Merlefest Anyone?

[tlgvintage]

Is anyone going to Merlefest this year? I'll be going with my dad (with guitar in hand) on April 29th and would really like to meet some of you guys.

[Serenity]

This is one of the most painful times of the year for me. I'm a teacher that has to attend some graduation mess every year at this time even though my parents live in Wilkesboro and thus I have a perfect place to stay...if I could ever freekin go that is!

I gotta get a new job!

[yardism]

Talk about painful... last year I won tickest to Merlefest...but I live in San Jose. I did give somebody a great deal on two 4-day passes though.

[astrummer]

All these events in the Southeast ( Merlefest, Monroestock..... ) are a bit more than my "limit" of a one day ( at some point a long driving day is dangerous ) drive away.....:(

[outsidenote]

I'm pretty much a regular. I plan on going all four days this year - like last year.

[outsidenote]

For something cool - look at the website merlefest.org and look at the live camera of preparations. I see they just dumped the sand pile for the sand sculpture.

[il_10]

I just got back today, all four days. I've gone every year for the last 5 years, and the same goes for Graves mountain festival in Syria Va and the one in galax.
Anybody else catch the waybacks? Bobby and Sam were out of this world. The midnight jam was great too. :D

[tadmania]

I was in the Taylor Guitars booth at the Expo tent on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Had a fine time. Tired today, but I had the opportunity to meet a pile o'people and show them some Taylor Guitars, which was worth it. Did I see any of you?

[outsidenote]

I was there all four days and went by the Taylor display and played a GS. It played very easy and was comfortable. It was too noisy to really judge the sound.

I had my 714 set up by the Taylor tech. I thought the action was good before but he really improved it!

Regarding the festival:

I thought Darryl Scott was great (again) - what a talent. He did his song "River take me" which is one of my favorites. I liked it also when Sam Bush did the same song on Saturday night. I always try to "discover" a new young band and this year it was the Mammals who did a very beautiful anti - war protest song (http://www.themammals.net/music/aloneonthehomestead.mp3).

Joe Craven, looking like a refugee from a French jail with orange jumpsuit pants and a black beret, joined Alison Brown for some Jazz - grass. Joe has an infectious, musical sense of humor and is an asset to any band. However Alison might vary her sets more. The part of her second set that I watched was just the same as her previous one - right down to the inter - song banter. I can live with that - it gave me an excuse to catch another act.

The Tony Rice Unit gave an incredible performance on Sunday. After getting my fill from the Tony Rice Unit I went over to what is probably one of my favorite ever sets - Brian Sutton and friends (which included Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas) - who indulged us with some unrehearsed acoustic mayhem. Sometimes I have had the impression that Tony is burnt out on live performance, but he really had a good day on Sunday and seemed to be enjoying himself.

On the blues scene. Saturday saw the "greatest blues show on Earth" hosted by Roy Book Binder with multiple excellent artists. Paul Asbell was definitely one of my favorites. While on the blues - I really liked Happy Traums little introduction set in "the pit". His company sponsors a stage and he always does a little 30 minute intro. He is very good - he should give himself more time!

Although I am a great Waybacks fan, I am not a deadhead and I thought that the presence of Bob Weir dragged them down to the level of just another band (controversial viewpoint I'm sure). They covered lots of Greatful Dead stuff, but there was no "punch" to it. Lots of Deadheads present loved it though so they were popular - I just prefer the Waybacks own stuff.

On sunday I caght a small portion of Emmylou Harris, but she was very "pitchy" and I left for a much more fulfilling dose of the Nashville Bluegrass band. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones was a great change of genre at the end of the proceedings with a futuristic jazz set. I'm still trying to figure out what that one instrument was.)

Of course the problem at Merlefest is not in getting enough, its what to give up as many great things are going on at once.

I'm always sad when its over.

[tlgvintage]

I was in the Taylor Guitars booth at the Expo tent on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Had a fine time. Tired today, but I had the opportunity to meet a pile o'people and show them some Taylor Guitars, which was worth it. Did I see any of you?

You probably saw me...I was looking a a proto GS I believe and couldn't stop.

[beach bob]

someday... someday... I'll make it to Merlefest...

Thanks il_10 & outsidenote for the reviews... Lucky me, I get the Waybacks in a month or so down here. Truly a great band; I'm a sometime deadhead but that band sure doan need no steenkin' Bobby Weir putting the brakes on their thing. Most bands would be thrilled to have either James Nash or Steve Coyle picking for em, & they got em both :D Plus they're great guys, they were very nice to my kid when he interrupted their meal to say hi :)

Hey outside, that thing you describe about making the hard stage choices... my pals that go to JazzFest say: it's not only what you saw, it's what you GAVE UP seeing, to see what you saw :D

& the more panicky side of that is called FOMS -- fear of missing something ...

Thanks again for the capsule reviews; me wanna go.