Donnie Swaim
Donnie Swaim died unexpectedly last fall at the age of 51. In many ways he represented the spirit of local musicianship that has made Merlefest one of the great Americana festivals. He lived in Wilkesboro and played Dobro and guitar in several local bands. With his wife, Lynn, he spent a good deal of time caring for Tut Tayler and his wife Lee. During the three days preceding the opening of Merlefest, he could always be found near the tents the Wilkes County Acoustic Folk Society maintain for jammers throughout the festival. He was a very good picker with a pleasant baritone voice, but more important, he was a friendly, welcoming figure who brought strangers into the community and made them feel at home. He is missed by all who knew him and this post is dedicated to his memory.
Merlefest opens with three evenings of informal picking. By Wednesday, many of the musicians to be featured during the week have started to arrive, and some of them join the local pickers and visiting jammers at the folk society tents. On Thursday, the music begins and lasts for four solid days of joyful celebration. The following pictures make no effort to be comprehensive, but I hope they capture some of the spirit of the place. It's chilly now in Wilkesboro, but Merlefest is only four months away. I hope to see you there.
Jamming with the Kruger Brothers
Jens Kruger
Odessa Jorgenson (Bearfoot)
Jessica Lovell (The Lovell Sisters)
George Shuffler (Guest with the Peter Rowan Band)
Peter Rowan
Cindy Baucom, Terry Baucom, Jamie Dailey
Jerry Douglas
Travis Tritt
Mike Witcher (Missy Raines and the New Hip)
Aaron Ramsey (Mountain Heart)
Jason Moore (Mountain Heart)
Barry Abernathy (Mountain Heart)
Jim Van Cleve (Mountain Heart)
Josh Shilling (Mountain Heart)
Danny Roberts (Grascals)
Jamie Johnson and Terry Smith (Grascals)
Kristin Scott Benson
Missy Raines (Missy Raines and the New Hip)
Jason Carter (Del McCoury Band)
Del McCoury
Rob McCoury
Kate Hamre (Bearfoot)
Tammy Rogers (The SteelDrivers)
John Cowan
Jeff Autry (The John Cowan Band)
Kym Warner (The Greencards)
Carol Young (The Greencards)
Dancin' Dave
Tony Williamson
Sierra Hull and Rebecca Lovell
Sam Bush
Jack Lawrence (itinerant musician)
Greg and Janet Deering
Cory Walker (Sierra Hull and Highway 111)
Pete Wernick
Leigh Gibson, Eric Gibson, and Pete Wernick
Carol Young (The Greencards)
Eamon McLaughlin (The Greencards)
Maura Shaun Scanlin
Eric and Leigh Gibson
Lynn and Donnie Swaim
Doc Watson
These are spectacular. I really enjoy the uniques shots of the audience.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting.
Frank White
I had to get up and make sure my tickets were still in their safe place, right next to my Medicare card! All's well on both scores.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about Donnie, he and Lynn were always welcoming faces at the Pickin' Tents. My prayers are with Lynn and family.
ReplyDeleteI hope to see her there in April. Great pics Ted - you obviously get better access than I do. Maybe we can get all of the friends of DCBU together there sometime in April. Bruce in Falls Church.
Thanks for the post honoring my friend Donnie Swaim. Looking forward to seeing you and Irene at Merlefest.
ReplyDeleteDwight Burks