Article Contributed by Mike
Published on February 10, 2026
Photo: Courtesy of Radio Bristol
Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time returns to the stage on Thursday, May 14, 2026, with a special live taping at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. The beloved music program—recorded before a live studio audience for broadcast television—will feature musical guests Joshua Ray Walker and Chancellor Lawson, alongside host Kris Truelsen and his house band, Country Casserole.
Farm and Fun Time is recorded for national broadcast and is available to more than 143 PBS stations across the country. Hosted by Truelsen, the show is a modern re-imagining of the classic WCYB Radio program of the same name that originally aired in the 1940s and 1950s, blending live music, storytelling, and old-school variety show charm into a uniquely American roots-music experience.
Joshua Ray Walker has quickly emerged as one of Americana’s most arresting voices. The Texas-based singer-songwriter is known for his powerhouse vocals, razor-sharp writing, and magnetic stage presence, earning praise from Rolling Stone, NPR, Billboard, and fans around the world. His solo “Stories & Songs” performances pull back the curtain on the characters, places, and moments behind his acclaimed catalog, balancing humor and heartbreak with a once-in-a-generation vocal range. Onstage, Walker moves effortlessly from uproarious laughter to pin-drop-quiet confession, delivering performances that are as raw and vulnerable as they are unforgettable.
In October 2025, Walker released Stuff via East Dallas Records / Thirty Tigers, his most ambitious concept album to date. Writing from the perspectives of inanimate objects discovered at an estate sale, the album marked a bold stylistic shift toward stripped-down, experimental indie-folk and Americana. The release followed closely on the heels of his surprise beach-country album Tropicana, further underscoring Walker’s creative range and fearlessness.
Chancellor Lawson brings a sharply honed songwriter’s voice to the evening. A well-traveled Tennessee-based wordsmith, Lawson has spent the past decade touring across the U.S. and was a finalist in the 2022 Tennessee Songwriters Week competition. He has recently been gaining momentum in theaters, opening for artists such as Kashus Culpepper and 49 Winchester.
Lawson’s recent output includes new studio singles, a live album recorded at the Dothan Opera House, and a 2025 EP featuring IBMA Guitarist of the Year and Grammy winner Trey Hensley. He is also preparing to release a new self-titled full-length album with his group Donnie and the Dry Heavers, continuing to build a body of work rooted in thoughtful storytelling and road-tested authenticity.
Anchoring the show is host Kris Truelsen and his band Country Casserole. Truelsen has spent nearly two decades touring the U.S., refining his voice as a songwriter and performer. With Country Casserole, he leans into the rock ’n’ roll side of country music—rowdy, loose, and unmistakably his own. The band features an all-star lineup including JP Parsons (guitar), Rebecca Branson Jones (pedal steel), Sarah Griffin (bass), and Levi Trent (drums).
Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Tickets are on sale now:
https://www.tixr.com/groups/bcm/events/farm-fun-time-joshua-ray-walker-chancellor-lawson-176450
For more information, visit joshuaraywalker.com and chancellorlawson.com.
