These bands are ready for round two

Most of the musicians performing at this year's Walnut Valley Festival fall in two categories. They are either veterans of several years or appearing for the first time.

There are two bands, however, that are ready for their sophomore year - Live Bait the Band and Small Potatoes. Live Bait is excited to spend more time on the main stages this year, and Small Potatoes is ready to get out in the campground.

Last year, Live Bait was able to step in to some vacancies on the main stage. The group was the longtime house band of the Fish House in Sedan and had played countless times at Stage V, the officially unofficial stage in the Pecan Grove.

"We did a fill-in spot last year and just had a really fun time," band member Russell Brace said. "It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing ... They said, 'If you want to play, you need to go up and talk to them at the blue trailer.'"

Playing at the festival had been a goal of the band's for four or five years, so Brace and bandmate Mackie Redd sprinted for the trailer.

"It finally happened," Brace said. "Things worked out and we were able to play ... It finally happened."

Because it happened so fast, Brace said the band did not have enough time to get nervous about filling in for a name act. No one seemed to mind the switch, though.

"They didn't leave," said Brace's wife, Sherry.

That show may have led to Live Bait being hired, Brace said, or it may have been the band's persistence. Whatever led to the return engagement, he is excited.

"As a band, we're really charged about it," Brace said.

While Live Bait is glad to add more shows to its Stage V sets, Rich Prezioso - one half of the duo Small Potatoes - said he can't wait to get out in the Pecan Grove.

"We're going to try to do a set on Stage V. What fun," Prezioso said. "It's great to either go play in the campgrounds or just to listen, because the music is fantastic. You're surrounded by incredible stuff."

Last year, Prezioso and his partner, Jacquie Manning, were not up to too many late nights in the campground. They had driven all night to get to Winfield.

"We hope to this year hang out more in the campgrounds. I heard some great stuff last year that we'd like to be a part of, even if it's just standing on the fringes," Prezioso said. "We kind of feel like we have to be careful because we are there paid to perform. It's a little different than just going to hang out."

Besides their regular sets, both of the Small Potatoes are part of special sets. Prezioso is part of a blues workshop Friday morning, and Manning will be yodeling with the group Bluestem on Thursday afternoon.

"We're weekend yodelers," Prezioso joked. "We can explain how to do it ... What we bring to the table is the idea that, 'Hey, if we can do it anybody can.'"

At the festival, the duo will be playing some new material that is slated for the follow-up to the CD "Time Flies." One song Manning wrote won the Kerrville Folk Festival songwriting award.

"We're just delighted to be coming back. I think the only thing better than playing last year is coming back this year,' Prezioso said. "It was the best festival we've ever done. That's simple."