musicreporterblog

Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass

Tag Archives: Del McCoury


by Leave a comment

And that’s a wrap: Doc Watson’s 100th Birthday drives MerleFest 2023

From the good folks at MerleFest:

As the stages are broken down and the gear is packed up, fans from across the country and the world are coming down from their annual MerleFest excitement. The centerpiece of MerleFest 2023—which took place this past weekend, April 27-30, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina — was the all-encompassing celebration of what would have been MerleFest founder Doc Watson’s 100th birthday. In addition to the Doc-themed jam, artists from all genres of music paid homage to the man himself and his spirit echoed through the hills of Wilkes Community College where his legacy thrives in festival form. From Thursday to Sunday, across twelve stages, MerleFest magic unfolded with world-class performances, spontaneous sit-ins, and unforgettable collaborations from the likes of Jerry Douglas, Black Opry Revue, The Waybacks, and The Travelin’ McCourys and friends featuring Del McCoury. 

Festival Director Wes Whitson commented, “MerleFest 35 was something special. We can’t thank everyone enough for their support of Wilkes Community College and MerleFest. To the Artists and to the fans that support them, and to our amazing staff and the small army of dedicated volunteers who work hard each and every year to make MerleFest the premier roots based music festival in the country – please know you made a big difference for our students by being a part of MerleFest. MerleFest is back and firing on all cylinders, and we are so excited for what is already in the works for 2024. See you next spring!”

MerleFest, presented by Window World and 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.

Thursday: Local rising star Presley Barker opened MerleFest 2023 on the Watson Stage with a bluegrass set paying homage to Doc Watson, followed by guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel. Rock legends Little Feat brought a star-studded jam, inviting Tommy Emmanuel back up on stage as well as Miko Marks and Jerry Douglas. Brothers of a Feather with Chris & Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes closed out the Watson Stage, performing a special acoustic set. 

Friday: Yasmin Williams wowed festival-goers at the Hillside stage with her incredible guitar skills; the clouds cleared just in time and a rainbow appeared above the Cabin Stage for sets from Dom Flemons, John Paul White, and Bee Taylor. Black Opry Revue kicked off the night on the Watson Stage with a cavalcade of special guests including fan-favorite Miko Marks. Marcus King infused the crowd with energy and soul with his signature electric, horn-forward set, inviting his dad Marvin to join for closer “Goodbye Carolina.” North Carolina natives The Avett Brothers closed out the night, performing an hour and a half of fan favorites along with a tribute to the late Calypso legend Harry Belafonte, adding their unique twist to “Jump In The Line.” 

Saturday: Mark Bumgarner hosted the Band Competition, crowning Ashes & Arrows as the 2023 winners on the Plaza Stage. The Waybacks played an hour and a half long set with their renditions of The Who’s Who’s Next for the annual Album Hour, another highly-anticipated MerleFest tradition. “My Name is Merle,” a documentary chronicling the rise and continued legacy of MerleFest, premiered at the Walker Center; if you missed it, you can watch here via EducationNC’s YouTube channel. Hosted by the Kruger Brothers, Doc’s 100th Birthday Jam featured a variety of special guests including Jerry Douglas, Mitch Greenhill, Peter Rowan, T. Michael Coleman, and many more. Acclaimed songwriter Lori McKenna charmed the crowd at The Cabin Stage with the massive hits that she’s penned and co-written, including “Girl Crush.” Maren Morris closed out The Watson Stage with her energetic, larger-than-life vocals and instant country-pop classics. Scythian kept the party going with their eclectic jam at the Dance Tent. 

Sunday: The Travelin’ McCourys and friends featuring Del McCoury took to the Watson Stage in the afternoon, taking the place of Nickel Creek who unfortunately had to cancel due to a doctor-mandated vocal rest for Chris Thile. Del McCoury, the living link to Bill Monroe, charmed fest goers while his sons, Rob and Ronnie McCoury, proved yet again that the future of bluegrass is in good hands. The “and friends” portion was a who’s who of the best pickers and playing, including Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, and more. Country royalty Tanya Tucker had fans up and dancing, her signature sass and spunk on full display closing out the festival on a high note. 

