mvy - merlefest2006

mvyradio @ MerleFest 2006

MVYRADIO is On The Road for the Merlefest 2006 and our own PJ Finn is bringing you up close with some of the best bluegrass, roots and Americana musicians in the world. Hear his reports from the festival on our broadcast and stream, read his blog and check out recorded audio on mvyradio. And visit mymvy for our web-only stream of music, live recordings and interviews from Merlefest artists past and present. Merlefest 2006, the latest On The Road adventure from mvyradio, brought to you by Friends of mvyradio.

MerleFest began in the spring of 1988 and has grown from two flat-bed trailers and 4,000 attendees to 13 stages with more than 81,500 festival participants and an annual economic impact for the region in excess of twelve million dollars.

Rosa Lee and Nancy Watson (Doc Watson's wife and daughter) were the ones who suggested a festival… held at the end of April. From that day forward they began planning a two-day, multiple artist event for Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, 1988. The proceeds would go to the Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Garden for the Senses.

Beside Watson, the two-day event brought to the stage Earl Scruggs and fiddler Jim Shumate, Tony Rice, Chet Atkins, Grandpa Jones and daughter Alisa, Marty Stuart, Mike Cross, New Grass Revival, David Holt, Jack Lawrence, the Smith Sisters, John Hartford, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas, George Hamilton IV, and others. "Since it hadn’t been that long since Merle had passed away," Sam Bush told the Wilkes Journal-Patriot in January 2001, "our thoughts that first year were… centered on wanting to be with the Watson family to celebrate Merle's life."

MerleFest celebrated its 18th festival in 2005. With participants coming from around the world, Wilkes County natives take pride in "their" festival becoming a celebrated event. Doc & Merle Watson’s musical style and heritage have been cited many times as the primary reason why musical diversity has become a hallmark of MerleFest. The eclectic blending of style and tradition remains evident in the selection of artists who have performed at the festival.

"Over the years, MerleFest has grown into one of the country's premier showcases of American roots music, proclaimed an Associated Press wire report on May 1, 2003. The Wall Street Journal for September 18, 2002 announced that "Festivals of Americana music have exploded in popularity, with the largest, North Carolina's MerleFest, attracting 81,000 fans and participants this year."

By 1996 the vernacular "MerleFest" had become the official name of the highly visible event. As MerleFest gross income exceeded $1,000,000 for the first time in 1998, the festival debuted the Lounge Stage in the Wilkes Community College Student Learning Resources Center. Participation for 1999 climbed to 66,436 from 1998's 51,065.

During its first seventeen years, hundreds of media outlets covered MerleFest and mvyradio is happy to be there in the thick of it. Being awarded the rights to record and stream this year's festival is a landmark for our "On the Road" series, said Joe Gallagher, President of mvyradio. "We feel that MerleFest is one of America’s great national and natural treasures and a perfect fit for mvyradio’s long and varied history."

"A lot of people think it’s my festival," Doc Watson told the Macon (GA) Telegraph, for May 14, 2004. "It’s Merle's festival, and I respect my son. I'm proud of the success of the festival. I’ve been told it's the best festival in the world. I don't doubt it."

Here's the latest entry in PJ's Merlefest 2006 journal:

Monday May 1st, 1am

There is something very sweet and beautiful about the end of Merlefest. There's not a "goodbye"---there's a "until next time."

Doc sings "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." The Mammals squeeze in a last minute interview with us. Tour buses shake off the dust of 4 dry days and hit the road. Emmylou Harris check out of our hotel. And Jeff and I say goodbye to Gary, congratulating each other on all the hard work we were able to accomplish. Gary is off to Memphis In May, for another exciting weekend of recording and mvyradio On The Road. And Jeff and I have traveled off into that good night, with stacks of new CDs picked up at the Merlefest store, and a headful of memories I'll need a file cabinet to store.

Until next time . . .

