Music Festivals

[kkott]

Went to my first Merlefest this past weekend, and wow, it was fantastic! Sad to say I've been living here since the early 90s and Merlefest started in '88 and have never managed to go. Terrific Thurs-Sun event. It was started to benefit Wilkes County Community College in N Wilkesboro and honors Doc Watson's late son Merle Watson. Obviously it features mostly bluegrass bands but they do a good job of selecting acts and there was a good variety of music. I think there are about 10 total stages, and there are multiple options, including several workshops for musicians, going on for most of those 4 days. Saw a bunch of great acts, including: Leftover Salmon, Donna the Buffalo, John R Miller, Scythian, SteelDrivers, Fog Holler, Dead South, Sam Bush, and on and on. They also have a bunch of collaborations and the best was a varied group they call the Waybacks and they play a select album front to back, and this year it was Let It Bleed.

Great energy and with the variety of acts and stages, there is always something to see. The best organized festival I've ever been to. Got bit by the festival bug and wondering what other festivals you'd recommend? If you get the chance to do Merlefest I highly suggest it. Excellent 4 day event with great vibes in the air. Believe it's always around late April and kicks off the outdoor music festivals in the region.

 

[Eppy99]

Went to my first Merlefest this past weekend, and wow, it was fantastic! Sad to say I've been living here since the early 90s and Merlefest started in '88 and have never managed to go. Terrific Thurs-Sun event. It was started to benefit Wilkes County Community College in N Wilkesboro and honors Doc Watson's late son Merle Watson. Obviously it features mostly bluegrass bands but they do a good job of selecting acts and there was a good variety of music. I think there are about 10 total stages, and there are multiple options, including several workshops for musicians, going on for most of those 4 days. Saw a bunch of great acts, including: Leftover Salmon, Donna the Buffalo, John R Miller, Scythian, SteelDrivers, Fog Holler, Dead South, Sam Bush, and on and on. They also have a bunch of collaborations and the best was a varied group they call the Waybacks and they play a select album front to back, and this year it was Let It Bleed.

Great energy and with the variety of acts and stages, there is always something to see. The best organized festival I've ever been to. Got bit by the festival bug and wondering what other festivals you'd recommend? If you get the chance to do Merlefest I highly suggest it. Excellent 4 day event with great vibes in the air. Believe it's always around late April and kicks off the outdoor music festivals in the region.

I was prepared to see pics of hot women sitting on guys shoulders with their tops off. Thanks for ruining my morning.

How are the Steel Drivers without Stapleton? In my opinion he went downhill going solo. He started representing the Nashville machine.

 

[kkott]

I was prepared to see pics of hot women sitting on guys shoulders with their tops off. Thanks for ruining my morning.

How are the Steel Drivers without Stapleton? In my opinion he went downhill going solo. He started representing the Nashville machine.

Sorry, I didn't take many pics and none of the ilk you're looking for. I went with my GF and it was all about the music. I thought the Steel Drivers sounded excellent. Stapleton's replacement sounds a lot like him and was great. I don't think many would even notice the difference. I really like Stapleton's first solo album, but agree, he's gone downhill since. Also a boring concert. Supposedly he doesn't enjoy touring and it shows.

 

[hookyIU1990]

Merlefest has been on the list forever. Glad you made it and enjoyed it.

 

[kkott]

Merlefest has been on the list forever. Glad you made it and enjoyed it.

You should definitely do it. Great variety in ways too, from daily to the full pass. We got the full pass with cheaper reserved seats, and a beige parking pass, which is on the grounds and you can walk in. Alcohol free event, but you don't pass through a gate from the beige lot, and you can carry in a cooler, backpack, etc... With the reserved seats, we always had a seat for the main (and cabin) stage events, and they allow you to move up to any open seat if you have a reserved seat and there were always open seats. Then we just took a blanket and found other stages or spots to use as a base camp. Camping there is easy and best, but we did an airbnb RV about 20 minutes away and it was easy and nice. There's a lot to do for kids and families, but that would probably limit seeing so many shows or staying late. Let me know if you're going and I can help with details. Think tix go on sale for next year around Sept.

