APRIL 23, 2009 ISSUE
MerleFest Takes Over Wilkes Community College This Weekend
Doc Watson, photo by Jim Morton
Doc Watson has long maintained that his goal is to perform on stage as if he were sitting in his living room picking with his best friends and family. Amazingly enough, Watson’s grandfatherly demeanor, informal chatter and undeniable warmth have long conveyed that very real sense of intimacy not only to the people sitting nearest to the stage, but even to those sitting in the last row. At age 86, the Deep Gap native’s ability to connect with fans young and old is uncanny.
From Thursday to Sunday, April 23 to 26, hundreds of musicians and tens of thousands of spectators from around the world will converge on the campus of Wilkesboro Community College for the 22nd annual MerleFest. The massive celebration of Americana and roots music is held each year in honor the late Eddy Merle Watson, the beloved multi-instrumentalist who performed with his father across five continents and throughout the United States for nearly 20 years.
In addition to daily performances by Doc Watson, MerleFest 2009 will feature an array of notable acts including Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Ollabelle, The Grascals, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Mountain Heart with Tony Rice, The Waybacks, The Del McCoury Band, Tift Merritt, Sunday headliner Linda Ronstadt and dozens more.
Whether you’re a diehard MerleFest maniac prepared to camp out for the entire weekend, a day-tripper with one specific day in mind or a family with small children that needs more than just musical entertainment, MerleFest offers all sorts of different experiences for the tens of thousands of fans that stream through the gates each year.
According to RaysWeather.com, festivalgoers will be blessed with plenty of sunshine throughout the weekend, so be sure to pack your sunscreen (if you don’t, count on paying extra for it at the festival). Other important items you shouldn’t leave home without include a comfortable blanket and a water bottle. If you’re planning to spend lots of time at the Watson Stage, be sure and pack a collapsible chair.
MerleFest’s online ticketing service is now closed. All tickets must be purchased at the gate. Four-day reserved seats are $250 (Watson Stage rows 1 to 35) and $225 (Waston Stage rows 36 to 54). Four-day general admission passes are $150, while passes for Friday to Sunday are $130. Single day passes are as follows: Thursday, $35; Friday, $45; Saturday, $50; and Sunday, $40. The Midnight Jam is sold out.
For a complete list of performers, ticket info, stage schedules and all things MerleFest, click to www.merlefest.org.
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