Sunday April 30th, 4pm

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Sunday means Gospel at Merlefest. And that's everything from traditional bluegrass gospel with Pat Flynn [website][performance] and The Isaacs [website][performance], to the more modern, volcanic soul of The Lee Boys [website][performance]. And sometimes it's not exactly gospel at all, just spiritual. Like hearing Emmylou Harris do "Wayfaring Stranger." And she's a Red Sox fan, to boot---if that doesn't put her in the religious fervor category, I don't know what does. We're winding down here as Bela Fleck [website] and then Doc Watson get ready to close down the show. I'm starting to think about planes, ferries and automobiles. Actually, I'm starting to think about a big old meat filled dinner and a beer.

Sunday April 30th, 1pm

A striking this about the Merlefest line-up is the wide age-range of the artists. There are the old masters, in the twilight of their careers, still burning bright. Doc Watson complained about his hands during this morning's set, but still moved the crowd, and Pete Seeger's appearance during Ribbon Of Highway [website][performance] was remarkable in that he rarely performs in public at all these days.

On the other end is the wide-eyed enthusiasm, paired with the incredible poise of the young artists. The four members of the Cottars are still in their teens, but they have three albums under their belt, and during an interview in our tent, they showed themselves to be both seasoned, articulate interviewees, and pretense-free lovers of so many of the performers with whom they share the bill.

Sunday April 30th, 10am
I can hardly believe it. There I was standing in our tent with Bob Weir, getting ready to interview him and the Waybacks [website][interview], and he says, "It's kinda loud in here, why don't we do this on the bus?" So Jeff and I hopped onto the Waybacks tour bus,

Robert Kirk

and I shared a couch with Weir and Michael from The Waybacks. They were incredibly kind with their time, and funny as all heck, still keyed up from the amazing set they had just played. I got them to autograph their set list, and when I can get near a scanner, I'll try to post it. In the meantime, you can find a portion of that interview here. Today started like all days at Merlefest. I made my way over to the trailer, to talk to Robert Kirk, who's been providing us with the feeds. He's wired into all of the Merlefest stages, so I ask him, "Give me Doc Watson from the Watson Stage on feed one, and we'll take The Cottars from the Americana Stage on feed two. And I'll call you at 11 so we can get Hot Tuna on The Hillside." He, like everyone else who makes Merlefest happen, has been unbelievably gracious and helpful in getting the music from here, to you guys at home.

Sunday is the short day, but it feels like the most frenzied. It's a last chance day. Last chance to score some interviews. Last chance to record certain performers. And the last chance to see our favorites.

Saturday April 29th, 2006 9pm

I got so excited, I didn't even mention that while I was at the Waybacks, I ran into my old friends the Manweillers. I recall that several years ago, Dan Manweiller told me that I HAD to check out this crazy band from San Fran. And because his wife Lynn happens to be an enormous fan of the Dead, I knew that if they were at Merlefest this year, that's where I'd find them. And so I did. Check out my brief interview with Lynn and 9 year old Lucas [interview]. Guess how many Merlefests Lucas has been to?

And here I wait, hoping The Waybacks and Weir are coming for that interview their manager has been trying to coordinate all weekend.

Saturday April 29th, 2006 8pm

Okay, I just had my mind blown.

The Waybacks with Bob Weir. And they bring out Sam Bush. And they do Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And because I nabbed the mvy camera, I had to leave the Hillside stage before the set was over, so Jeff could get some shots of Nickel Creek, who are on at the same time, at the Watson Stage. I can only hope he's snapping a good shot of Chris Thile hugging Shawn Watkins, while they sing Randy Newman's "Short People."

Back in the tent, I'm listening to Nickel Creek [website][performance] out the window in one ear, and the mvy feed of The Waybacks in the other ear, who have just added Gillian Welch and David Rawlings to the stage.

And at the table behind me, the Guthries and Slaid Cleaves and Eliza Gilkyson and others are doing some last minute planning for the Ribbon Of Highway performance coming up on the main stage shortly. I grabbed a couple of minutes of Slaid's time today. He's got a new album coming out next month, and we got to talking. You can check out the interview.

