MerleFest - Bluegrass, Fresh Air, Sunshine, and Smiling Faces
Americana music consists of genres such as bluegrass, folk, old-time music, and classic country and Doc Watson has excelled at them all to some degree during his 80 years. Merlefest has been an annual tradition since 1988 and it gets bigger every year. This year over 100 artists will perform on 15 stages over four days. Some of this years headline acts will include Doc Watson himself, Bruce Hornsby, EmmyLou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and many more.
The outdoor setting of this festival is the true drawing point for me. Musically speaking, nothing beats listening to the pure, acoustic, down home sounds of bluegrass and other Americana music while sitting in the fresh air. The sun, the wind, the trees, the flowers and the music all blend together perfectly. Add the smiling faces of the musicians and spectators and you have a formula that adds up to an all around enjoyable experience.
Bluegrass is the form of Americana music that I know best and although I just started listening to it a year ago it seems to me that bluegrass musicians are always happy when they perform. For them the purpose of performing really seems to be the fun of playing. With bluegrass and Americana its all about the picking and the sharing - not only of the musical experience but also the knowledge and friendship. At MerleFest, not only the performing musicians bring their instruments. Amateur musicians bring their instruments along and can often be seen congregating together in impromptu jam sessions. There are also many instructional workshops on the schedule that give anyone the opportunity to seek advice on technique and style from accomplished musicians.
Although I am not a musician and I am a relative newcomer to the bluegrass and Americana music scene I cannot help but be impressed with the friendly and good natured spirit at MerleFest. The performing musicians seem to have a very relaxed and natural rapport with the crowd. The opportunity for amateur musicians to attend workshops and learn from not only each other but also more seasoned performers is amazing. The fact that most of the performances and workshops are in an outdoor setting is just icing on the cake.
If you are planning a springtime trip to either North or South Carolina I highly recommend attending at least one weekend festival. If you enjoy music as well as the outdoors you might consider attending MerleFest at least
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