MerleFest 2009 is Coming April 23 – 26th

Typography
The annual MerleFest, presented by Lowe’s takes place in less than a Week in Wilkesboro, NC. MerleFest has been an annual event since 1988. It attracts attendees from a wide area, and generates significant economic benefit to the region. This year MerleFest is making increased environmental efforts to reduce the potential environmental impacts of such a large-scale event.

MerleFest 2009 is Coming April 23 – 26th

Roger Greenway, ENN


The annual MerleFest, presented by Lowe’s takes place in less than a Week in Wilkesboro, NC. MerleFest has been an annual event since 1988. It attracts attendees from a wide area, and generates significant economic benefit to the region.

This year MerleFest is making increased environmental efforts to reduce the potential environmental impacts of such a large-scale event.

It all began with a gardener who wanted to raise funds for gardens on the campus of a rural North Carolina Community College and a community of musicians who wanted to honor the memory of a fallen friend and his musician father. It grew to an internationally renowned music festival and fundraiser that contributes more than $17 million to the region. It's MerleFest.

Before he was MerleFest Executive Director, "B" Townes began his career at Wilkes Community College in the horticulture department. Driven by the goal of raising funds to improve the campus' gardens, Townes had the idea to hold a concert in the fall of 1987 as a fundraiser. It was going to be a "one time, one night, one man show."

Townes recruited Ala Sue Wyke, a WCC Gardens board member, and Bill Young, a retired banker from Northwestern Bank and a first class guitar picker who happened to have a friend named Doc Watson. In October of 1987, the three met with Doc Watson who generously agreed to do the concert in the John A. Walker Community Center at Wilkes. Doc's wife RosaLee and daughter Nancy suggested a festival to be held at the end of April with all proceeds going to the Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Garden for the Senses.

The 1988 event featured Doc, 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'Conner, Jerry Douglas, George Hamilton IV, and others. That first year was a truly special one explained Sam Bush to MerleFest's hometown newspaper the Wilkes Journal-Patriot in January 2001, "Since it hadn't been long since Merle had passed away our thoughts that first year were... centered on wanting to be with the Watson family to celebrate Merle's life."

Environmental Commitment

According to Christie Hutchens, MerleFest got serious about being more eco-friendly in 2007. That year, we decided to focus on learning as much as we could, getting ideas, observing our operations, and working on our year-round operations. We challenged ourselves to reduce the amount of paper used and transitioned to electronic copies of things whenever we could. During meetings, we did not print hand outs and installed an overhead projector in our meeting room so we could access anything we need without making copies. During that festival we all took note of what we could improve on.

Of course, we had a lot of ideas we wanted to pursue. We decided, in the summer of 2008, to focus on one topic each year and really work on that rather than trying to do too much, too fast. For the 09 festival, we chose recycling. This year, we’ve added more plastic recycling containers throughout the grounds, added a container for programs and paper at the exit, and have contracted with Appalachian State University’s Bio-fuel project to recycle used cooking oil.

We print our program on recycled paper. And, this year, we did not print a full brochure. We chose to print a much smaller post card and direct people to the website for line-up and ticketing information. We continue to evaluate those types of projects to make sure that if we do produce a promotional piece, it is needed and done so in the most efficient manner.

We’ll decide our focus for the 2010 festival this summer. There are a lot of things that we’d like to eventually tackle- our energy consumption, our food service operations, etc.

In making these changes, we have to be very aware of costs. Sometimes, taking the eco-friendly approach requires some additional costs and sometimes it saves. Since we are a non-profit fundraiser, we do have to make sure our decisions also help maintain our commitment to our college. That is another reason why we felt a targeted approach works best for us.

Interestingly, as we began the process we also saw that we challenged ourselves personally. Often we’ll talk about what we’re doing at home to be more eco-friendly and share ideas with each other. We challenge each other to do things in a more sustainable way and support each other when we take steps to be more eco-friendly.
Opportunities still exist to volunteer at the festival. Volunteers completing a four-hour shift receive free admission on the day they volunteer. For further information on volunteering, visit www.merlefest.org and click on the "Volunteering" tab.

!ADVERTISEMENT!

The MerleFest Lineup

As in previous years, the list of performers fits the "traditional plus" definition offered by Doc Watson when describing the rich musical diversity that is a hallmark of the event. Sounds of bluegrass, Americana, gospel, blues, folk, Celtic, Cajun and mariachi music will fill the air. The artist lineup and stage schedules are posted at www.merlefest.org.


