Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
January 11, 2007 issue
Wilkes Prepares for MerleFest with Walker Center Concerts
Lineup Includes MerleFest Artists Sam Bush Band and Cherryholmes
Story by David Brewer
If you can’t wait for MerleFest to roll around and you are dying to get your live music fix with some of the finest Americana music in the country, Wilkes Community College’s Walker Center has you covered with upcoming concerts by the Sam Bush Band and award-winning family bluegrass band Cherryholmes.
A favorite of MerleFest and High Country audiences for years, the Sam Bush Band will appear at the Walker Center on Friday, February 2. Initially performing at the 1988 Merle Watson Memorial Festival with New Grass Revival, Bush has been breaking ground on the mandolin since the early 1970s. With the release of his 2006 album Laps In Seven, Bush show no signs of slowing down.
Crowned the IBMA’s Entertainers of the Year in 2005, family band Cherryholmes has been wowing bluegrass audiences across the country with their hard-driving style since 2002. The band will be in concert at the Walker Center on Saturday, March 3.
Though 2007 will be the band’s first year at MerleFest, the members, ages 13 to 21, have become veterans of the road, performing over 300 shows a year. Cherryholmes’ self-titled album was nominated for a Best Bluegrass Album Grammy in 2006.
Each show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for the shows are $16 in advance and $18 on the day of the concert. For more info, click to www.walkercenteronline.org.
Want To Go?
What: Sam Bush Band
Date: Friday, February 2
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Walker Center
Cost: $16 in advance/$18 at the door
Want To Go?
What: Cherryholmes
Date: Saturday, March 3
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Walker Center
Cost: $16 in advance/$18 at the door
MerleFest Tickets Are On Sale Now
Tickets for MerleFest 2007 are on sale now and can be purchased through www.merlefest.org, by phone, mail and fax. If purchasing assigned seats at the Watson Stage, customers can also pick their seat location online. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 800-343-7857, by fax at 336-838-6263 and by mail at MerleFest; P.O. Box 120; Wilkesboro, NC, 28697.
Those interested in volunteering for MerleFest should call 336-838-6414. For vendor info, call 336-838-6292. For sponsorship inquiries, call 336-838-6423.