Saturday April 29th, 2006 5pm

Walking through the campus during Merlefest is the aural equivalent of walking through Boston's North End at dinner time. You get a scent of something wafting through the air, and you just have to check it out. And it turns out to be the best meal you ever had.

Thad & Caitlin Cary

The Alison Brown Quartet [website][performance] is on the main stage, and she is completely amazing. The Quartet is firing on all cylinders, and it's great to hear a band just ssssttrrrrreeeettttcccchhhhhh. Caitlin Cary and Thad Cockell [website][performance] were on before, and knocked me out too. They had played a coffee house-type two voices, two instruments set last night, and it was solid, but today's main stage, full band performance was as near-to explosive as country-rock duets can get. It's always fun to be surprised by a sudden burst of drum crash at a bluegrass show. On the subject of new discoveries, I'll say hi to the folks who have discovered mvyradio this weekend, through the Merlefest site. I know you're here for Merlefest, but I hope you take some time to sniff around the rest of the site, listen to our extensive archive and podcasts, and stream our station. Thanks for coming, and nice to meet you.

Saturday April 29th, 2006 2pm

Jeff and Gary have been collecting autographs this weekend, and Gary just lucked into an exciting one. The legendary Pete Seeger [website] just wandered in to the tent, looking for a piece of fruit. With strawberries in one hand and a sharpie in the other, Gary got him to sign a copy of the lyrics to "Where Have All The Flowers Gone."

I'm trying to get an interview with The Waybacks and Bob Weir, but Michael their manager tells me that getting all of them in the same place at the same time is "like trying to herd kittens." We're hoping to have a few folks stop by today, but that's the nature of Merlefest, you get pulled in so many directions at once, it's hard to do anything as a group. You can look around the crowd and see clutches of people circled around a stage schedule, sorting out what player is going to be on what stage, and when, and you try to figure out how you can see 30 minutes of Pat Flynn [website] and be across campus in time to catch the end of The Grascals set. Then you realize that you're going one way, and your buddies are going in 5 other directions, and you just have to give in to the "I'll catch up with you at Gillian Welch at the Cabin stage at 7:30."

Another one of the 422 candidates for the "Best part of being backstage at Merlefest"? Free ice cream sandwiches!

Saturday April 29th, 2006 11am

The Duhks

It can be a lot to ask of an artist, to ask them to play early in the morning. Most performers are in clubs until late night, playing into the wee hours, packing their gear and driving until dawn. So a 10am start is awfully early fo some, and it takes a special someone to pull it off. The Duhks [website][performance] had the task this morning, of starting out the biggest day of Merlefest. They're a special band, and "The Mists Of Down Below" is a special song---one that works as a day-starter, as the sun heats the cool wet grounds, and folks amble from their campgrounds onto the Merlefest grounds.

Saturday IS the big day at Merlefest, and we're looking forward to The Mammals [website], Nickel Creek [website] and David Bromberg [website], as well as more Gillian Welch [website], Hot Tuna [website][performance] and John Cowan [website], who sat with me for an interview yesterday. He was excited about his new record, about playing with friends here again, and about remembering Merle.

Friday April 28th, 2006 8pm

Waybacks & Weir

The Love and the Haight! Bob Weir [website][performance] is on stage with the San Francisco band The Waybacks [website][performance] , and the Deadheads have come out of the woodwork.

Seriously, a few hours ago, it was embroidered western shirts, and cool concert Tees, and suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw a sea of tie-dye out the window of the tent. And young Deadheads, too. Most of the grooving limbs were being shaken by people under 25. The band did deliver. After a few Waybacks originals, they moved into a series of Dead songs (St. Stephen, Casey Jones), with a few choice covers (the Stones' "The Last Time"). The place went crazy, and there's only more to come.

Friday April 28th, 2006 3pm

I'm sitting in the tent, hiding out from that blazing sun. They've pulled up the sides that kept us warm last night when the temperature dipped into the 40s. It's pushing 80 in the tent.