Dan, can't recommend it highly enough. You need to get up there too! Let's do a AOTF get together!

PS Eppy, guess I was wrong, I just found these pics for you:

 

[T.M.P.]

Went to my first Merlefest this past weekend, and wow, it was fantastic! Sad to say I've been living here since the early 90s and Merlefest started in '88 and have never managed to go. Terrific Thurs-Sun event. It was started to benefit Wilkes County Community College in N Wilkesboro and honors Doc Watson's late son Merle Watson. Obviously it features mostly bluegrass bands but they do a good job of selecting acts and there was a good variety of music. I think there are about 10 total stages, and there are multiple options, including several workshops for musicians, going on for most of those 4 days. Saw a bunch of great acts, including: Leftover Salmon, Donna the Buffalo, John R Miller, Scythian, SteelDrivers, Fog Holler, Dead South, Sam Bush, and on and on. They also have a bunch of collaborations and the best was a varied group they call the Waybacks and they play a select album front to back, and this year it was Let It Bleed.

Great energy and with the variety of acts and stages, there is always something to see. The best organized festival I've ever been to. Got bit by the festival bug and wondering what other festivals you'd recommend? If you get the chance to do Merlefest I highly suggest it. Excellent 4 day event with great vibes in the air. Believe it's always around late April and kicks off the outdoor music festivals in the region.

You should learn what bluegrass is.

 

[kkott]

You should learn what bluegrass is.

Shocker: snarky comment from TMP. Have you been? I'd say any musician worth his salt would make it a point to go. They work to get a wide sampling of musicians, but they have about 10 stages, and there is bluegrass being played somewhere at all times I'd guess. Lots of workshops and teaching going on. They are working at once to maintain traditional styles and also bring in more contemporary and popular bands and all are supported and embraced. Thought they did an excellent job of vetting performers with a wide array of styles.

 

[T.M.P.]

Shocker: snarky comment from TMP. Have you been? I'd say any musician worth his salt would make it a point to go. They work to get a wide sampling of musicians, but they have about 10 stages, and there is bluegrass being played somewhere at all times I'd guess. Lots of workshops and teaching going on. They are working at once to maintain traditional styles and also bring in more contemporary and popular bands and all are supported and embraced. Thought they did an excellent job of vetting performers with a wide array of styles.

Yabbut, I know what bluegrass is.

 

[kkott]

Yabbut, I know what bluegrass is.

Congrats. I know what I like and I got to hang out and listen to about 30-40 performers, collaborations and bands this weekend, some I knew and many I didn't. Great event, suggest you go, I think you'd be blown away.

 

[hookyIU1990]

You should learn what bluegrass is.

Yabbut, I know what bluegrass is.

WTF, dude?

The guy likes what he likes and there's a ton of Bluegrass at that festival, whether listening or learning in the workshops.

 

[Eppy99]

You should definitely do it. Great variety in ways to from daily to the full pass. We got the full pass with cheaper reserved seats, and a beige parking pass, which is on the grounds and you can walk in. Alcohol free event, but you don't pass through a gate from the beige lot, and you can carry in a cooler, backpack, etc... With the reserved seats, we always had a seat for the main (and cabin) stage events, and they allow you to move up to any open seat if you have a reserved seat and there were always open seats. Then we just took a blanket and found other stages or spots to use as a base camp. Camping there is easy and best, but we did an airbnb RV about 20 minutes away and it was easy and nice. There's a lot to do for kids and families, but that would probably limit seeing so many shows or staying late. Let me know if you're going and I can help with details. Think tix go on sale for next year around Sept.

Dan, can't recommend it highly enough. You need to get up there too! Let's do a AOTF get together!

PS Eppy, guess I was wrong, I just found these pics for you:

I’ll take the #2 combo meal please. Extra sauce in the buns.