Greetings,

Happy to be back after a long absence.

Is Merlefest the "Best Festival in the World"? Believe it!

This festival happens April 23-26, 2009 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina on the campus of Wilkes Community College.

The festival began in spring of 1988 as a memorial concert in honor of Merle Watson, son of the legendary Doc Watson. It has grown to  a massive festival that includes workshops, jam sessions, instruction, contests, arts and crafts, food, shops, and the most impressive line up of musical groups imaginable. Over 75% of attendees travel over fifty miles to be there.

Here is a partial list of who is going to be performing this year:

Doc Watson   Richard Watson  David Holt   Laura Boosinger   Josh Goforth   Scythian     Bearfoot

The Lovell Sisters    The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band    Dailey and Vincent     The Duhks

Travis Tritt and Jerry Douglas   The Dixie Beeliners   Olabelle   The Grascals   The Waybacks

Mountain Heart with Tony Rice   Del McCoury Band   The Steeldrivers   The Farewell Drifters

Cadillac Sky   The Greencards   Tift Merritt   Blue Highway   Docabilly   Sam Bush   Emmylou Harris

Sierra Hull and Highway 111   Missy Raines and the New Hiip   The Carolina Chocolate Drops

BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet    and Linda Ronstadt featuring Los Camperos de Nati Cano. 


There will be Americana, Old Timey, Bluegrass, Folk, Blues, and Jazz and probably some genres I missed.
This is an absolute experience that will likely produce sensory overload that will last a very long time!

Follow this link   www.merlefest.org  for all the particulars, tickets and accomodations. You may want to figure out where
you want to stay like NOW, as this festival is very well attended. There are daily shuttle services from as far as
two hours away.

Hope to see you there!

Bluegrassrom