APRIL 9, 2009 ISSUE
The Hardest Working Man at MerleFest
A Conversation with Jim Lauderdale
Jim Lauderdale
Jim Lauderdale is an easy man to spot. While many of his contemporaries at MerleFest don dark suits or muted casual wear for their appearances, Lauderdale is one of the few musicians to embrace country music’s glitzier past in the form of shimmering Nudie suits. On a lesser talent, the brightly colored garments might seem garish and boastful, but the Grammy-winning tunesmith’s choice of attire seems more like homage to music’s rich past than a ploy to get fans to notice him.
One of MerleFest’s most prolific performers during the last decade, Lauderdale seems to be on multiple stages at the same time. In addition to his scheduled performances—both solo and in various group configurations—the North Carolina native’s skills and easygoing personality make him one of the most frequently seen special guests alongside other artists.
On the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest
In addition to his considerable performance duties, Lauderdale has also stepped into the role as volunteer chair of the 17th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. The Nashville resident and prolific recording artist is modest about his duties with the contest.
“I lasso the judges and just make sure that they go through the process of listening to the CDs or online Sonicbid entries and that we come up with three finalists and two runners up for each category,” said Lauderdale. “I just kind of oversee things and make sure that everything runs smoothly and that they get all these finalists by the cutoff date. At the festival, I introduce the finalists and help the proceedings during the contest at MerleFest.”
While Lauderdale agreed that the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is a great way to hear some of the best up-and-coming songwriters in the business, he lamented that so few are chosen among so many great entries.
“It’s exciting and it’s bittersweet, because during the final process when they’re really narrowing it down, I wish there could be more finalists,” Lauderdale said. “I hear a lot of good stuff. I stay out of the judging process. I don’t want to be that decision maker. It always saddens me a little bit to hear this other batch of songs and think ‘shoot, I wish this could have made it.’ It is exciting to hear these songs. It is inspiring and gives me hope for the craft of songwriting.”
On the State of the Music Business
Although Lauderdale has been in Nashville long enough to know that the city’s best music is played to small, appreciative crowds and not to throngs of fans in arenas, he remains optimistic about songcraft and the next generation of acoustic musicians.
“I’m hopeful that acoustic music and the types of stuff that we are hearing is a growing force out there and that I feel like that the mainstream is eventually…I think the kind of music I love is going to keep growing because there are so many talented young people doing it,” said Lauderdale. “Groups like The Duhks, Chris Thile, Sara Watkins—there are these younger folks that are to me every bit or more talented than what’s in the mainstream. I think that cream is rising to the top.”
On the Magic of MerleFest
“I’ve just gotten so much out of MerleFest from listening to people,” said Lauderdale.
Although his solo albums are filled with stellar writing, Lauderdale has long been known as a top-notch collaborator. And no single event has been more instrumental in connecting him with new partners in crime than MerleFest. Through last minute substitutions and chance encounters, Lauderdale has been fortunate enough to spend time on stage with some of the biggest names in music, none of which are more influential than bluegrass pioneer Ralph Stanley. When Stanley’s guitar player couldn’t make the festival, Lauderdale, along with mandolin virtuoso David Grisman, sat in with the Clinch Mountain native for two sets that eventually led to their Grammy-winning recordings.
“It was just like this dream come true. That led to me asking Ralph to do some records,” said Lauderdale.
Another of Lauderdale’s most lasting musical relationships has been with MerleFest regulars Donna The Buffalo, which also led to multiple live slots together, as well as a recording collaboration beyond the festival grounds.
One of Lauderdale’s most exciting MerleFest connections is with none other than 2007 performer and music legend Elvis Costello. After joining the prolific British musician on stage to sing harmony, Costello asked Lauderdale and a host of A-list pickers to make a record and tour with him this year. To say Lauderdale is excited would be an understatement.
“Now I’m on his new album that comes out in June and I’m going to be touring with him as part of his band with a bunch of MerleFest regulars like Jerry Douglas, Dennis Crouch, Mike Compton, Stuart Duncan,” said Lauderdale. “Elvis is calling the band The Sugar Canes. I’m very blessed by all the activity that’s sprung up. That’s really like an all-MerleFest Band there.”
Follow Jim Lauderdale at MerleFest
Virtually no act at MerleFest will be shuffling from stage to stage as often as singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale. From his duties with the Chris Austin Songwriting Contests to big, multiple artist jams, Jim will be scampering all over the Wilkes Community College Campus on Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25.
Friday
10:45 a.m. Welcome Home Super Jam with The Duhks, Jim Lauderdale and Peter Rowan (Watson Stage)
12:45 p.m. Jim Lauderdale and Friends (Austin Stage)
2:00 p.m. Chris Austin Songwriting Contest (Austin Stage)
7:20 p.m. Jim Lauderdale announces CASC Winners (Log Cabin Stage)
Saturday
10:05 a.m. Jim Lauderdale, Jack Lawrence and Tony Williamson (Log Cabin Stage)
11:00 a.m. The Circuit Riders with Jim Lauderdale (Creekside Stage)
2:30 p.m. Ollabelle with Jim Lauderdale and Martha Scanlan (Hillside Stage)
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