MerleFest Moments…

The elegantly engraved arm rest of Jimmy Stelling’s five-string masterpiece, one of the coveted prizes in this year’s MerleFest raffle, reflects the commitment to quality that this behemoth of a festival exempifies, by most any measure.  This 23rd edition of the annual tribute to Doc Watson’s too-early departed son Merle, still hosted by his dad, the 87-year-old national treasure, offered four rain-free days of music for so many palates.  From Thursday night’s packed house for the Zac Brown Band to Sunday’s record crowd for the Avett Brothers’ rousing finale, John Adair and his team programmed a lineup that held reward for everyone, especially the open-minded who were looking for something fresh and exciting. The music has moved to new places beyond the hills and hollows around Deep Gap, North Carolina, still Doc Watson’s home.  But there’s an undeniable kinship among musicians and those who gather to hear them in this inviting place. Missing were MerleFest stalwarts like John Cowan, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck and Tim O’Brien.  But traditions were carried well by Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, the Kruger Brothers, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Jim Lauderdale and of course Sam Bush.  MerleFest is difficult to describe to one who hasn’t experienced it over a period of time, so if that includes you, I’ll let the camera do most of the talking for the rest of this post.  If you like what you see, consider making the trip down for the 24th.  April 28-May 1, 2011.

A Saturday afternoon surprise saw Arthel Watson awarded an honorary doctorate by a trio of professors from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music…a deserving Dr. Doc.

One of the most meaningful MerleFest traditions is the Sunday morning gospel sing on the Creekside Stage with Doc and the Nashville Bluegrass Band featuring Stuart Duncan and Alan O’Bryant.

 

The sacred steel power of the Lee Brothers joined by Rob & Ron McCoury and Jason Carter brought another level of praise to the Sunday Watson Stage.  Look for the Travelin’ McCourys with Dierks Bentley in Richmond at the National on May 18.  (Still a chance to win tickets in the “On The Verge” post below)

MerleFest serves as a family-style homecoming and reunion for artists and fans alike.  Casey Driessen proposed to Molly during a set on the Cabin Stage a few years ago…this year guesting with the Duhks, Casey and Molly brought daughter Emmette to her first one.  MerleFest in 3-D.

My home away from home for these four days is the old log cabin-turned-tweener stage next to the Watson. Here Cadillac Sky cranks it up the day after their sold out AC&T show. Unbridled energy and creativity.  They love this place.

The Lovell Sisters staged a Thursday night reunion including elder sister Jessica who’s sitting out the new band Larkin Poe started by younger sibs Megan and Rebecca.

Jackson Hole’s Pete & Anne Sibley posed for a backstage Cabin portrait after their short set of their pristine harmonies.  If you were at their JAMinc/In Your Ear concert, you know what I mean.

A very pleasant re-discovery of Biscuit Burner founder Shannon Whitworth and her tasteful band proved to be a personal highlight this year.  I’d forgotten about her dark and dreamy vocals which were put to good use I’m told during the Waybacks’ ambitious Album Hour set on the Hillside Stage.  Shannon rendered two selections from the Beatles’ Abbey Road album, including “Something.” 

Anchorage, Alaska’s award-winning Bearfoot featuring newest member Odessa Jorgensen on fiddle, held a prime spot on the Cabin Saturday night between Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers and Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes.

Zac Brown was a surprise Friday night guest on the Cabin Stage with his pals Rory Feeks and Joey Martin.  His closing set the night before set a Thursday night MerleFest crowd record.

 

 

 

Brothers Tony & Wyatt Rice got the Unit back together Saturday afternoon after the former signed copies of his just-out biography Still Inside-The Tony Rice Story.  I hear it’s a great read…order yours here.

Seems like every year, some prodigious young talent gets a chance to shine and steal hearts.  DC-based Celtic band Scythian brought up 8-year-old Ruthie Shumway from Charlotte to fiddle an old-time tune that may be the moment we look back on and say “Remember when?”

 

 

Another first-time experience was the intense Indian-infused blues created by the worldly Harry Manx, who’s called the essential link between the music of East and West.  He brought strange instruments including the sitar-slide guitar above and a stage full of gear and proceeded to cast a spell.  It’s a thrill to hear someone who’s found his niche and mines it thoroughly.  Go see this guy if you get the chance.

