Steve Martin To Headline MerleFest 2010

Performers Announced, Early Bird Tickets On Sale November 10

Story by Sam Calhoun

“Wild and Crazy Guy” Steve Martin will bring his brand of banjo bluegrass to the Watson Stage during MerleFest 2010, playing alongside touring partner and bluegrass juggernaut Steep Canyon Rangers on Saturday night.

When MerleFest announced its 2010 lineup on October 23, there was plenty to get excited about. Doc Watson, The Avett Brothers, Little Feat, Elvis Costello, The Duhks, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Scythian and dozens more MerleFest favorites recently signed on for the festival’s 23rd year, leading the musical charge on the 14 stages scattered around Wilkes Community College, where more than 240 hours of music will fill the air from Thursday to Sunday, April 29 through May 2, 2010.

But the excitement will reach a fever pitch at the end of this week when MerleFest Artistic Director John Adair informs fansthat Steve Martin—yes, the “Jerk,” the original “Wild and Crazy Guy” and, the perhaps lesser known, consummate banjo player—will headline Saturday night of MerleFest 2010 alongside touring partner and bluegrass juggernaut Steep Canyon Rangers.

Musical Martin
Having played the banjo and other instruments for most of his adult life while charting one of the most prolific comedic acting careers in history, Martin came out of the musical closet, if you will, in 2001, when he played banjo on Earl Scruggs’ remake of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” which won Best Country Instrumental Performance at the 2002 Grammy Awards.

In January, Martin released his first all-music album, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, which included multiple star appearances, including Dolly Parton. This summer, Martin appeared on “American Idol” and performed with Steep Canyon Rangers on “A Prairie Home Companion.” In September, Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers began a two-month tour, which included stops at the IBMA Awards, “Late Night with David Letterman,” Carnegie Hall and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, Calif. To listen to Martin’s music, click to www.stevemartin.com/stevemartin/music.html.

According to Adair, who is in his third year as artistic director, MerleFest organizers hoped to nail down the “Dirty Rotten Scoundrel” last year, but Martin accepted a movie role and was unable to come. This year, mutual friends of Martin and MerleFest convinced Martin to sign on and bring his brand of banjo bluegrass to the Watson Stage.

MerleFest 2010
During MerleFest 2010, the Watson Stage will also feature one of Merle Watson’s—Doc Watson’s late son and the festival’s namesake—favorite bands, Little Feat. Although Richie Hayward, Little Feat’s co-founder and drummer, is still out of the mix due to a bout with severe liver disease and now liver cancer, the band is still touring, said Adair, utilizing the talents of Hayward’s long-time drum tech, Gabe Ford.

Little Feat will join a cast of MerleFest favorites, such as Doc, Bush, Cowan, Rice, Rowan and The Kruger Brothers—“These are the regulars that made the festival what it is,” added Adair—and new bands, such as Nation Beat, Brave Combo and Wylie and the Wild West, for the 2010 event. Adair and a team of music lovers handpicked all of the bands chosen.

“There is a recipe of sorts, or a framework,” explained Adair. “It’s not a one-person decision. We assemble a team of seven people of all ages and musical tastes. We try to invite a certain number of bluegrass groups, a certain number of Americana groups, old-time groups and then groups that are perfect for the Dance Stage. But we also try and bring in an offering of Celtic bands, Louisiana-style music and new music.”

Although Doc Watson is not intimately involved with performer selection because of other festival duties, the event’s forefather is not afraid to share his opinion on bands that he would like to see grace a MerleFest stage, according to Adair.

“We get his opinion on some things and he’ll often say ‘Oh yeah’ about a performer he really likes or thinks will be a good fit,” said Adair.

Adair highlighted some changes that attendees will see during MerleFest 2010. More children’s activities and attractions are planned for 2010, including an expanded Little Pickers Area with a larger tent and stage. Also, the success of the Youth Showcase convinced Adair to elongate the daily performance schedule by 30 minutes.

“It is really encouraging that so many young people come out and play because they are our next generation, you know?” said Adair. “And the Youth Showcase is not a competition—all skill levels are welcome. We want to encourage the enjoyment of music so they’ll play.”

Adair is also integrating more opportunities for recycling at the festival.

As far as the festival’s production, Adair and the stage crews are making a concerted effort to find and utilize technology that consumes less energy. For instance, on many of the stages, halogen lights will be replaced with LED fixtures, and more efficient speaker and power amplifier systems will be installed.

Get Your Early Bird Tickets
“MerleFest is a very family-friendly atmosphere—all ages are welcome and safe,” said Adair. “It is and has always been a great value for your ticket-buying dollar. There’s always something for everybody.”

Early Bird Tickets to MerleFest 2010 go on sale on Tuesday, November 10, at 2:00 p.m. All ticket prices include taxes and free parking and none come with hidden fees and surcharges, according to Adair.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking to www.merlefest.org or by calling 336-838-6267 or 1-800-343-7857.

