MerleFest, presented by Window World, has officially come to a close, but not without a number of electric collaborations, spontaneous sit-ins, and world-class performances. Wynonna & The Big Noise, Amos Lee, Tyler Childers, Sam Bush Band, Brandi Carlile, and The Avett Brothers all brought extra MerleFest energy to the Watson Stage, marking another successful year for the long-running festival. Early estimates show that from its start on Thursday, April 25, to its close on Sunday, April 28, participation over the festival's four days exceeded 75,000 attendees and artists from across the world. MerleFest, held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, which funds scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.
Now that MerleFest, presented by Window World, is only one week away, annual festival-goers have surely begun planning their weekends. For those who have not, however, here are five sure-to-be epic experiences that shouldn't be missed. Make a note or two and join a welcoming legion of music fans in Wilkesboro, N.C., from April 25th to 28th at MerleFest.
As the world of Bluegrass continues to evolve, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers have taken advantage of the creative environment that keeps the tenets of tradition next to those of individual expression. The result is The Choosing Road, an album of refined dynamics, themes informed by personal growth and some of the most intimate songwriting to date.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce new artist additions for MerleFest 2019: Amos Lee, The Milk Carton Kids, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Del McCoury Band, The Casey Kristofferson Band, and David Holt. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, April 25-28. MerleFest is pleased to welcome these six distinguished acts to the 2019 lineup:
Arden, North Carolina (January 29, 2019) - From the deep Ozark hollows of Cane Spur, Arkansas, The Cleverlys have been plucked from obscurity and landed in the studio to produce their first national label release, Blue, available March 22 from Mountain Home Music Company. With songs like Beyonce's 'Irreplaceable,' LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem,' Justin Bieber's 'Baby' and The Zombies' 'She's Not (Ain't) There,' this music would be at the edge of being full camp if it weren't for the obvious vocal talent and stellar picking that holds up to any of today's progressive acoustic bands.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the initial lineup for MerleFest 2019, which will be held April 25-28. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The complete lineup for MerleFest 2019 will be announced over the next few months. Today's lineup announcement includes Wynonna & The Big Noise, Keb' Mo', The Earls of Leicester, Sam Bush, Tyler Childers, Peter Rowan and The Free Mexican Air Force, and many more. The 2019 Late Night Jam on Saturday, April 27th will start at 10:30 p.m. and run well past midnight, hosted by Chatham County Line. This very popular after-hours hootenanny in the Walker Center gathers many performers from the festival for impromptu artistic collaborations and one-of-a-kind superstar jams that have become legendary in the festival's history. Ticket sales for both the festival and Late Night Jam begin at 10 a.m. EST on Nov. 13th.
Béla Fleck (banjo), Zakir Hussain (tabla), and Edgar Meyer (double bass) have combined the bluegrass, classical, and South Asian musical traditions into a one-of-a-kind sound, familiar but with a global resonance. In fact, their extraordinary interaction often suggests a sui generis jazz trio, not only improvising on set melodies, harmonies, and rhythms but also on musical genres, taking them to unlikely, unexpected musical places.
Celebrated bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and comedian Paul Shaffer along with his talented full band, The Shaf-Shifters, will perform an exclusive three-week engagement at the iconic Cleopatra's Barge at Caesars Palace on select dates in December 2017 and January 2018.
Leftover Salmon with High Country Horns, featuring Jennifer Hartswick and Skerik, along with Grant Farm (11/24) and The Drunken Hearts (11/25), and Cu Denver Bluegrass Ensemble (both Nights), will take over the Boulder Theatertoday, November 24, and Saturday, November 25, 2017.
Celebrated bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and comedian Paul Shaffer along with his talented full band, The Shaf-Shifters, will perform an exclusive three-week engagement at the iconic Cleopatra's Barge at Caesars Palace on select dates in December 2017 and January 2018.
PineCone and Broadway Series South are teaming up for a third concert this year bringing GRAMMY award winning musician, and Greensboro native, Rhiannon Giddens to the historic Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, where she will perform with a full band.
Leftover Salmon with High Country Horns, featuring Jennifer Hartswick and Skerik, along with Grant Farm (11/24) and The Drunken Hearts (11/25), and Cu Denver Bluegrass Ensemble (both Nights), will take over the Boulder Theateron Friday, November 24, and Saturday, November 25, 2017.
GRAMMY-Award winning, folk-singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III returns to the all-new Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Thursday, March 29 at 7:30 pm. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 28 at 10 am.
Andy Hall of The Infamous Stringdusters and Roosevelt Collier of the Lee Boys have come together on a new album, Let The Steel Play, which is set for independent release June 16, 2017. Let the Steel Play was born out of a love of slide guitar, and a friendship made through music. Andy Hall and Roosevelt Collier met in 2012 on Jam Cruise, and began playing music together when their paths would cross. Both are sought after sit-in players at festivals throughout the country and known for their dexterity, versatility, and intuitive knack for picking up rhythms and melodies.
Shaffer is best known for the 30 plus years he spent as David Letterman's musical director and bandleader, but on Saturday, May 6th at 8 p.m. this world renowned musician takes center stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse!
Danny Barnes is already known as an iconic American musician, a banjo playing innovator who's earned high praise from everybody from Bill Frisell and Dave Matthews to Steve Martin, who presented Danny with the Prize for Excellence in Banjo in 2015. From the days with his groundbreaking Austin band, the Bad Livers, to his two decade solo career experimenting with electronic music, jazz, old time string band music and more, he's a genre bending, rule breaking original who prefers to color outside the lines.
Danny Barnes is already known as an iconic American musician, a banjo playing innovator who's earned high praise from everybody from Bill Frisell and Dave Matthews to Steve Martin, who presented Danny with the Prize for Excellence in Banjo in 2015.
The Ridgefield Playhouse and Pepsi Rock Series Powered by xfinity are going to rock your world with musical legend Paul Shaffer and the Most Dangerous Band on Saturday, May 6 at 8 p.m. Paul Shaffer may be best known as David Letterman's musical director and sidekick for the past 33 years, but his illustrious career goes far beyond the Ed Sullivan Theater. Paul began his career working with Stephen Schwartz in 1972 as musical director for the Toronto production of "Godspell." From there he went on to spend 5 years with the original cast of "SaturdayNight Live" where he was the band leader and performer - most notably for his parody of Don Kirschner. Shaffer occasionally teamed up with the "Not Ready for Prime-Time Players" off the show as well, including work on Gilda Radner's highly successful Broadway show and as the musical director for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd whenever they recorded or performed as The Blues Brothers. In 1984, Shaffer played keyboards for The Honeydrippers, a group formed in 1981 by former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, and performed on the hit single "Sea of Love" which reached #1.