I've developed a social tic, here at Merlefest, to try to help me socially. Everyone has wristbands on, to let security know who can go where. Jeff, Gary and I are media, so we get the teal wristbands. What I'm keeping an eye on are the silver wristbands, because that means the person is a performer. I had a nice long chat with John Prine's bass player, who's from Wellfleet. And it helps to clear up a question like, "Is that Caitlin Cary, or just someone who looks like her?" If she's got a silver wristband on, it's probably her.

Some of the biggies are on the way. John Cowan is coming to meet me in the tent shortly. And Gillian Welch, Rory Block [website][performance] and Sam Bush [website] are all going to play before the sun goes down.

Friday April 28th, 2006 11am

I slept really hard last night. Things had gotten really cold by the end of Thursday evening, and when I got under the covers back at the hotel, I didn't move, until Gary called for breakfast.

You can already feel that the vibe is different on Friday. Thursday the crowd is light. Friday, people come fore the weekend. We saw more camper vans, more folks carrying folding chairs, and many more tour buses on our drive in. Yes, the artists are arriving in droves. In fact, my first conversation this morning was with a woman who was looking for someone to direct her to the artists' showers. Only until after she walked away did I realize that it was Rory Block, who plays the first of several sets today.

We're a short while before our first recordings of the day, to Jeff and Gary are off to the vendors tents, to test drive some new guitars. Jeff keeps saying that he wants to have his guitar with him, in case Gillian Welch needs someone to back her up during one of her sets. He dreams big, that Jeff.

Thursday April 27th, 2006 10pm

Jim Lauderdale [website][performance] must be in his glory at Merlefest. He plays on so many records, and writes songs with so many

Jim Lauderdale

people---and so many of them are here. He already did a set with his bluegrass band on the main stage, and here he is, two hours later, leading a jam on the cabin stage. Jeff and I hit the chow line, and I guess they weren't ready for Thursday to be such a big night---they ran out of chicken before we got to the front. We stood there for a good 30 minutes, waiting on the next round of hot food. Fortunately, we could hear Darrell Scott doing "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive."

John Prine [website] was in good form, and he had some great advice as he introduced a special song for a special someone. "You should always write a song for your for your wife. That way, if you ever get in hot water, you can walk around the around the house, humming it." Smart man.

Thursday April 27th, 2006 6pm

The Avett Brothers [website] [performance] started Merlefest off with a rousing set. Art Menius, media director for Merlefest, said it just right when he introduced the band, saying "NO ONE, sounds like the Avett Brothers." Back in the mvyradio recording center, we captured the full set, and you can stream it, along with dozens of other performances we'll be recording, right here at our site.

Two of the sets that followed really exemplify what Merlefest is about, musically. Pete Wernick [website][performance], Dr. Banjo,

Doc Watson

brought up some of his star students, to run through a set of roots music staples. And as I type this, the man himself, Doc Watson [website][performance] is on the cabin stage (and yes, it IS an actual log cabin, with a porch), with a group of friends, paying tribute to Bill Young. Paying tribute is a big part of Merlefest. Artists regularly do sets of songs honoring passed artists and lost friends. This weekend we expect to hear tributes to Merle Watson and Woody Guthrie, as well as a focus on the music of Peter Seeger, with performances from 3 generations of Seegers. And you just can beat hearing Doc Watson stroll through "Summertime."

Thursday April 27th, 2006 2pm

Gary Guthrie is running the show again for us. Gary has recorded all of our past On The Road efforts, and he's furiously connecting wires and microphones and laptops and feeds, so we can bring you all the great music. Helping us too is Jeff Wyatt, my old roommate from when I lived in this part of the country. Jeff is our Go To guy, helping do the set up, chasing down equipment, and, right now, he's off with the camera, trying to snap some "before" photos of the stages and the seats and the campus, just a short time ahead of the front gates opening.

