Well, it’s been two weeks since I returned home from my first MerleFest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.  I think I’m still trying to sort through the memories of the weekend, and catch up on my sleep!  I thought I would share a few highlights…

So…MerleFest is huge.  Attendance the last few years has been around 80,000 people!  And I think I counted most of them Saturday morning when I was working the perimeter security volunteer shift.  I felt a little bit like I was at “Bluegrass Disney,” with the shuttles to Lot C, long lines, checking backpacks at the gate, buying MerleFest hats in the MerleFest mall, bounce houses for the kids, $220 reserved lawn chairs, and Alison Krauss on the big screen.   The music was truly magical, however.

2012 was the 25th Anniversary of MerleFest.  Our good friend Jack Lawrence helped commemorate this event by performing in several tributes to the Festival’s hero, Merle Watson, whose life was taken by a tragic accident in 1985.  Jack was joined by several others on stage, including Merle’s legendary father – Doc Watson.

The MerleFest website explains:  “As a testament to Merle’s popularity and musical accomplishments, one of the world’s most renowned gatherings of acoustic musicians began two and a half years after Merle’s death and continues today, 24 years later, to honor the memory of a great talent silenced too early.” – www.merlefest.org

The Claire Lynch Band stole the show on Friday at the Creekside Stage, and again Saturday on the main stage, with their debut of new fiddle player Bryan McDowell, who just recently at the age of 20 earned an unprecedented triple win on fiddle, mandolin, and guitar at Winfield, Kansas.  Chris Thile wowed the traditional bluegrassers with his Zappa-esque sound, lively stage antics, and solid backing by The Punch Brothers.  I truly believe that it won’t be long before Thile is considered one of the great musical legends of our time.  Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi fought the 45-degree temperatures Saturday night to entertain an unsuspecting Americana audience.  The bluegrassers seemed to groove with the blues, however, and Truck’s horn and rhythm section captivated the midnight jam ticket holders later that night.

I was happy to see Shannon Slaughter, of Shannon and Heather Slaughter & County Clare (and formerly Lonesome River Band fame), win the 2012 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest for his country tune “I’ve Hit Everything In My Life (But My Knees).”  Sierra Hull and her new guitar player Jake Stargel rocked the Cabin Stage Saturday with Highway 111 – showcasing one of the best high-energy line-ups of her career to date.

With Vince Gill opening on Thursday, and Alison Krauss closing the show on Sunday, MerleFest 2012 was truly a place where all of your musical dreams could come true.  I’m looking forward to next year.  I think I will save up for a hotel reservation and backstage pass…and, maybe, if I’m not as star struck…will make a point to get my own guitar out of the case and jam!

Sunday Crowds at MerleFest

MerleFest Stage – Claire Lynch Band Sound Check

Claire Lynch Band on the Watson Stage, Saturday

Sierra Hull debuts her new guitar player, Jake Stargel

Guitar Legend Tony Rice with Josh Williams and CLB’s
Mark Schatz (bass) and Bryan McDowell (fiddle)

I loved spending the weekend with my good friends
from Naples – Micki and Roli Scholl!  I hope 2012 is the
first of many MerleFest memories.

- Robyn

From an article in Bluegrass Today by James Gabehart.
With some of his family in attendance, Clay took the stage with his new bandmates. Mixing some of his own compositions (I didn’t realize he had written so many songs), songs from his recent release, and beloved standards, they displayed instrumental strength and the necessary vocal variety (three members of the group took turns at lead vocals) to present an entertaining show.
Playing enough to be interesting without ever abandoning the melody, Josh Hymer played a solid banjo. Making his father proud, Clay was joined on stage by his son, Brennan, on rhythm guitar and harmony vocals. Recommended to Clay by Adam Steffey as “killer”, Clay joked that mandolin player Ryan Moyers hadn’t killed anyone yet (how do we get some of our slang?). Moyers may not have committed murder yet, but he did a fine job on both mandolin and vocals.
Introduced as the first person Clay called when he decided to put a group together, Irl Hees demonstrated why Clay called, with his bass playing, lead and tenor vocals, and stage personality. His solo (I mean solo as in he was the only person on stage) rendition of Working On A Building featured the slap-bass technique which was more common in early bluegrass history, and is always a crowd pleaser.
Of course, the show featured plenty of Clay’s amazing guitar playing. I remember jamming with him 20+ years ago when he was a teenager and being proclaimed “the next Tony Rice,” and although virtually no one that plays bluegrass guitar solos hasn’t been influenced by Tony Rice, Clay doesn’t resort to Rice’s standard licks to construct a solo, but has his own ideas to express. The bigger surprise to those that haven’t seen him often is his vocal ability, which will no doubt continue to grow as he takes on the role of primary lead vocalist.
While they certainly are all experienced musicians, it seemed that as the show went on, the group reached a comfort level which showed not only in their instrumentals and vocals, but in their stage patter. They displayed a sense of humor, most of which seemed spontaneous, and the audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy the evening.

