2008 Guest Artists The Fortune Williams Music Festival kicked off Friday to a sold-out crowd for Songwriters in the Round, featuring guest artists Tim O'Brien and Karen Staley. The audience clapped and wiggled in time to O'Brien's "Get Out There and Dance," and laughed uproariously to Staley's "Thyroid Condition" - a song about weight gain. "See, we don't bring no trash up in here," Jimmy Fortune said in an aside to the crowd. Songwriters night is known for its intimate and lighthearted atmosphere, which the artists themselves have commented on in the past. "I asked (Fortune and Robin and Linda Williams) where is your favorite place to play, and they honestly said, 'Right here,'" Staley told Friday's audience members, who cheered in response. _______________________________________ Read entire article.

Staunton, VA Festival Hosts: Jimmy Fortune and Robin & Linda Williams Though he no longer calls Staunton home, country music legend Jimmy Fortune let it be known he still holds a deep bond with the area. "I live in Nashville now, but I still miss Staunton awfully bad," he said to start off his performance Saturday night on the second day of the Fortune Wiliams Music Festival. His performance was just part of the 10 hours of music Saturday during the festival that also featured Robin and Linda Williams, Tim O'Brien, Trent Wagler and the Steel Wheels and Lori McKenna. Read entire article.

2008 Guest Artists Anderson closes music festival Sunday marked the last day for the Fortune Williams Music Festival, and Fortune said he couldn't have been more pleased with the turnout. "It's been more like a family reunion than anything else," Fortune said. Read entire article. Fortune estimated that while many in the crowd were from the area, a lot were coming from out of state for the weekend, himself included. "I'm so proud of Staunton and the Frontier Culture Museum," he said. "And this gives me a chance to come back and give back to those who gave so much to me and the Statler Brothers."

2008 FORTUNE WILLIAMS MUSIC FESTIVAL SPONSERS

_ _ _

_ _ _ _

______ Anderson, White & Co., P.C. ______