Early Bird Tickets are available through March 12, 2010, after which regular ticket prices are offered. Prices for Early Bird Tickets are $225 for four-day reserved seating ($250 regular), $200 for Watson Stage seating ($225 regular), $135 for four-day general admission ($150 regular), $120 for three-day general admission ($130 regular), $35 for only-Thursday general admission, $50 for only-Friday general admission, $55 for only-Saturday general admission, $40 for only-Sunday general admission and $40 for a Midnight Jam ticket.

Need More MerleFest Info?
Click to www.merlefest.org.

MerleFest 2010 Lineup

MerleFest 2010, presented by Lowe’s and slated for Thursday to Sunday, April 29 to May 2, recently announced the lineup for the event’s 23rd year. The following artists will join host Doc Watson on the campus of Wilkes Community College for a celebration of “traditional-plus” music—a term Doc coined to describe the unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, and expanded to include Americana, country, “plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.”

“Yet again, the MerleFest lineup fulfills the festival’s mission of bringing in an incredibly exciting, diverse and talented group of musicians,” said Festival Director Ted Hagaman. “Fans can count on more surprises, spontaneous jam sessions and one-of-a-kind musical collaborations, and we will continue to add to this lineup. We encourage MerleFest fans to keep checking our website (www.merlefest.org) for updates.”

2010 PERFORMERS
Doc Watson— www.docsguitar.com
Richard Watson
Susana and Timmy Abell— www.timmyabell.com
Alberti Flea Circus— www.albertifleacircus.com
The Avett Brothers— www.theavettbrothers.com
Jim Avett— www.jimavett.com
Balsam Range— www.balsamrange.com
Shana Banana— www.shanabanana.com
The Banknotes
Bearfoot— www.bearfootband.com
The Belleville Outfit— www.bellevilleoutfit.com
Roy Book Binder— www.roybookbinder.com
Brave Combo— www.brave.com/bo/
Buffalo Barfield— www.buffalobarfield.com
Sam Bush Band— www.sambush.com
Cadillac Sky— www.cadillacsky.net
T. Michael Coleman— www.tmichaelcoleman.com
Elvis Costello— www.elviscostello.com
John Cowan Band— www.johncowan.com
Dailey & Vincent— www.daileyvincent.com
Dehlia Low— www.dehlialow.com
Donna The Buffalo— www.donnathebuffalo.com
Jerry Douglas— www.jerrydouglas.com
The Duhks— www.duhks.com
Eleanor Ellis— www.eleanorellis.com
Alice Gerrard
The Gibson Brothers— www.gibsonbrothers.com
Great Big Sea— www.greatbigsea.com
The Greencards— www.thegreencards.com
Buddy Greene— www.buddygreene.com
Mitch Greenhill— www.folkloreproductions.com/about.html
George Hamilton IV— www.georgeiv.net
John Hammond— www.johnhammond.com
Corey Harris— www.myspace.com/coreyharrismusic
Wayne Henderson— www.waynehenderson.org/Wayne/AboutWayne.htm
David Holt— www.davidholt.com
The InterACTive Theater of Jef— www.jefthemime.com
Phil Jamison— www.swangathering.com/Catalog/OT/sgotstaff1.html
Jeni & Billy— www.jeniandbilly.com
The Kruger Brothers— www.krugerbrothers.com
Jim Lauderdale— www.jimlauderdale.com
Jack Lawrence— www.jacklawrence.com
The Lee Boys— www.leeboys.com
Little Feat— www.littlefeat.net
Jeff Little— www.jefflittle.net
The Local Boys
The Lovell Sisters— www.lovellsistersband.com
Harry Manx— www.harrymanx.com
Bill Mathis
Andy May— www.andymay.com
Nashville Bluegrass Band— www.nashvillebluegrassband.net
Nation Beat— www.nationbeat.com
The Neighbors— www.myspace.com/theneighborspage
Ben Prestage— www.myspace.com/bprestage
Missy Raines & The New Hip— www.missyraines.com
Red Molly— www.redmolly.com
Tony Rice— www.tonyrice.com
Peter Rowan— www.peter-rowan.com
Scythian— www.scythianmusic.com/indexmain.cfm
Anne and Pete Sibley— www.anneandpetesibley.com
Joe Smothers— www.myspace.com/joehsmothers
Steep Canyon Rangers— www.steepcanyon.com
Steve Martin— www.stevemartin.com
Tut Taylor— webpages.charter.net/tutbro
Happy Traum— www.happytraum.com
The Travelin’ McCourys— www.myspace.com/thetravelinmccourys
Rhonda Vincent and The Rage— www.nemr.net/~rhondav
The Waybacks— www.waybacks.com
Lightnin’ Wells— www.lightninwells.com
Pete and Joan Wernick— www.drbanjo.com
Shannon Whitworth— www.shannonwhitworth.net
The Wilders— www.wilderscountry.com
Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society
Tony Williamson— www.mandolincentral.com/bio.html
W.P.A.— www.myspace.com/wpaband
Wylie and The Wild West— www.wylieww.com
Zephyr Lightning Bolts— http://www.zephyrlightningbolts.net