About MerleFest

MerleFest, presented by Window World, celebrates its 35th celebration on April 27-30, 2023. MerleFest started in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Garden of the Senses at Wilkes Community College to memorialize world-renowned flatpicker Doc Watson’s late son, Eddy Merle Watson. In keeping with the MerleFest traditions, 2023 will offer jams honoring MerleFest’s past, present, and future. The celebration also aligns with the late Doc Watson’s 100th heavenly birthday. The festival plans to celebrate the life of Doc & Merle Watson and the history of MerleFest both visually and musically through vintage videos and artist collaborations.


by Leave a comment

Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, I’m With Her, Balsam Range, Molly Tuttle, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Del McCoury among headliners at Wide Open Bluegrass 2019

From the good folks over at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA):

NASHVILLE — ​Organizers ​of this year’s ​PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass on ​Sept. 27-28 i​n downtown ​Raleigh, North Carolina, ​have announced the full list of performers, and performance schedules, for the annual festival.

The free Wide Open Bluegrass festival – part of the I​nternational Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s ​five-day ​World of Bluegrass ​event,​​ sponsored by ​Chiesi USA​ – brings bluegrass into the community, and introduces the music to thousands of new fans every year, with more than 100 performers on seven stages along Fayetteville Street.

Performers include a broad mix of local, national, and international talent. Stages include the Youth Music Stage – situated on the outdoor plaza at the Convention Center – and the Dance Tent, which features clogging performances, participatory square dances, and late-night open dancing Friday and Saturday nights.

In addition to the seven stages of Wide Open Bluegrass, performances at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater will be open to the public for free, as well, subject to venue capacity. A limited number of reserved seats in prime sections of the venue are still available for purchase, to ensure admittance for every performance. More details about the festival can be found online at worldofbluegrass.org/wide-open-bluegrass, or on the festival app, available for free download via your app store.

PNC returns, for the seventh year, as the presenting sponsor for the two-day Wide Open Bluegrass festival: “PNC’s support of Wide Open Bluegrass allows festival goers free access to all stages and makes this festival even more special,” said Jim Hansen, PNC regional president of Eastern Carolinas. “As the presenting sponsor for the seven years that Raleigh has hosted Wide Open Bluegrass, we are pleased that this event has become a flagship music festival and adds to our vibrant cultural scene. We at PNC look forward to celebrating a great weekend of bluegrass in downtown Raleigh.” Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

11th annual DelFest initial lineup features Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wood Brothers, Elephant Revival, Fruition

This just in from the good folks over at DelFest:
In July, Del McCoury began sending out hand rolled parchment invitations to a select group of deserving musical participants to join his DelFest 2018 Bluegrass Congress. On Memorial Day weekend, May 24-27, 2018, the Bluegrass Congress, which includes Ricky Skaggs, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton and Stuart Duncan, will officially be called to order. These musicians represent the best at what they do in the field of bluegrass and will convene on Saturday evening (May 26), joining the Del McCoury Band for a picking party like none other in festival history. In addition to the Saturday evening show, most members of Congress will play their own set during DelFest (see lineup below).
Along with the primary Congress, this year’s lineup is heavy on picking with fan favorites like Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wood Brothers, Elephant Revival and Fruition.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Delfest 2017 final lineup announced

The good folks over at Delfest have announced the final lineup for the 10th-annual event set for Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28, 2017, just outside Cumberland, Maryland

The lineup includes Railroad Earth, Tim O’Brien, The Gibson Brothers (special trio set: Leigh & Eric Gibson and Mike Barber), Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers, River Whyless, Dead Man Winter feat. Dave Simonett from (Trampled By Turtles), Cris Jacobs, The Broomestix, Dead Winter Carpenters, The Ballroom Thieves, Head For the Hills, Ghost of Paul Revere, Kitchen Dwellers and Grand Ole’ Ditch have all been added to the DelFest lineup. Sierra Hull, Billy Strings and Bryan Sutton will be Artists-at-Large and Pete Wernick, Nick Forster and Joe Craven will all lead workshops. See the full lineup here.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Del McCoury Band to play Mount Airy’s historic Earle Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 17

Fans of MerleFest and other bluegrass festivals are no strangers to the talents of the Del McCoury Band. They are also in for a holiday treat this weekend where they can catch the band performing  at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Historic Earle Theatre, 142 N. Main St., Mount Airy.

Del McCoury sings lead vocals and plays guitar along with his two sons —  Rob McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo. Other band members include Alan Bartman and Jason Carter.

Elected into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2011, Del McCoury is also the recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets are $25, $50, $60 and $65. For more information, call (336) 786-7998 or visit www.surryarts.org .


by Leave a comment

Sam Bush to perform at The Harvester on Thursday, Oct. 30

If you’re a bluegrass or Americana music fan, you know that the “The Bush League” doesn’t have anything to do with baseball. Instead that is the moniker intrepid fans of Sam Bush proudly wear.   Continue reading →