http://bluegrasstoday.com/39134/clay-hess-band-steps-out/

My Favorite Guitars in Naples, Florida

At an event held by the tourist organization VisitNordsjaelland on Feb. 21, 2012, composer and guitarist Finn Olafsson had the honour of being appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Monarchic North Sealand in Denmark.

The appointment states that “The title as Goodwill Ambassador is a mark of honour which is awarded persons who have got unique qualifications and who are motivated to make a difference for Monarchic North Sealand – the Danish and foreign visitors’ preferred haven of life quality and joy of living.”

Finn Olafsson’s music is inspired by the nature, culture, and history of North Sealand and his latest album “Music From North Sealand” reflects the inspiration that comes from living in this area.

www.finnolafsson.com

Sharon and Jon just returned from the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA.

Here is the Martin GPCPA  Koa Show Special:

Sharon with Scott Sasser of Martin Guitars

Sharon with our hard-working Martin DSM, Christopher Bacon

Here is the John Mayer Custom

Tracey and Carmen Cortez, also of Martin Guitars

We had a great time in California!  Call us at 239-530-7426 for more information on these custom guitars.

Playing the guitar since age 10, Olafsson has been featured on over 150 Scandinavian releases.  He is an expert on steel-string acoustic guitars, and became well-known in Europe for his work with legendary rock band “Ache,” which he co-founded in 1968.

Please visit his website to listen to clips of his latest projects – including his solo releases – which are arguably some of his best.  He also shares his helpful tips on choosing an acoustic guitar:

http://www.finnolafsson.com/

Sharon and I are very excited to have Mark and Kathy Kreitzer as our guests again this January in Naples! Mark and Kathy are very special people and we will get to enjoy their company for a whole week! Sharon’s Mom Donna and sister Cindy are also here and the Walker Brothers are coming for the weekend – what could be better????

Eli at the piano. Eli Joel? Eli-ton John? Liber-eli? Hmmm….

I had the honor of singing on stage with Claire Lynch and Matt Wingate last Sunday – December 11th, as part of Eddie and Martha Adcock’s annual Homeless Christmas Benefit Concert.

Originally when Claire mentioned the idea, I thought for sure she must have been drinking too much egg nog, but in fact, her offer was sincere.  She asked me what I wanted to sing, and I decided I better choose something that I can do in my sleep, frontwards and backwards, because more than likely my nerves would be going a little crazy at The Station Inn!  So…I decided on Red Clay Hal0 (which everyone in Naples has heard me sing 8 million times).  She said that was fine, but needed to check with Valerie Smith, because Red Clay Halo is one of her signature songs and Valerie would be singing that night.  Well, of course Valerie was going to sing it.  Valerie said it would be ok for me to sing it too, but I thought that might be a little strange.  Sooo…I needed to pick another one I knew well.  “How about Green Pastures?”  Claire liked the idea, and we settled on that.

Rehearsal was scheduled for Saturday – the night before the show.  We started singing it in “A,” which is always where I sing Green Pastures, and Claire said “You’re singing the harmony!  That’s not the melody!”  I was completely in shock and disbelief.  “But I learned this song by watching Emmylou Harris sing it.  That’s how she does it.”  “Well – Emmylou sings the harmony part, and we need the melody.”  Wow.  In retrospect, I was really glad Claire set things straight, because I now sing the “correct” version of the song.  However, I did have to basically re-learn the song that night and the next day before the performance!

Everything went really well on stage.  And everyone assured me I did NOT in fact look like a deer in the headlights, which is encouraging.  We did arrange the song so that I sang the harmony part on the chorus, which turned out to create a really nice blend.  I loved singing with Claire and Matt.  What an honor.

It was the best Christmas present of the year – to have this amazing opportunity, and to be a part of a benefit show for the Homeless in Nashville.

I hope your Holidays are bright, and filled with music!

- Robyn

P.S.  Note to self:  practice singing daily so that when your heroes ask you to sing on stage with them you do not opt to leave the country.