01 November 2005

MerleFest Visit 2010

Dermot Reidy's report on MerleFest 2010, unanimously accepted by the rest of the Irish delegation:

Thursday
Dublin - Philadelphia - Charlotte, North Carolina - to Statesville, our home for the next four days.

Friday
Breakfast conference on MerleFest program: 93 acts, 14 stages. Must prioritise; we make our individual selections and hit the road to the Wilkesboro College site. First music we hear before the entrance is the Gravy Boys doing an acoustic set on a raised dais. We know that tune. Chat the Boys (three are of Irish extraction) and meet the Mammy who hails from Cork.

Through the entrance, but not before our water bottles are sniffed - yes, it’s an alcohol-free event. I head for David Holt and the Lightning Bolts at the Creekside, Louis checks out Pilot Mountain Bobcats in the Trad. Tent, and Pat hurries to catch the guitar workshop with Jack Lawrence and Uwe Kruger.

And so the day goes: the Waybacks on Watson Stage, New Southern Ramblers on Cabin Stage, Balsam Range at the Americana. Meet for lunch and exchange notes: ‘Did you catch the Snyder Family at the Picking Tent – all under twelve and that eight-year-old playing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown".’

Consensus on Peter Rowan & Tony Rice, who have done this set for over twenty years at Merlefest and always indoors. We head to the 1500-seater Walker Center two acts before the boys to guarantee our seats. Not disappointed by the first act: Wily and the Wild West. No white hats, just genuine cowboy music from Montana, who are followed by Jeni and Billy. Then they walk on, Pete and Tony. I’ve seen this set ten times over the years at MerleFest and the hair still stands up on my neck. They do all the standards; Pete doing the vocals and Tony stitching his magic into the tunes, ending with the simple but beautiful ‘Jimmy Brown’.

Dinner and back to the Watson stage to join the other 50,000 souls for Sam Bush who packs in 110% performance under a starlit sky. It’s getting cold, it’s late; we are drained and decide to skip Little Feat. Back to the hotel. A few tunes, a little libation, and bed.

Saturday
Busy day. Must catch the Travellin McCourys at the Creekside. Del not there, but still as good as ever. On to the double bill at the Watson: the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band followed by the Tony Rice unit. Move quickly - must catch Mando Mania in its fifteenth year at MerleFest. This year there are seven mandolins in the line-up: Tony Williamson, Sam Bush, Mike Compton, John Frazier, Dominick Leslie, Rebecca Lovell, and Jason Norris - a veritable feast which defies description.

As we approach the Watson stage at 6:15 there is no mistake who is on. That unmistakable sound: the Gallagher hard picked and precise, the voice as good as ever, the soft bass of T. Michael and Jack Lawrence mixing the runs. It’s Doc. Tearful with joy, we lap up this eighty-seven-year young giant of music.

Then it’s Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers. This guy is not just funny, he deserves his Grammy.

Sunday
Gospel in the early morning with the Lee Boys (fully electric) who are joined by the McCourys. Bask in the sunshine and take in some old timey with the Southern Ramblers, the Wilders, and Earl Murphy with the Mostly Mountain Boys.

Time to visit the vendors. We max out on CDs, pick up a few gifts, and bid farewell to MerleFest 2010. One last thing: head for the Blue Ridge Parkway to Deep Cut and pay our respects to the birthplace and early home of Doc Watson.

In the car: 'Did you hear Dailey & Vincent - you know, Jamie Dailey from Doyle Lawson’s band and Darrin Vincent, Rhonda’s brother?' Damn, I meant to catch that set. Ah well, they will probably be back at MerleFest 2011. See you there.

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