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Tag Archives: MerleFest


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Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival 2017 features impressive lineup including Blue Highway, Don Flemons

The organizers of the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival held just west of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, each September has announced its 2017 lineup and it is impressive. Among the acts scheduled to perform are IBMA winners Blue Highway, Carolina Chocolate Drops co-founder Don Flemons and Asheville’s Fireside Collective. At $15 for a full day pass (children 12 and younger are free with a paying adult), you’re not going to find a better musical bargain.

If you want to catch a preview of one of these acts, Fireside Collective is playing at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Foothills Brewing in Winston-Salem. You can find details here.

From the good folks at the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival:

MOCKSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA –Ticket sales for the sixth Annual Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival opened today as festival organizers announced a full roster of exciting artists. Continue reading →


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MerleFest’s 2017 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest closes on Feb. 1

Just a reminder to all the songwriters out there, the deadline to enter MerleFest‘s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is Feb. 1, 2017. This contest has helped launched the careers of Gillian Welch, Abigail Washburn and Mipso’s Joseph Terrell, who just happens to be a judge this year.

Aspiring songwriters may submit entries to the contest using the online entry form or by mailing entries to MerleFest/CASC, PO Box 120, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. Submissions require a $30 fee per entry. To read more about the contest history, rules and prizes, visit http://merlefest.org/casc#tab-1.
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MerleFest is going on the road again to offer sneak peek to 30th reunion

MerleFest is going on the road again. After last year’s premiere of the festival’s preview road show, organizers have decided to give it another go.

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MerleFest adds The Avett Brothers, Chatham County Line, Mandolin Orange, Steep Canyon Rangers and Sierra Hull to 30th anniversary lineup

From the good folks at MerleFest:

WILKESBORO, N.C.  – MerleFest, presented by Window World and slated for April 27-30, 2017, is proud to announce six more additions to the 2017 lineup: The Avett Brothers, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Chatham County Line Electric Holiday, Mandolin Orange, Steep Canyon Rangers and Sierra Hull.

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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 .


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MerleFest adds Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Sarah Jarosz, The Steel Wheels, The Kruger Brothers and Mipso to 30th anniversary lineup

This just in from the good folks at MerleFest:

“MerleFest, presented by Window World and slated for April 27-30, 2017, has just announced five more artists added to the 2017 lineup: Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Sarah Jarosz, The Steel Wheels, The Kruger Brothers and Mipso. MerleFest 2017 will be the 30th annual homecoming where musicians and music fans return to Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“Many artists who have graced the stages over the past three decades plan to return for the celebration! MerleFest has already announced over 75 artists, including Zac Brown Band with a very special acoustic set, Del McCoury Band, Jim Lauderdale, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, Mountain Heart and many more. The rest of the packed lineup for MerleFest 2017 will roll out over the next few months.”

For more information and tickets, visit http://merlefest.org/


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Don’t miss Will Overman Band and Carbon Leaf at Richmond’s The National on Saturday, Dec. 17

Treat yourself (and preferably someone else) to the gift of music this holiday season and make plans to catch two of Virginia’s hottest up-and-coming acts — Will Overman Band and Carbon Leaf — on Saturday, Dec. 17, at The National,  708 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia.

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MerleFest announces initial lineup for 30th celebration in April 2017

The following announcement is from the good folks at MerleFest, which is slated for April 27-30, 2017. Early bird tickets are on sale now here. I am particularly excited to see Mountain Heart, Front Country, Chatham County Line, Scythian and Swift Creek in the lineup. Here’s hoping subsequent lineup announcements include Mipso, Flatt Lonesome, Will Overman Band, Dead Horses, Mandolin Orange, Zoe and Cloyd, Dori Freeman, The Church Sisters, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sarah Siskind, Sierra Hull, Yarn, American Aquarium, Mike Farris, Rhonda Vincent, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Annabelle’s Curse, Town Mountain, Little Hill Trio, The Genuine, The Honeycutters, The Steel Wheels, Elephant Revival, Balsam Range, Mason Via, The Judy Chops, Swampcandy, Chamomile and Whiskey and Billy Strings, among others.

From the release: “2017 will be a celebration of 30 years of MerleFest! The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The star-packed lineup for MerleFest 2017 will be announced over the next few months; today MerleFest made its first announcement for the 2017 lineup, including Zac Brown Band with a very special acoustic set, Del McCoury Band, Jim Lauderdale, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, Mountain Heart and many more.”

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Chapel Hill’s Mipso brings unique string band stylings to Rives Theatre on Friday, Nov. 18

If you haven’t had the chance to hear Mipso, the unique string band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, perform live, you’re in luck. You can catch them beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, at the historic Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Virginia. Season passes are accepted, otherwise tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Tickets available locally at Daily Grind, Woodall’s Music and online here.

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