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Little Feat, Costello part of MerleFest lineup
by Jule Hubbard
A MerleFest 2010 lineup that includes rock-blues legends Little Feat and Elvis Costello, bluegrass stars like Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and up and coming favorites like the Avett Brothers and Scythian was announced Thursday.
Over 85 artists—as many as ever—will perform on 15 stages for the 21st annual MerleFest at Wilkes Community College April 29 to May 2.
The MerleFest box office opens for 2010 ticket sales at 2 p.m. Nov. 10. Ticket purchases can be made on the web at www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857.
"We are looking at cost containment where we can (for MerleFest), but not with the artist lineup," said Ted Hagaman, festival director and WCC senior director of hospitality services.
Hagaman said MerleFest musical host Doc Watson of Deep Gap is particularly excited about the lineup. He said Watson, 86, plans to again perform multiple times at the festival. It's held in memory of Watson's son and musical partner, Merle Watson, who died in a tractor accident in Caldwell County 24 years ago today.
Hagaman said there have been numerous requests to have Little Feat at MerleFest over the years. The band's inaugural performance at MerleFest is set for the night of April 30.
"Little Feat was one of Merle's favorite bands. In the 1970s, they worked the same circuit and they would hang out together on the road," said John Adair, the WCC official who books artists for MerleFest. Little Feat is known as a wildly eclectic band, bringing together strains of blues, R&B, country and rock & roll.
Guitarist Paul Barrere of Little Feat said, "What a great honor to be booked at MerleFest, the annual tribute to the music of Doc and Merle Watson. I've heard from our good friend Vince Herman that this is the festival to play, and stay, and just pick your brains out. So here's hoping that we have a day off to meander about and jam with the best bluegrass pickers around."
Hagaman said Elvis Costello is returning to MerleFest by popular demand for a show on the night of May 1. His only other time at MerleFest was in 2007.
"We are fortunate to get the Avett Brothers for their only North Carolina appearance in the first half of 2010," said Adair. The band, a favorite at MerleFest, is composed of brothers Seth and Scott Avett and Bob Crawford of Concord. They combine bluegrass, folk, rock, country and other styles.
The Avett Brothers released the following quote, "We have attended MerleFest, as fans and as performers, since 1994. There is not a finer or more welcoming music festival in the country. Those who make their way to Wilkes Community College for the event this year will find, as they would any year, a sincere and friendly place where the music is as colorful and beautiful as the North Carolina countryside that leads them there. MerleFest offers four days of absolute quality for the music-loving family. For us, in terms of performance, it is very much like coming home."
Adair also mentioned Wylie & the Wild West, which he called a "true cowboy artist" from eastern Montana; the Travelin' McCourys, who are the sons of bluegrass star Del McCoury; and the Lee Boys, an African American steel guitar band from Florida.
In addition to Doc Watson and his grandson, Richard Watson, the full lineup so far includes:
Susana and Timmy Abell, Alberti Flea Circus, Avett Brothers, Jim Avett, Balsam Range, Shana Banana, The Banknotes, Bearfoot, The Belleville Outfit, Roy Book Binder,
Brave Combo, Buffalo Barfield, Sam Bush Band, Cadillac Sky, T. Michael Coleman, Elvis Costello, John Cowan Band, Dailey & Vincent, Dehlia Low, Donna The Buffalo,
Jerry Douglas, The Duhks, Eleanor Ellis, Alice Gerrard, The Gibson Brothers, Great Big Sea, The Greencards, Buddy Greene, Mitch Greenhill, George Hamilton IV,
John Hammond, Corey Harris, Wayne Henderson, David Holt, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, Phil Jamison, Jeni & Billy, The Kruger Brothers, Jim Lauderdale, Jack Lawrence,
The Lee Boys, Little Feat, Jeff Little, The Local Boys, The Lovell Sisters, Harry Manx, Bill Mathis, Andy May, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Nation Beat,
The Neighbors, Ben Prestage, Missy Raines & The New Hip, Red Molly, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Scythian, Anne and Pete Sibley, Joe Smothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, Tut Taylor,
Happy Traum, The Travelin' McCourys, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, The Waybacks, Lightnin' Wells, Pete and Joan Wernick, Shannon Whitworth, The Wilders, Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society, Tony Williamson, W.P.A., Wylie and The Wild West, and Zephyr Lightning Bolts.
"Fans can count on more surprises, spontaneous jam sessions and one-of-a-kind musical collaborations, and we will continue to add to this line up. We encourage MerleFest fans to keep checking our website (www.merlefest.org) for updates," said Hagaman. |
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