Merlefest info

[unionparish]

My wife and I will be attending our first Merlefest on this coming Saturday. Any info for first time attendees will be greatly appreciated. We only have general admission seating and I know we will have to have chairs. Really looking forward to this event.

[outsidenote]

Come prepared for all four seasons. It can get really cold at night - like scarves, gloves and sleeping bag cold. Forecast is for a warm day with thunderstorms. Bring rain gear - a tarp is great to throw over your chairs. No alchohol - you will be checked. You dont need to bring food - good food is available on site. Bring sunscreen , sunglasses and a hat. Bring your guitar if you want to jam. A flask of coffee is a nice thin to have on saturday night - you cant always get that there.

[unionparish]

Thanks very much for the reply. that was just the info I was looking for. If you are going I hope you have a great time.

[Pistolero]

So what were your impressions of Merlefest? I didn't make it this year but have attended probably 6 or 7 over the years.

[unionparish]

I really don't know how to answer. There was so much going on that it was almost overload. My main goal was to see Earl Scruggs perform but next I will try to see him in a smaller venue. Next time I will try to get reserved seats.

Overall, we had a good time, but were probably not prepared for the total immersion of the event. I hope this is a good answer.

[outsidenote]

I posted some of my impressions here:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62499

I didnt sense much interest from the list so I didn't follow up. I try to go to Merlefest every year. I don't live very far away and I always have a blast and leave very motivated.

[tds]

My 13-year-old son rekindled my interest in guitars when he bought a strat about 18 months ago, but he always asked me why I insisted on playing an acoustic. Both of us went to Merlefest last Sunday, both for the first time. When I came home from work a couple days later he was fooling around on itunes -- but instead of Green Day he was sampling Doc Watson songs. I happen to like Green Day, and now he likes Doc Watson. It was a great festival.

[Pistolero]

UnionParish, that's a good answer. MF has gotten huge and it can be overwhelming to try and take it all in. The first time I went in '95 there was 7 stages (I think) and 41,000 people and the last time(2 years ago) I think there was 10 or 11 stages and 81,000 people.

TDS, the two things that always strike the most about MF is the level of talent and the diversity of talent. I'm glad you and your son were able to connect on that one. I have 2 pictures of me jamming with Doc when I was 13 years old, he has been an inspiration to me for a long time, sounds like your son has good tastes. Doc's bass player of 14 years was T. Michael Coleman, and when I recorded my cd, T. Michael played on most of the tracks.

OutsideNote, I read your review and enjoyed it very much. You mentioned the workshop with James Nash from the Waybacks and Bryan Sutton in particular. Boy, there's two monster players that transcend from the typical flatpicking fiddle tune styles. I've performed a couple of workshops with Bryan over the past few years and he's always a treat to hear and pick with. I was kind of blind sided by James Nash last fall when a promoter asked me to do a workshop with him and David Grier. I'd done several with David at various events and of course think he is an incredible player, but I'd never heard James Nash, just heard of the band. We had a blast! James is an under rated player if there ever was one I think. And was a super nice guy also. Later that night I got to sit in with the Waybacks and again James and I had a blast. I'm sure him and Bryan together was quite a show.

Did any of you happen to see/hear any of the guitar contest? I know some of the guys that competed and they're pretty good too. That contest usually has some real stiff competition, which makes it good for the listeners, bad for the competitors! :D

[outsidenote]

I missed the guitar contest this year - just too much to attend. Pistolero - if you are getting invited to play with Brian Sutton and James Nash you must be really good. If i was asked I would be forced to feign sudden illness - but not one serious enough to miss listening to them perform.