And for something completely different, how about Mr. Yahooo-ooooo himself Wylie Gustafson who rocked our Richmond Folk Festival last fall with his Wild West cowboy tunes and a yodel to die for.

New York- based Red Molly, a gifted and practiced trio I’d heard really good things about, conveniently made its first MerleFest appearance at the Cabin Sunday.  They more than lived up to advance billing.

Saturday’s closer was Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes, his rootsy rock band that included Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Mike Compton and Jim Lauderdale.

 

Jim Lauderdale again chaired the Chris Austin Songwriter’s Contest that’s produced such high-profile past winners as Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt and Adrienne Young.  Berklee product Liz Longley, who won the General category this year, could be joining that list.  Time will tell.

Anticipation was running high for Saturday night’s Steve Martin bluegrass set with his newfound road mates, Carolina’s Steep Canyon Rangers.  The multi-faceted white-haired and -suited comedian who used his banjo-playing skills as a gimmick during his early years, now seriously celebrates the five-string through a set full of original and imaginative tunes he plays at a level that’s no laughing matter.  Woody Platt and the boys provide the perfect musical backdrop and comedic foil as their iconic bandleader indulges himself and delights the crowd with just the right amount of his signature sense of humor.  He even encored with “King Tut.”  And it worked.  Big fun.

But when all’s said and done, it’s all about Sam Bush. At the very first MerleFest in 1988 with his renegade New Grass Revival, the newly crowned “Father of Newgrass” (above with Friday closers Little Feat) brings the goods that have made him the ring leader of the most beloved and respected group of super-pickers.  His still youthful energy, imagination and ability to fit effortlessly into any musical context, has set him apart from his more mortal contemporaries.  And despite his lofty perch, he’s as generous and approachable as your next door neighbor.  Sam exemplifies what draws so many of us to this music…breathtaking artistry from real, relatable people.  And it doesn’t hurt that he married well.  Sam & Lynn continue to defy the odds against show biz marriages.  Their joyful inseparability is inspiring.  Just like this remarkable union of music and fellowship that is MerleFest.  The memory bank has been refilled.

TT

For Openers…

All of us aging production guys at MerleFest are lamenting how sadly short a year is anymore.  No way it’s been 12 whole months since we were here on a Thursday night with the whole amazing thing laid out before us.  This musical homecoming has grown and changed a lot since the first one with a flatbed trailer for a stage in 1988 but what hasn’t is a nearly intact team that makes the whole thing spin like a top.  It’s a thrill to see something so complex and demanding come off so smoothly.  Good to be back with Sam, Maple, Jim, and Cathy again.  A few first-day pictures then, including the timeless Taj Mahal in a blue mood (above)

The latest edition of the Steeldrivers on the Cabin Stage with new lead vocalist Gary Nichols (far right)

Some guys just have way too much fun.  What a year it’s been  for Zac Brown who was the perfect closer on opening night. Big adoring crowd enjoying a fat two-hour set.  And to think we saw him for free along the river for Friday Cheers.

 

A beguiling Phoebe Hunt gazed upon by Connor Forsyth during a seriously well-received afternoon set with the Belleville Outfit.  More polished and assured than when we caught them at Grey Fox last summer.  Go see this band…maybe Saturday in Lexington at Lime Kiln?

 

 

It was so good to see these Gibson Brothers again (Eric & Leigh w/Mike Barber on bass) after the great year they’ve had with a real resurgence in their long career.  Their intense and powerful duet singing cuts like a knife and will lump your throat in short order.  Who saw them in ‘03 at the Glen Allen Fieldcrest concert?  Wally knew a good thing when he heard it.

Besides being an innovative banjo player, founding member of Hot Rize (and Trailblazer Waldo Otto), Pete “Dr.  Banjo” Wernick has relished his as role of instructor in the annual MerleFest Jam Camp.  Graduation exercises put all 60 campers on the Cabin Stage to share what they’ve learned with the proud Doctor looking and listening on.

