Jerry Douglas (l.) and Aly Bain host the Transatlantic Sessions, in the U.S. for the first time this year. One stop will be Merlefest in North Carolina.
Merlefest
A festival that started small at Wilkes Community College in North Carolina has become one of the most enthusiastically supported roots music events in the U.S. Merlefest began in 1988 as an event to support the college and memorialize Eddy Merle Watson, the son of Doc Watson, who had died in a tractor accident on the family farm. As Doc put it at the time, “When Merle and I started out we called our music ‘traditional plus’, meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play. Since the beginning, the people of the college and I have agreed that the music of MerleFest is ‘traditional plus’.”
Merlefest is celebrating 30 years, benefitting education at Wilkes Community College and bringing roots musicians from around the world to northwest North Carolina. This week we talk with publicist Devon Leger about the 2017 lineup, including a stop for The Transatlantic Sessions hosted by bluegrass great Jerry Douglas and Shetland Islands fiddler Aly Bain. We hear music from some of the artists on this year’s stages. Also on the show, some solid Virginia bluegrass bands, and a selection of old time music and new recordings.
Playlist
Big Country Bluegrass
Let Them Know I'm From Virginia 2. Let "Em Know I'm From Virginia
Big Country Bluegrass
Let Them Know I'm From Virginia 3. Beulah Land
Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder
The Last Dirt Road 4. Rock Bottom
Lonesome River Band
Bridging The Tradition 5. The Wandering Boy
The Carter Family
Anchored In Love 6. The Homestead On The Farm
Flatt & Scruggs
Songs Of The Famous Carter Family 7. Alexander's Run
Blue Highway
Original Traditional 8. Down The Road
Doc & Merle Watson
Home Sweet Home 9. Devon Leger interview
ATBR interview 10. Chicken Fried
Zac Brown Band
The Foundation 11. O'Farrell's Farewell To Limerick
Aly Bain & Donal Lunny
Transatlantic Sessions Season 4 12. The Glad Eye-The Journeyman-The Wayward Son
John Doyle
Wayward Son 13. Righten That Wrong
Locust Honey String Band
Never Let Me Cross Your Mind 14. When The Whiskey's Gone
Locust Honey String Band
Never Let Me Cross Your Mind 15. Never Been Alive
Avett Brothers
Magpie And The Dandelion 16. Break 2 - Stony Fork
New North Carolina Ramblers
Four And A Half 17. Climbing The Golden Stairs
Bucking Mules
Smoke Behind The Clouds 18. The Soldier And The Lady
Bucking Mules
Smoke Behind The Clouds 19. Lightnin' Wells
Waiting For The Evening Mail
O Lightnin', Where Art Thou?
Trouble Light
Amanda Lynn Stubley
Gem 20. I've Got A Mule To Ride
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
Great High Mountain
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