Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
April 26, 2007 issue
MerleFest Takes Over Wilkes Community College
This Weekend
Festival Runs From Thursday, April 26, to Sunday, April 29
Story by David Brewer
Wilkes Community College will again be swarmed by thousands of music lovers from all across the United States and the world as the twentieth edition of MerleFest swings into action this Thursday, April 26, through Sunday, April 29.
Gathering together premiere players from the bluegrass, contemporary acoustic, Celtic, blues, folk, old-time, Cajun, jazz and singer-songwriter fields, MerleFest has risen to the top of the festival heap and has long been considered the top event for fans of the ever-widening Americana music genre.
More important, MerleFest has kept alive the memory of Eddy Merle Watson, Doc’s son and musical foil, who was tragically killed in 1985. Since 1988, the festival has been a musical memorial for Merle when friends and former collaborators remember the multi-instrumental picker in song and performance.
Though the family and friends vibe continues with the festival’s longtime performers, the event has grown to monstrous proportions, far beyond the wildest dreams of MerleFest’s original organizers. At 20 years old, the festival shows no signs of slowing down.
Two special performances featuring some of MerleFest’s most prolific players will be held to commemorate the festival’s twentieth year. Taking place on Thursday at 9:40 p.m., the Kickoff Jam will be led by fan favorite John Cowan and will include Uncle Earl, Pete Wernick, Sierra Hull, Tut Taylor, Tara Nevins and more.
The 20th anniversary Homecoming Jam will take place on Saturday evening at 7:10 p.m. Led by Sam Bush, the special star-studded show will also feature Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Pam Tillis, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, John McEuen and many more.
MerleFest’s instrumental and songwriting contests will again yield a new crop of talented performers who will earn the right to play in front of a swollen Watson Stage audience.
Though the festival’s 13 stages will be filled for nearly four days with world-class performers of American roots music of all kinds, many of the best jams will be held by festival attendees as they make the campground scene come alive every night. Pickers of all instruments will come together and make sweet music long after the lights of the Watson Stage dim for the night.
The mammoth event that is MerleFest would not be possible without an incredible amount of volunteer labor. Volunteers act as stagehands, greeters, security ushers and hospitality services, helping with the raffle, parking, little pickers, the box office, checkin and signage and many other tasks.
In addition to its musical importance, MerleFest is also an economic engine. During the previous 19 years, MerleFest has contributed $7.28 million to Wilkes Community College, while some 50 nonprofit organizations from Wilkes County and beyond net around $350,000 from the festival each year. Using guidelines recommended by ASU’s College of Business, MerleFest 2006 had an estimated total regional impact of $16,374,948.
General admission tickets remain available for MerleFest 2007, in advance or at the gate after 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26. Tickets can be purchased online at www.merlefest.org, by calling 1-800-343-7857 or 336-838-6267, or by faxing 336-838-6277.
MerleFest Outreach Program Takes Music Outside the Gates
In addition to the thousands that will pass through the festival gates this weekend, MerleFest will again share its performers with approximately 12,000 members of the local community through the festival’s Outreach Program.
Sponsored by Embarq, Outreach will facilitate performances by MerleFest artists on Thursday, April 26, and Friday, April 27, at 27 different locations. Artists will appear in all 21 Wilkes County schools, Ashe County High School, Alexander Central High School, Wilkes Development Day School, Montessori Learning School, the Wilkesboro Methodist Church After-School Program, Camp E-Ma-Etu and several nursing and assisted living facilities.
The Outreach performances, designed to expose students and seniors to different kinds of Americana music live, are not open to the general public.
Some of the artists scheduled to participate in the Outreach Program include Richard Watson and Charles Welch, the Belleville Outfit, John Cowan Band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Cherryholmes, Jim Lauderdale, the Duhks, Béla Fleck, Infamous Stringdusters, Red Stick Ramblers, Robinella and Toubab Krewe.
Repeat artists are rotated to different venues than they played in prior years. Every effort is made to match performances to the ages of the audiences. More than 3,000 Wilkes County school students also attend MerleFest for free on Friday as part of organized school groups each year.
MerleFest 2007 Featured Players
A quick look at MerleFest’s 20th anniversary lineup reveals a list of faces both familiar and fresh, all of whom will likely be eager to please enthusiastic festival audiences throughout the weekend. For the complete lineup of performers, click to www.merlefest.org.
Doc Watson
Richard Watson
Sam Bush
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Del McCoury Band
Béla Fleck
Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet
Earl Scruggs with Family & Friends
Pam Tillis
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Jerry Douglas
Elvis Costello
Jim Lauderdale Bluegrass Band
The Waybacks
John Cowan Band
The Duhks
Darrell Scott
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Cherryholmes
Donna The Buffalo
Red Stick Ramblers
Nashville Bluegrass Band
David Holt
John Hammond
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Bryan Sutton
Robinella
The Worthless Son-In-Laws
The Forget-Me-Nots