www.roanoke.com

This lineup is insanely packed, with so many genres represented. The list of performers is set in alphabetical order, so scroll down and see amazing entertainers.

From a fest p.r. e-mail:

<<MerleFest 2009 Announces Line Up
Tickets on Sale November 11

WILKESBORO, N.C.--MerleFest 2009, presented by Lowe’s and slated for April 23-26, is proud to announce the line up for the event’s 22nd year.  The following artists will join host Doc Watson on the campus of Wilkes Community College for a celebration of what Doc calls “traditional-plus” music—traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, complemented by spontaneous jam sessions and musical collaborations not seen anywhere else:

Doc Watson                                     http://www.docsguitar.com/

Richard Watson

Susana and Timmy Abell                     http://www.timmyabell.com/

The Alberti Flea Circus                       http://albertifleacircus.com/

Angel Band                                      http://www.angelband.net/

Banknotes

Buffalo Barfield                                 http://www.buffalobarfield.com

Bearfoot                                         http://www.bearfootbluegrass.com/

BeauSoleil                                       http://www.rosebudus.com/beausoleil/

Rory Block                                       http://www.roryblock.com/

Blue Highway                                   http://www.bluehighwayband.com/

Roy Book Binder                                http://www.roybookbinder.com/

Laura Boosinger                                http://www.lauraboosinger.com/

Bob Bovee and Gail Heil                      http://www.boveeheil.com/

Broken Wire                                     http://www.brokenwireband.com/

David Bromberg                                http://www.davidbromberg.net/

Sam Bush                                        http://www.sambush.com/

Cadillac Sky                                     http://www.cadillacsky.net/

The Carolina Chocolate Drops             http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com/

The Circuit Riders                             http://www.thecircuitriders.com/

Clack Mountain String Band                http://www.clackmountain.com/

T. Michael Coleman                           http://www.tmichaelcoleman.com/Home.html

The John Cowan Band                        http://johncowan.com/site.php

Dailey & Vincent                               http://www.daileyvincent.com/

The Dixie Beeliners                            http://www.dixiebeeliners.com/

Donna The Buffalo                             http://www.donnathebuffalo.com/

Pat Donohue                                     http://www.patdonohue.com/

Robert Dotson

The Duhks                                         http://www.duhks.com/

The Farewell Drifters                           http://thefarewelldrifters.com/

Benton Flippen Band

Full Throttle Bluegrass Band                http://www.fullthrottlebluegrass.com/index.cfm

Rayna and Dan Gellert                        http://www.rayna.utopiandesign.com/

The Grascals                                    http://www.grascals.com/

The Gravy Boys                                http://www.gravyboys.com/

Great Big Sea                                   http://www.greatbigsea.com/

The Greencards                                http://www.thegreencards.com/

Mitch Greenhill                                  http://www.thegreencards.com/

George Hamilton IV                            http://www.georgeiv.net/home.html

Emmylou Harris                                  http://www.emmylouharris.com/

Wayne Henderson

http://www.waynehenderson.org/Wayne/AboutWayne.htm

Violet Hensley

http://www.oldtimeherald.org/archive/back_issues/volume-9/9-5/violet_hensley.html

Willette Hinton and Family

Jimmy “Duck” Holmes

http://www.arts.state.ms.us/folklife/artist.php?dirname=holmes_jimmy

David Holt                                        http://www.davidholt.com/

Sierra Hull and Highway 111                 http://www.sierrahull.com/

The InterACTive Theater of Jef            http://jefthemime.com/index.shtml

Phil Jamison

http://www.oldtimeherald.org/dare-to-be-square/index.html

The Kruger Brothers                           http://www.krugerbrothers.com/

Jim Lauderdale                                  http://www.jimlauderdale.com/

Jack Lawrence                                  http://www.jacklawrence.com/

Mark Lippard                                     http://www.marklippard.com/

Jeff Little                                         http://www.jefflittle.net/

The Local Boys

The Lovell Sisters                              http://www.lovellsistersband.com/

Doug MacLeod                                  http://www.doug-macleod.com/

Andy May                                        http://www.andymay.com/bio/

Del McCoury Band                             http://www.delmccouryband.com/

Tift Merritt                                       http://tiftmerritt.com/

Mountain Heart                                 http://www.mountainheart.com/

Nashville Bluegrass Band                     http://www.keithcase.com/profiles/Nash/bio.html

The Neighbors                                   http://www.myspace.com/theneighborspage

New North Carolina Ramblers

Ollabelle                                           http://www.ollabelle.net/index.cfm

Out on the Ocean

Polecat Creek                                    http://www.polecatcreek.net/

Missy Raines and the New Hip               http://www.missyraines.com/

Loretta and Lindsay Rice

Tony Rice                                         http://www.tonyrice.com/

The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band           http://www.peter-rowan.com/

Patrick Sauber

Martha Scanlan                                 http://www.marthascanlan.com/

Scythian                                          http://www.scythianmusic.com/

Anne and Pete Sibley                          http://www.anneandpetesibley.com/home.html

Joe Smothers

Spring Creek Bluegrass Band                 http://www.springcreekbluegrassband.com/

The SteelDrivers                                http://www.steeldrivers.net/

Rodney Sutton

Patrick Sweany                                  http://www.patricksweany.com/

Tut Taylor                                         http://webpages.charter.net/tutbro/

Joe Thompson

Tom, Brad and Alice                            http://www.tombradalice.com/

Happy Traum                                     http://www.happytraum.com/

Mac and Jenny Traynham                    http://macandjenny.blogspot.com/
Travis Tritt and Jerry Douglas

http://www.travistritt.com/site.php and http://www.jerrydouglas.com/

The Waybacks                             The Waybacks                                  http://www.waybacks.com/

WCC Child Development Singers

Pete and Joan Wernick                       http://www.drbanjo.com/

Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society

Tony Williamson                                 http://www.mandolincentral.com/

The Zephyr Lightning Bolts               http://www.noneoftheabove.net/ZLB/index.htm

“MerleFest is known for surprises and special moments,” comments Festival Director Ted Hagaman.  “We still have a couple of things in the works, so we encourage MerleFest fans to keep checking our website (http://www.merlefest.org/) for updates to our talent line up.”

In addition to providing the full line-up, the festival’s website, www.merlefest.org, is a complete source of information on all aspects of the event.  Festival fans are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the MerleFest e-newsletter to keep up with the latest developments.  They can also sign up to volunteer by visiting the site.

The MerleFest box office will open for 2009 ticket sales on Tuesday, November 11, at 2:00 p.m. EST. Ticket purchases can be made on the web at http://www.merlefest.org/ or by calling 1-800-343-7857.  With over 90 acts performing on 15 stages during the course of the event, MerleFest is an entertainment value, with 2009 ticket prices remaining the same as for 2008.

MerleFest, celebrating its 22nd year in 2009, is a four-day event that 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. Held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, MerleFest began in 1988 as a fundraiser for the college and remains the largest fundraiser for the institution.

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Karen Byrd Public Relations
2020 Fieldstone Parkway | #900-219 | Franklin, TN 37069
P: 615.595.1500 | karen.byrd@gmail.com | F: 615.595.6844