Saturday, April 30, 2011

Merlefest 2011 - Friday


Tut Taylor & Friends

Friday at Merlefest presented a distinctly mixed bag. The high point for us occurred in the morning when Jerry Douglas assembled a group of distinguished musicians to honor Tut Taylor, at 88 one of the most accomplished innovators in roots music,  by bringing together three Dobro players representing three generations and distinct styles backed by three members of the Del McCoury Band to play the music of Tut Taylor.  The warmth on the stage and the joyful support in the audience represented the best Merlefest has to offer.  The day ended for us with the ear-splitting cacophony of four straight plugged in bands with only the Emmit - Nershi Band presenting music that had much in the way of melodic appeal.  Used to having to make difficult choices between several bands we wish to hear, Friday contained too little diversity spread out way too far for us to enjoy the festival as much as we often have.

Tut Taylor & Friends

Jerry Douglas

Billy Cardine

Ron McCoury

Jason Carter

Alan Bartram

Tut



The Shops at Merlefest

Balsam Range at Hillside

Peter Rowan & Tony Rice



The Pickin' Place

The Josh Williams Band

Josh Williams

Jens Kruger & Bob Carlin at Mays Pit

Alison Brown Quartet

Alison Brown

The Plaza Stage

Terry & Cindy Baucom


Balsam Ranger at Creekside

Creekside









Jerry Douglas

Omar Hakim

Jerry Douglas
  
Which Line is Longer



Sonny Landreth





Jack Lawrence

Tony Williamson & T. Michael Coleman



Emimit - Nershi Band

Bill Nershi

Drew Emmitt

Phil Wiggins & Corey Harris
 
The Doobie Brothers
 

Friday, April 29, 2011

Merlefest 2011 - Thursday


Ready to Go

Merlefest is a large, complex event with much going on all at the same time on fourteen sound stages.  Our coverage reflects our taste and the amount of the festival we can photograph and report on without decreasing the value of our own experience.  During the next few days, I'll be posting pictures with very little commentary.  Next week I'll try to draw it all together with some thoughts on this year's Merlefest and our experience there. Meanwhile, enjoy the photos, which represent a capsule of the entirety, which no one can really capture.

Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society - Wednesday Evening

Waiting for the Gates to Open

Corb Lund - Canadian Alt. Country - Opening Band

Corb Lund

Johnson Crossroad on the Cabin Stage




Martin Anderson - WNCW- FM - Emcee
 
Town Mountain from Asheville, NC

Robert Greer - Town Mountain Lead Singer

Pete Wernick's Jam Camp
The Staff Performs

Campers Wait to Go "ON"

Jam Camp Performing

Irene

Scythian 







Hannah & Nancy Crowell Dance to Scythian

Bill Young Tribute

The R&R Tent

 In the Food Tent







The Del McCoury Band

Jason Carter

Ron McCoury & Del McCoury

Rob McCoury
  
Ron McCoury
  
Alan Bartram

The Great Del McCoury
 

Balsam Range 

Buddy Melton & Caleb Smith
  
Tim Surrett

Cindy Baucom - Emcee
Knee Deep in Bluegrass - Syndicated Radio

Terry Baucom - The Duke of Drive



Randy Travis
 

 Wailin' Jennies



Zac Brown