All in all…a sweet 1st day, with the weather as good as the music.  So how was Cadillac Sky at AC&T tonight?  They play the Cabin tomorrow…nice.

G’nite…TT

On the verge...

...of what could well be the most potent offering of great live music a spring season has ever seen in our home town, where we've already seen Jesse Harper lure Brooklyn's Richard Julian to our favorite new venue, Glave Kocen Gallery along with Trey Pollard, Wells Hanley and Daniel Clarke, we're off an running toward some huge payoffs in places familiar and not...indoors and out, over the next couple of months.  Before we leap ahead, a rearview thank you to BJ Kocen and Jenn Glave for opening their inviting artspace on West Main to some fine musicians who needed a place to play.  There was way too high a dose of music per person last Saturday as mostly friends and family shared some of Richard's select tequila and his observant tunes of life and love in the boroughs.  A highlight was witnessing Wells, VCU's new jazz piano professor, and Daniel, the latest addition to the Dixie Chicks touring band out with the Eagles this summer, seated at the same keyboard and dueting to their own delight and ours.  (dark fuzzy foto above)  Sorry most of you missed that one...we hope to see them together again.  Jesse's got a few dates coming up opening for Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins who by the way will be at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden as part of Garrison Keillor's "Summer of Love" Prairie Home Companion live show on August 13th.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

While we're on the subject of Jesse and Daniel, I want to happily announce that our very first JAMinc/In Your Ear compilation CD (featuring Jesse w/Daniel on track 7) is finally out and available on our Website and at Plan 9 in Carytown.  Fourteen outstanding tunes, most composed by the artists themselves recorded over the past six years at our live studio concerts with no re-takes or overdubs.  With the likes of Howard Levy, the late John Cephas, Wayne Henderson, Cadillac Sky, Bryan Bowers, Bruce Molsky and the Kruger Brothers on board, you know you'll want one and a couple of extras to gift your discriminating music-loving friends.  We'll also have them at our next concert on May 26th with guitarists-extraordinaire  Todd Hallawell & Robin Kessinger.  We'll be recording a live DVD that night too...don't miss it.  Reservations here.

For those of us who make the annual pilgrimage to Wilkes County, NC for the sprawling spectacular gathering known as MerleFest, it's hard to believe another year's rolled by and we'll soon be stressing on how much we'll be missing no matter how we try to take it all in.  It runs April 29-May 2 and the big names this year are Dierks Bentley with a bluegrass set, Zac Brown, Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes, Dailey & Vincent, the Waybacks, Sam Bush, the Avett Brothers, and a special Saturday night set with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers.  And we'll enjoy seeing some or our past JAMinc/In Your Ear performers like the Krugers, Wayne Henderson and Anne & Pete Sibley.  Conspicuous in his absence this year will be John Cowan, who is doing a short tour as a Doobie Brother, something he did some 20 years ago in the wake of NGR's breakup.  MerleFest is like no other music festival and it's a joy to reconvene each April to renew old friendships and make new ones in the stimulating environment of great live music.  It's a true privilege for which I'm deeply grateful.  For those staying home, how about Cadillac Sky at Ashland Coffee & Tea Thursday night followed by the finals of the Songwriter's Showdown on Saturday.  And how about Jimmy Gaudreaux & Moondi Klein back along the tracks on May 7th.  The night before marks the kickoff of the hottest  season yet of Lewis Ginter's Groovin' in the Garden with the power-packed R&B of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings.  If you missed this knockout band at the National back in December, don't pass up this night under the stars in the Rose Garden.  And just check out the other seven shows, each Thursday in May and June.  It's killin' me to have to miss Patty Griffin with Buddy Miller on June 3, but you sure shouldn't.  Vancouver's ice man Tom Beals has put together another amazing season, plus PHC in August!