Thursday, April 23, will feature performances by the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band with special guest George Shuffler, Dailey & Vincent, Scythian, Bearfoot, The Lovell Sisters, Tift Merritt, and Travis Tritt with Jerry Douglas, among others. The MerleFest Mandolin contest will take place in Alumni Hall. Thursday is also a day for community outreach, with several MerleFest artists visiting and performing at local schools, churches and community centers.

The schedule on Friday, April 24, includes the Welcome Home Super Jam hosted by The Duhks with Jim Lauderdale and Peter Rowan; The Dixie Bee-Liners, Ollabelle, The Grascals, The SteelDrivers, The Kruger Brothers, Mountain Heart with Tony Rice, John Cowan, Sierra Hull and Highway 111, The Del McCoury Band, and The Waybacks with special guests. The Merle Watson Bluegrass Banjo Championship and the Doc Watson Guitar Championship will also take place on Friday in Alumni Hall. Finalists in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest will compete on the Austin Stage at 2:00 p.m., followed by the announcement of the winners in each category. Winners will perform on the Cabin Stage at 7:20 p.m.

The lineup for Saturday, April 25, includes the New Generation Super Jam hosted by The SteelDrivers and The Belleville Outfit, with The Dixie Bee-Liners, The Farewell Drifters and Cadillac Sky; The Greencards, Blue Highway, BeauSoleil avec

Michael Doucet, Missy Raines and The New Hip, Sam Bush, and Emmylou Harris. The ever-popular Hillside Album Hour hosted by The Waybacks will take place at 5:00 p.m., and a special performance by Doc Watson and Friends, beginning at 6:15 p.m., will culminate in a tribute to Merle Watson. Winners of the instrument contests (mandolin, banjo, guitar) will perform on the Cabin Stage from 2:00-2:30 pm. The Midnight Jam will take place in the Walker Center (separate ticket required, available only to advance 4-day ticket buyers). Hosted by David Bromberg, with opening act The Farewell Drifters (11:30 p.m.), the jam will also feature Angel Band, Bearfoot, Cadillac Sky, The Dixie Bee-Liners, Missy Raines and The New Hip, Spring Creek Bluegrass Band, The SteelDrivers, The Belleville Outfit, and Ollabelle.


Sunday, April 26, will begin with gospel music on the Creekside Stage with Doc Watson and the Nashville Bluegrass Band, and blues on the Americana stage with Roy Book Binder and Patrick Sweany. Featured performers throughout the day include the Carolina Chocolate Drops, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, The Gibson Brothers, Happy Traum, Pete and Joan Wernick, Bearfoot, and George Hamilton IV, among others. The festival will close with Linda Ronstadt featuring Los Camperos De Nati Cano, performing an afternoon of Canciones de Mi Padre, "Songs of my Father."

In addition to music, MerleFest offers special activities and shopping, all in a family-friendly atmosphere. The Shoppes at MerleFest is a centrally located shopping village featuring demonstrating artisans, vendors, convenience foods, official MerleFest memorabilia, and services such as the MerleFest Post Office, first aid, lost and found, and internet access. The Little Pickers area offers children's activities, crafts and entertainment. Nature walks of the gardens and forest on the WCC campus will be offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

MerleFest 2009 is grateful to 80+ sponsors for their support in making MerleFest possible. Those sponsors include: Lowe's, Tyson, Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and Creamery, Charlotte and Greensboro Area BURGER KING® Restaurants, G & B Energy, Hardee's, Pepsi, WXII TV 12, Winston-Salem Journal, D'Addario, GHS Strings, Gibson, Taylor Guitar, John Pearse Strings, Embarq, SE Systems, Carolina West Wireless, Sugar Hill Records, and many other fine companies. A complete listing of all MerleFest sponsors can be found at www.merlefest.org.

MerleFest honors the memory of instrumental virtuoso Eddy Merle Watson and the contributions of Doc and the entire Watson Family to the musical traditions of the region and nation. MerleFest began in 1988 as a fundraiser for the college and remains the largest fundraiser for the institution.

ENN will be covering MerleFest this year and will be reporting on their Green efforts, and interviewing artists on their environmental views.

For more information here are some phone numbers, an Email address, and a link to the MerleFest website:

http://www.merlefest.org/MerleFestCMS/default.aspx
By Phone: 800-343-7857 (Outside USA 1-336-838-6267)
By Fax: 336-838-6263
By Mail: PO Box 120; Wilkesboro, NC 28697
By Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.