Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

April 17, 2008 issue

MerleFest Musts

Story by David Brewer

Navigating the maze of stages and seemingly endless parade of skilled pickers and singers at MerleFest is one of the best dilemmas a music lover could ever hope to have. Sure, you can park it at any one stage and hear incredible music from morning to night, but racing around the campus of Wilkes Community College to see favorites while stumbling across the best band you’ve never heard is a huge part of the fun.

It’s unlikely that Old Crow Medicine Show, The Avett Brothers, Marty Stuart and Doc Watson will have any trouble drawing a crowd, but a slew of players are equally deserving of throngs of fans. However, with more than 100 artists populating MerleFest’s 13 stages, it’s virtually impossible to preview all of them before heading to Wilkesboro. Nevertheless, here are some acts that we feel are not to be missed. Circle them on your schedule and we’ll see you at the festival!

Levon Helm & The Ramble on the Road
As a founding member of The Band, Levon Helm is an undisputed rock god. However, his musical roots are still planted in the Arkansas soil where he was raised. Bouncing back against the odds from throat cancer, Helm is making his MerleFest debut alongside his daughter Amy Helm (Ollabelle) and a talented cast of players. With his still unmistakable voice and funky drumming, Helm’s performance is one of the most anticipated of the entire festival.

Bearfoot
Winners of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s band competition, Alaskan band Bearfoot has been working over the last couple of years to shed the bluegrass label in favor of something less constricting. While the band doesn’t have any trouble tearing through a hot fiddle tune, the quintet is also capable of laying down songs that reflect their love of sultry blues and jazz. For folks who enjoyed Crooked Still last year, Bearfoot may be your best bet to get that new stringband flavor.

Ruthie Foster
It was probably about halfway through her first song at last year’s Blues Showcase performance at the Creekside Stage when Texas troubadour Ruthie Foster had the audience eating out of her hand. Mixing gospel, blues, folk and soul, Foster is a soul-searching songwriter with strong enough pipes to move the people in the cheap seats. This year, Foster will enjoy a little more time on stage, and if you dig music with soul power, you won’t want to miss it.

Tim O’Brien
Few artists command as much respect in roots music circles as Tim O’Brien. Year after year, the multi-instrumentalist has proven his diversity with quality solo and collaborative releases. An expressive player and singer of the highest caliber, O’Brien traverses the acoustic folk landscape with lighting fingers and a beautiful tenor voice that make each of his songs a virtual how-to for folkies.

Peter Rowan
For longtime MerleFest attendees, no trip to Wilkesboro is complete without seeing at least one set by the one and only Peter Rowan. Beginning to look as though as his flights with the Free Mexican Air Force are beginning to take their toll, Rowan’s voice can still soar into the sky. Whether with Tony Rice or the talented duo’s backing rhythm section, Rowan is a true MerleFest treasure.

Sythian
Washington, D.C.-based Celtic gypsy rock band Scythian made their High Country debut at Canyons last Wednesday, which will hopefully help the band as they make their first foray into MerleFest. Fresh off a performance at Nancy Pelosi’s (yes, that Nancy Pelosi) St. Patrick’s Day luncheon, Scythian gives their eclectic Celtic sound a dash of punk energy. Fans of The Pogues, Zydepunks or other similarly wild and worldly bands will definitely want to support Scythian at their inaugural MerleFest appearance.

Sally Van Meter
Her name might not jump off the page to the casual music fan, but you’ve more than likely heard Sally Van Meter’s stellar Dobro and steel guitar work. Her résumé reads like a who’s who of roots music: Lucinda Williams, Leftover Salmon, Jerry Douglas, Jerry Garcia, Peter Rowan, Taj Mahal, Chris Hillman, Yonder Mountain String Band, the Nashville Bluegrass Band and many more. Van Meter is a Grammy winner and IBMA album of the year finalist. That Douglas fellow isn’t the only person that knows how to handle a slide.  

The Waybacks
California boys The Waybacks may have received more initial exposure at MerleFest thanks to their collaboration with Grateful Dead alum Bob Weir. However, it’s been the band’s unforgettable, guest-packed, cover heavy performances at the Hillside stage that have really ignited their MerleFest reputation. The Waybacks will be in the High Country for the Daniel Boone Days festival in September, but why wait? Rumor has it that the band will cover a classic album in its entirety for their Hillside set next weekend.