Monday, December 10, 2012

Photo Retrospective 2012 - Part 2



MerleFest

Doc Watson RIP

We're going to miss Merlefest, as we miss its founder Doc Watson, but the 2012 edition will have been our last one. The great festival founded in memory of Doc Watson's son and road partner Merle, who died in a tractor accident under suspicious circumstances, has become too corporate, too large, too impersonal, too much committed to its "sponsors," and too little concerned about the comfort and access of its real support, the thousands of people who attend faithfully each year and the volunteers who support them. Nevertheless, here's some impressions from our last Merlefest, including the last time we would see Doc Watson.
 
Tim Timberlate - Stage Manager - Cabin Stage

Dancin' Dave - Merlefest Fixture

Jeanette Williams & Louisa Branscomb
Chris Austin Song Writing Contest 

Tara Nevins (Donna the Buffalo)
 

Tut Taylor and Fan
Signed John Hartford Album 

All-Star Jam at Hillside Stage

James Nash
  
Pete Wernick's Jam Camp Performance

Pete Wernick
 

Joan Wernick
 

R.B. & Bridget Powell - Fan & Friends
 

Shannon Slaughter 
Chris Austin Song Writing Contest 

Tut Taylor - Plaza Stage

Ron Stewart (The Boxcars)
 

Vince Gill
 
Darrell Scott

Bela Fleck & Futureman (Roy Wooten)

Roy Wooten

 Bass Mater Victor Wooten

The Crowd at the Watson (Main) Stage

Zeb Snyder & Eric Gibson - Creekside Jam 

Leigh Gibson & Samantha Snyer - Creekside Jam

Samantha Snyder

Sierra Hull

Mando Mania 2012
Sierra Hull, Joe Walsh, Tony Williamson, Sam Bush, Chris Thile 

Chris Thile

Sam Bush

Leigh Gibson

Doc Watson - Sunday at Creekside





 Rachel Johnson Boyd (Darin & Brooke Aldridge)

Brooke Aldridge

Darin & Brooke Aldridge

Jerry Douglas (Alison Krauss & Union Station)

Alison Krauss



Maura Shawn Scanlin
We've watched this talented fiddler grow up sitting
 beside us with her parents for ten years. 


The Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival


The Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, held twice annually at Granite Hill Campground in Gettysburg, PA has become one of our favorites. Its combination of size, quality and variety of bands, vendors, and audience make it a delight to attend.

Edgar Loudermilk (IIIrd Tyme Out)

Jesse Brock (Audie Blaylock & Redline)

 Audie Blaylock & Redline

Shawn Lane (Blue Highway)

Bob Webster - Emcee - WAMU

Charlie Sizemore

Dan Russell & Brian Aldridge
(Dry Branch Fire Squad) 

Ron Thomason (Dry Branch Fire Squad)



Hank Janney, Wayne Bledsoe, Bob Webster
Emcees 

Rich Winkleman & Cyndie Winkleman (Promoter)

Kimber Ludiker (Della Mae)

Celia Woodsmith (Della Mae)

Shelby Means (Della Mae)


Nolan Lawrence (The Hillbenders)

Chad Graves, Mark Cassidy, Nolan Lawrence

Donna Ulisse

 Irene & Joan Wernick at Jam Camp Jam

Pete Wernick's Jam Camp

Irene at Jam Camp

James King

Sammy Shelor

Jim Van Cleave (Mountain Heart)

Rhonda Vincent



Rhonda Vincent, James King, Mickey Harris

Nicky Sanders (Steep Canyon Rangers)

Elaine Roy

 Dudley Connell (Seldom Scene)

Ben Eldridge (Seldom Scene)



Tammy Rogers & Mike Fleming

Wheeling West Virginia HS Bluegrass Band



Strawberry Park

Strawberry Park, in Preston, CT starts our summer season in New England. Held at a delightful full service campground in the best natural amphitheater we know of, it's always a strong festival with wonderful national bands and excellent representation from regional ones. The proximity to Berklee School of Music in Boston often means that some very good young bands perform there. It's a festival noted for its jamming.

Roger Williams & Amy Gallatin (Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters

Bruce Stockwell - the Best Banjo Player You Haven't Heard
(Hot Mustard) 

Kenny Ingram (The Larry Stephenson Band)

The Larry Stephenson Band

Jim Beaver - Emcee - WHUS

Jenni Lynn Gardner (Della Mae)

Kimber Ludiker (Della Mae)

The Greencards

Steve Ide

 Betty Colvin, Shari Colvin-Daigenault, John Saroyan & JoeJoe
Super Gibson Brothers Fans

 Joe Walsh's Opening Salvo in his Failed Presidential Bid
w/Campaign Staff

Clayton Campbell (The Gibson Brothers)


Jens Kruger

Tim Shelton (NewFound Road)

John Bowman (The Boxcars)

Christie Reid (Lou Reid & Carolina)

Darrin Vincent (Dailey & Vincent)

 Brent Truitt (The SteelDrivers)

More Next Week

5 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Great memories Ted...and thanks for the prominent photo shout out. Happy Holidays!

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  3. Great photos, Ted. And I tend to agree with you vis-a-vis that M-Fest based on comments I've heard from performers, visitors and volunteers at MerleFest. I don't know what the solution is but I hope the city and college can resolve some of the issues mentioned.
    The number one issue is, of course, accommodations followed by transportation to and from.
    Of course, I've heard no complaints about the music or the musicians. Still the number one BG festival in North America.

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  4. Ted, great picures.. and a lot of them.

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  5. Really enjoyed your photos. Keep up the good work. Sorry that you are giving up on Merlefest.

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