And props to Venture Richmond's Stephen Lecky for booking another strong lineup for Friday Cheers on Brown's Island (think Railroad Earth and the Emmitt-Nershi Band) almost free again this year at two bucks...come on!  Check the schedule here including the Dominion RiverRocks weekend May 14-15 with FloydFest faves Grace Potter & The Nocturnals on Friday and Robert Randolph & the Family Band on Saturday.  And that's not even mentioning the great indoor concerts headed to the National including Dierks Bentley with the Traveling McCourys, Brandi Carlile, Shawn Colvin, Indigo Girls, and Merle Haggard among many others over the next few months.  Dierks and Del's boys bring the bluegrass tour to town on Tuesday, May 18th and we'll put you + 1 on the guest list if you can tell me who produced Mr. Bentley's upcoming acoustic album Up On The Ridge.  (mail@timtimberlake.com)  One winner...we'll draw from correct responses on May 10th.  There's an all-star lineup backing the country mega-star and it was engineered by the terminally tasteful Gary Paczosa who also did the Infamous Stringdusters' new project Things That Fly, which is killer by the way.  Dierks guests on that too. So much great music being made by so many.  Soak up as much as you can. 

And to add to the embarrassment of riches, on sale today tickets to the 6th annual Music For Massey concert marking the return of the Waybacks (they've anchored the show every year) plus the fabulous Marc Broussard and alt-country king Chris Isaak!  How's that!  It's on Sunday, July 25th not at the Science Museum but at the SnagAJob Pavilion.  More room.  Get your tickets here.

What a country!

TT

(Chris Isaak photo from his Website)

Leeward

Since we got wind of this gifted breath of fresh air out of Philly at FloydFest a few years ago, my girls and I have been taken with Amos Lee and his seemingly effortless ability to distill the genres of folk, r&b, jazz and blues into a potent and often poignant style all his own.  As a composer, his brilliantly crafted songs of love and love gone wrong are deeply evocative and as a vocalist with the expressive range of a young Al Green, he can squeeze every drop of emotion from his lyrics.  He played to a wildly enthusiastic and adoring crowd at the National Tuesday night and brought along two tasteful sidemen, Jaron Olevsky on bass and keyboards along with Nate Skiles sharing bass duties and also playing guitar.  They both furnished some of the most subtle and spot-on backing vocals I’ve heard to give these great songs life.  Amos Lee is among the most gifted of his generation’s singer/songwriters.  He’ll be opening for Dave Matthews’ summer tour.  Dave better watch his back.  And congrats to Bill Rice for winning our blog contest…Amos went to the University of South Carolina.

Sunday afternoon found me at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on the Boulevard for an inspiring performance by the Richmond Choral Society under the artistic direction of Markus Compton.  I’ve known Markus for the past five years as a patient and engaging director and pianist for our small choir at Goochland’s Hebron Presbyterian Church.  He assumed leadership of the venerable RCS late last year and has wasted no time in instilling these gifted singers with a renewed sense of joy.  It was palpable.  The program’s  theme was Women of Note as part of the four-month celebration of women in the arts across Virginia called “Minds Wide Open.”  Markus chose selections both secular and non-, a capella and accompanied by the outstanding Keith Tan, most of them appropriately composed by women.  The choir was thrilling in its precision and polish during fortissimo and pianissimo and every mood in between.  And a handful of stunners from soprano Lisa Edwards-Burrs took the afternoon to even higher places.  A well-rehearsed group of great singers is a classic example of something far surpassing the sum of its parts.  Their next concert is on Sunday, June 6th…more details here.  Bravo!

Thanks to my choir pal Angie I headed downtown Saturday night to the Carpenter Theatre for the Richmond Symphony’s Masterworks concert under the baton of Erin Freeman and featuring the dazzling 26-year-old violinist Elena Urioste.  This was the inaugural event of the aforementioned “Minds Wide Open” celebration and fittingly featured an ambitious and fascinating concerto by a contemporary composer named Jennifer Higdon.  It was like nothing I’d heard before with some of the most creative and unusual percussion imaginable…think playing a xylophone with a bow.  It was big and bold and magnificent.  Another female composer Lili Boulanger provided a perfect opening selection on the first day of spring with “D’un Matin de Printemps,” followed by Tchaikovsky’s soaring “Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 35.”  Ms. Urioste who was a last minute sub for originally-scheduled soloist Tai Murray, simply owned this piece written primarily to showcase and seriously challenge the violin soloist. She basically tore it up. Hearing our wonderful symphony in its beautifully refurbished home is a sonic source of pride for what we have here in River City.  May incoming music director Steven Smith from Santa Fe take this community treasure to new heights.