Thursday April 27th, 2006 1:30pm

I was at another festival once, a festival I will not name here, and I was supposed to introduce the next artist. I introduced myself to the stage manager, who looked at me the way you might regard a bologna sandwich you find on the sidewalk. As the artist was making his way to the stage, the stage manager looked around the holding area, and said, out loud, "Where's that radio guy?!?!" There were only 3 people standing in this 10 by 10 space, the stage manager, the artist and me. And he was not the atypical type of concert stage manager, who can frequently be uptight, impatient and self- important.

A few minutes ago, a very polite man made his way into our tent, and introduced himself at the Merlefest main stage manager. "I usually get the written set list from the artists after they play. Would you like me to bring it to you, so you'll know all the song titles?"

Thursday April 27th, 2006 8am

I've probably said two dozen times in the past month, "Merlefest is one of the best run, best organized festivals you'll ever go to." The folks who run the show are careful to make sure that the fans have a great time, and the artists are in an environment that lets them make great music and have tons of fun. Part of putting this puzzle together is doing it carefully, and precisely.

All this to say, when the mvyradio On The Road crew arrived in North Wilkesboro last night, we weren't sure what our set up would be for the next 4 days. But, true to form, the Merlefest organizers have delivered. Last year, we were set up in a classroom, on the outer edge of campus, which was fine. But this year, Wow, we're in a position to bring home some amazing music and interviews.

We're setting up backstage, in a tent, right next to the Main stage. We'll actually be able to look out the window of the tent and see stage performances. And we're not alone in the tent. The other half of the room is the "Artist Retreat." Merlefest sets up a cool, dry place, to create a cozy, lounge space, so the pickers and players can hide out. And we'll be right there.

We've done a few mvyradio On The Road's, and every one is a little different. This year at Merlefest, we have unprecendented access to the stage performances. We'll be recorded hours and hours of music, direct from the many Merlefest stages, and you'll be able to hear it all. Keep watching this page. As we record performances, we'll be posting them here. And you can hear more on our Merlefest Channel at MyMvy.

Audio:
Attention Mac users! The "Flip4Mac" player streams these on-demand files. More help is here.

Alison Brown Quartet
- Performance 1, MerleFest 2006
- Performance 2, MerleFest 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Avett Brothers
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Chip Taylor
- Performance 1, MerleFest, 2006
- Performance 2 with Carrie Rodriguez, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

The Cottars
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Darrell and Wayne Scott
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Doc Watson
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
- Performance w/ Nashville Bluegrass Band, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

The Duhks
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Eliza Gilkyson
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Feufollet
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006

Hot Tuna
- Performance 1, MerleFest, 2006
- Performance 2, MerleFest, 2006
- Performance 3, MerleFest, 2006

The Isaacs, featuring Pat Flynn
- Performance with Pat Flynn, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Jim Lauderdale
- Performance, Merlefest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Jimmy LaFave
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

John Cowan
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems
- Interview, MerleFest, 2006

Laura Love
- Performance, Merlefest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

The Lee Boys
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Lynn And Lucas
- Interview, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

The Mammals
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems
- Interview, MerleFest, 2006

MerleFest Winners
- Interview w/ Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Mike Seeger
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Peter Wernick
- Performance 1, MerleFest, 2006
- Performance 2, joined by Joan Wernick, MerleFest 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

RG Absher
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Ribbon of Highway Endless Skyway
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006: Woody Guthrie tribute: Slaid Cleaves, Jimmy LaFave, Eliza Gilkyson, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Gillian Welch, Pete Seeger, others
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Rory Block
- Performance 1, MerleFest, 2006
- Performance 2, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Roy Bookbinder
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Sarah Lee Guthrie
- Performance, joined by Johnny Irion, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

Slaid Cleaves
- Performance 1, MerleFest, 2006
- Performance 2, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems
- Interview, MerleFest, 2006

Thad Cockrell and Caitlin Cary
- Performance, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems

The Waybacks And Bob Weir
- Performance 1, MerleFest, 2006
- Performance 2, joined by Gillian Welch, Sam Bush, and David Rawlings, MerleFest, 2006
Mixed by: Robert Kirk, Treehouse Sound
Sound by: Cliff Miller, SE Systems
- Interview, MerleFest, 2006