And the rest...

And rest is at least what's needed if not realized after four days and nights at a festival like MerleFest that with each passing year becomes dearer to my heart.  And not so much for the inspiring music to be heard, but for the enduring relationships with musicians and the production team I work with.  MerleFest is special because of these capable and caring people, and if you've ever been a small part of something big and worthwhile, you know what I mean.  Thanks and love to Sam, Maple, Buck, John, Randy, Dwight and Cliff.  And of course to B Townes who started it all and who gave me a job twenty years ago.  I'm dreaming of another twenty.  Words are insufficient to capture all that this festival has become, so I'll just share a few shots that might resonate with those who were there and encourage others to consider the trip to the Carolina foothills next April.

First up, Bryan Simpson and the daring young men of Cadillac Sky, (are they actually levitating?) who played four different stages by my count and made the most of their MerleFest debut.  Don't forget their JAMinc/In Your Ear show this Saturday...only a handful of tickets remain.  A rare chance to witness such energy in such an intimate space as IYE's Studio A. 

Here's veteran blues stylist Rory Block from my home away from home, looking out the front door of the Cabin from the dark and cozy living room/green room...it's a favorite place of all the artists who get a set there. Including Pete Wernick who invited the Gibson Brothers and harmonica phenom Buddy Greene to play a few during his Sunday set. 

Former mando prodigy and now maturing musician Sierra Hull won more hearts on the main stage Saturday with a crack band that includes guitarist Clay Hess.  Sierra's advanced chops betray her tender years and her singing is sweeter and more pleasing than young Alison Krauss at her age.  IMHO.  And she's coming to town Saturday...see below.

The Waybacks served up one of the best closing sets in MerleFest memory Friday night, with James Nash deftly wrangling an A-list of special guests like Sam Bush (above), Rob Ickes, Jens Kruger and Byron House.  And John Cowan raised the roof with a stunning take on Roy Orbison's "Crying."  Only to be followed by an extended jam on the band's signature song, "Bright Place."  But that was only a warmup for the much-anticipated Hillside Stage Album Hour...how would they follow last year's Zeppelin II?  How about the Stones' Sticky Fingers.  Emmylou guested on "Wild Horses."  It was musical mayhem.  Don't forget to get your tix for Sam Bush and The Waybacks at the Science Museum of VA on June 11th.  www.musicformassey.com

Festival favorite Jim Lauderdale, who lost four months of gigs last summer after voicebox surgery, returned with a voice even stronger and more expressive than before...what a relief to him and all his many fans and admirers.  Bluegrass is blessed to have Jim in the fold.  He brings a lot to the table.

The aforementioned Mr. Cowan, who was at the very first Merlefest with New Grass Revival in 1988, brought along his current well-seasoned band including best-pal and lead guitarist Jeff Autry, Stringduster Jesse Cobb's brother Shad on fiddle and new poppa and Rebecca Hoggan's hubby John Frazier on mandolin for a couple of engaging sets.  Johnny C's heart is as big as his voice and he will always be a beloved member of the MerleFest family.

Old friend Rickie Simpkins continued his dream gig of playing fiddle and mandolin and providing tasteful  backup vocals for Emmylou Harris.  Her Saturday night Watson Stage set was one of her sweetest in many years.  All the old chestnuts.

And no one can put the lid on a MerleFest Saturday night like King Sammy.  Doesn't matter who they book to play, you can count on Mr. Bush for the biggest, most adoring crowd of all four days...and nights.  Nobody does it better.  Oh yeah, did I mention Sam's headed to Richmond to play with the Waybacks on Thursday, June 11th?  And that tickets are on sale here?  Good.

Montana songbird Martha Scanlan spent some quality time at the Cabin on Sunday, the scene of her double Chris Austin songwriter honors in 2003, even sharing some peaty single-malt from her dainty flask.  It put a nice edge on a haunting set with many tunes from her acclaimed album The West Was Burning.

And for something completely different...the festival finale featured Linda Ronstadt paying homage to her father with the formidable assistance of Los Camperos de Nati Cano, who you may remember for their show-stopping performances at our National Folk Festival here a few years back.  Although I weathered a few grumbles about not hearing "Different Drum" of "Blue Bayou" but the color and pageantry of this cultural exclamation point, underscored that MerleFest is much more than a bluegrass festival.  Find out for yourself April 29-May 10, 2010. 

A fond farewell to Wilkes County and the Addison for another year...back soon...the years are getting shorter and shorter. I have mixed emotions about that.  Doc is still delivering his endless repertoire with deep baritone and playing all the right notes, although he's a little harder to find on the schedule these days.  He's earned a little quiet time.  We understand.

Lots of music around River City including the City Slickers festival put on by the Rotary Club at the Science Museum on Saturday, May 9th.  (I had the date wrong earlier) Quite a lineup including Sierra Hull, The Grascals and the Seldom Scene.  And our own Page Wilson will open, with Reckless Abandon of course.  Tickets here.

Thanks as always, for checking out my ramblings...and please share the link with anyone who might be interested.  Is it April or July?

TT