Kicking off my long melodic weekend was Hoosier folk singer Tim Grimm who was back for his third stop trackside with wife Jan Lucas for a Friday gig at Ashland Coffee & Tea.  Weekly Ranter Jon Baliles had been singing his praises for some time so I took the bait and spent a nostalgic night re-living my family’s fourteen years on the farm in Hanover County, thanks to Tim’s insightful songs about the simple joys of a rural life.  After nearly a decade in L.A. working the Hollywood mill to some success (see him with Harrison Ford in Clear and Present Danger) Tim found fulfillment by returning home to Indiana and putting down stakes in the country to raise his sons.  If hayfields and wild turkeys are calling you, pick up a copy of his Farm Songs CD and vicariously walk your fence line at sunrise on a crisp spring morning.  Some great shows ahead at AC&T in the next month or so, including Stephen Bennett, Yarn, Rod Picott, Harper & Company, George Turman and yes, Cadillac Sky on April 29th.  

All that, and I still missed the Irish Festival on Church Hill which was a resounding success I hear…Page Wilson said they sold almost 350 KEGS of beer…imagine that.  And I wimped out on a planned post-symphony stop at Shenanigans for a long overdue Honky Tonk Experience.  Brad Spivey and the boys afford us a second chance this Friday at Grandpa Eddie’s out on Three Chopt. Tonight (Thursday) you can catch an all-too-rare performance by Johnny Hott’s Piedmont Souprize with Charles and Sara Arthur at Shenanigans Pub on MacArthur.  Sig Williams of the VA Folk Music Association wants you pickers to know about their bluegrass and old-time jam the third Tuesday of each month at Brandermill Church from 7-10pm.  So the next one would be April 20th.

Our long-awaited JAMinc/In Your Ear compilation CD is finally at the manufacturers and should be in early next month.  It features some of our best performances over the last four years of studio concerts including artists like John Cephas, Bryan Bowers, Kruger Brothers, Tony Furtado, Cadillac Sky, Howard Levy, Wayne Henderson and many others.  We’ll let you know when it’s in and how to get yourself one.  And our next live concert is coming up April 9th with Amy Speace.  Hers is a fascinating story of a formally-trained Shakespearean actor from Baltimore who turned singer/songwriter and never looked back.  Check her out on MySpace and reserve your seat for the show here.  And tune in the Out O' The Blue Radio Revue from 8-10pm this Saturday night on WCVE-FM 88.9 public radio for two segments from last fall's Anne & Pete Sibley concert at IYE.  So good.

We’ll wrap this wordy post with news of what’ll be a must-read for many of us…the authorized biography of the man, the myth, the mega-guitar stylist Tony Rice.  Written by Caroline Wright and Blue Highway’s Tim Stafford, it promises an in-depth look at the enigmatic musician who has influenced so many for so long.  Here’s what Bela said about him:  “Every once in a while, there are seminal figures. They don’t come along even every five years. You might, by a fluke, get two of them in 20 years. Tony’s one of those guys.”  Order your autographed copy here.

And don’t you think the spring peepers are making the most beautiful music we’ve heard since this time last year?  A well-earned season gets underway…how sweet it is.

TT

(Thanks to Mike Chenault for the photo of Tim Grimm and Jan Lucas.  And to John Murden for the busy beer truck. The Richmond Symphony and Amy Speace shots are from their Websites.)

Quality Quartet…

I’m musically replete after four engaging nights in a row of live performance last week and I only regret I wasn’t able to make it five to hear Love Canon at VCU’s Singleton Center on Sunday afternoon.  But more on that supergroup another day.  Back to last Wednesday for a wholly unexpected pleasure at UofR’s Camp Concert Hall thanks to resident ensemble eighth blackbird.  The renowned sextet was joined by guitarist/composer Steven Mackey and actor/vocalist Rinde Eckert for an experiential interpretation of a psychological study where subjects were shown out-of-focus slides and timed on how long it took to recognize what was pictured after they were snapped into focus.  Pretty deep stuff for a mind like mine but the caliber of the performances managed to draw us in deeper as things progressed.  I’d never witnessed anything quite like it and though I struggled to absorb its message, I was moved by its imaginative intensity.  It’s good to leave the comfort zone once in a while.

