Museum and enjoy stories at the Bieroc Saturday night.

WITH THEIR LAST ALBUM earning Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen a 2015 Grammy award nomination for best bluegrass album, the eagerly anticipated follow-up “Family, Friends & Heroes” has helped them add International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2016 Instrumental Group of the Year to their list of accolades.

“This summer we are gonna ‘Roll Out West’ with our new release and we are so excited to return to some of our favorite places and hope to see you all there,” Solivan said.

Solivan has built a reputation as a monster mandolinist — and has become a major festival attraction with his band, Dirty Kitchen. Solivan, with banjoist Mike Munford, 2013 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year, award-winning guitarist Chris Luquette and bassist Jeremy Middleton, simmer a “bluegrass/newgrass” stew from instrumental, vocal and songwriting skills.

Dirty Kitchen will entertain and inspire musical stories Friday evening at the Bieroc Dinner Cabaret and Saturday evening at the Fox Theatre. The group will perform and be available for questions Saturday morning at the High Plains Museum, as well as at informal gatherings throughout the weekend.

Dr. Charles Peek: returns to his “hometown” once again where he brings a wealth of talent, experience, and expertise. Known as a storyteller, author, historian, poet, and raconteur, Peek will join historian Jeff Barnes and local writer-historian Walt Sehnert to moderate community stories themed “Back in Time, Forward in Anticipation” at the High Plains Museum. He joins Barnes and local musician Ginger ten Bensel for a “Storytelling Savvy” learning opportunity at McCook Community College Friday afternoon. Peek is also slated to present poetry Friday evening at the Bieroc and lead the Poetry Slam on Saturday afternoon. Annually, he shares his expertise from his service in many organizations, including the Willa Cather Foundation.

Jeff Barnes: A freelance writer and fifth-generation Nebraskan, Barnes is a board trustee of the Nebraska State Historical Society, past chairman of the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission, and former marketing director for the Durham Museum.

A former newspaper reporter and editor, Barnes is the author of "Forts of the Northern Plains," "The Great Plains Guide to Custer," "The Great Plains Guide to Buffalo Bill," and "Extra Innings: The Story of Modisett Ball Park." He is also the author of a centennial history of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and is currently writing and photographing a retrospective of 150 Nebraska buildings for the state’s sesquicentennial. Barnes is a frequently requested speaker with Humanities Nebraska and presents throughout the Great Plains on the history of the region.

For a full list of storytelling events, venues and ticket prices, please visit https://buffalocommons.org

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