Thursday brought the long-anticipated arrival of the Bee Eaters in Richmond for an ambitious but more accessible night of music at In Your Ear studio A.  The sensational foursome drove all the way from Boston to spend the day with us including a stop to play for the always-receptive kids at Mary Munford Elementary.  With Tristan Clarridge and his sister Tashina on cello and violin respectively, Wes Corbett on banjo and Simon Chrisman on hammer dulcimer, the Bee Eaters mesmerized the gallery with two sets of intricate originals and choice covers that included Beatle staples“Eleanor Rigby” and “You Won’t See Me.”  Not your standard string quartet for sure…resulting in a unique sound that you can savor by snagging their superb Darol Anger-produced eponymous CD.  It might end up as a soundtrack for some of your best times ever.  Start with taking it along on your iPod for a spring walk in the woods.  Perfect.

Friday night took us back to Ashland Coffee and Tea for an exhilarating night of solid bluegrass compliments of the fledgling power band, the Boxcars.  Dan Tyminski’s return to his spot beside Alison Krauss in Union Station found former bandmates Adam Steffey and Ron Stewart looking for a gig, so they just started from scratch.  With talented guitarist Keith Garrett, veteran John Bowman on fiddle and banjo and a rock-steady Harold Nixon on bass, these guys plowed through the great material on Adam’s solo album One More For The Road and well chosen tunes from the Boxcars’ debut release due later this year.  All but Nixon sing individually and collectively and they take full advantage of the versatility of their bookends Stewart and Bowman.  The two are both outstanding players of both banjo and fiddle and they spent the night taking turns to great effect.  It was only the second real show they’d all done as a band but if they’re already this good and having such a good time at it, the tracks ahead look long and winding for the Boxcars.  All aboard!

Saturday saw us back by the tracks at AC&T to share in the lovefest for hometown bon vivant B.J. Kocen and the release of his new CD, The Breaks.  B.J.’s love for music and life are contagious and the sold out crowd savored all ten tunes in the album, all originals, all sensitively supported by Charlottesville’s Paul Curreri and Devon Sproule on guitars, keys and backup vocals along with Bob Bowen on bass and Stephen Lecky on drums.  Curreri and Sproule set the right tone as a delightful opening duo, making those like me who heard them for the first time hankering for more.  B.J. has been hatching this project for most of his adult life and the joy of his finally getting to the finish line was palpable.  More musical compadres, Jackie Frost, Brad Tucker, George Garrett and Jim Wark, joined him as the Gobstoppers for a rousing finale.  Stop by Glave/Kocen Gallery on West Main to see some fine art and pick up a copy of the CD.  Or check out one of the Kocen-hosted songwriter nights every Tuesday at AC&T.  He’s a busy boy and a seriously nice guy.

Great shows down the road at AC&T this spring…check the Website and sign up for their email alerts.  And now in the former home of Bogart’s at 203 North Robinson, Balliceaux is featuring live music most nights thanks to the wide-ranging musical appetite of Chris Bopst.  Tune in to his delectably eclectic streaming radio show on RVA News…ears wide open.   The National’s bringing the soulful folkster/guitarist Amos Lee to town on March 23rd. Tell me where he went to college and we’ll put you and yours on the guest list for the show.  I’ll draw from all correct answers sent to mail@timtimberlake.com.

The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities is one of many arts and cultural institutions facing serious funding cuts and possibly dissolution if measures pending in the General Assembly are passed.  The VFH has been a key player in the National and now our Richmond Folk Festival with Jon Lohman and his colleagues responsible for the always-compelling folklife area each year.  Take a few minutes to make your voice heard if you feel eliminating support for this important work is the wrong way to balance a budget.  Learn more here.

TT

(Thanks to photographer friends Andy Garrigue for the Bee Eaters, Dean Hoffmeyer for the Boxcars shot and Scott Elmquist for the B.J. Kocen pic. The rest are from artist websites.)