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2 • MerleFest • Wilkes Journal-Patriot • April 2013 Doc Watson’s legacy MerleFest will still focus on what was most important to legendary musician By CHARLES WILLIAMS tain the family atmosphere and values of Wilkes Journal Patriot Staff the festival.” There’s no denying that MerleFest will There will be an extra emphasis placed seem different this year, said MerleFest on Watson’s music this year as the per- Director Ted Hagaman. formers celebrate the life and times of For the first time in the 26-year history the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement of the festival, Doc Watson won’t be at the Award by the Grammy. event to act as host and play music with The main focus of that celebration will his friends. be Saturday in a “tribute jam” at 7 p.m., The legendary musician died May 29, the time that Watson normally performed 2012, at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, on the main stage. five days after undergoing colon surgery. The jam will be hosted by Sam Bush, a “Certainly MerleFest will be have a close friend of Watson who has not missed slightly different feel since Doc will not a single MerleFest. be with us physically, but we know he’s “We have a core groups of artists who still going to be here,” said Hagaman. come every year, and we tried very hard “We have tried very hard to preserve the to get that group back because we are things that Doc cherished about this festi- celebrating Doc’s life and music,” Hagaman val with the programming, and we feel like said. we’re right on target with the same type of “We certainly had no trouble in getting 1430 Second Street 1838 Winkler Street formula that we’ve used for many years. those performers back this year,” he added. North Wilkesboro Wilkesboro “Doc always wanted us to feature what “It’s those artists who were closest to he called ‘traditional plus,’ meaning some- him throughout his career who will be a thing for everyone.” part of that jam, plus some other special Hagaman said he talked with Watson guests who will be joining in for a tune or several times in recent years about the two. They will be playing many of Doc’s Welcome future of the festival, “and he made it favorite songs. very clear that he wanted the festival to “We’ll also be playing some special video continue to remember and honor his son, clips that will be interspersed throughout Merle. Therefore, the ‘MerleFest’ name the program every evening that will help to MerleFest will remain. all of us remember this wonderful person “Also, Doc was concerned that we main- and musician,” said Hagaman. Enjoy the festival Layout, technology changes announced Changes in the physical layout and tech- ence for everyone,” he said. COUPON nology of MerleFest this year are designed to enhance the festival experience. Little Pickers moving For one thing, the general admission seat- “We’ll be moving the Little Pickers Stage Buy one, get one ing area on the lawn in front of the Watson and the concession tent that was next to Stage has been expanded. it to make more room for the audience at Fans in the expanded area will have a the main stage,” said MerleFest Director better view of activities on the Watson Stage Ted Hagaman. this year. FREE “The Little Pickers activities will be under “For the past several years, we’ve had a the trees and in the shade, next to the R&R big screen on one side of the main stage to tent, to provide a more comfortable setting.” give the members of the audience a better Any breakfast view of the stage,” Hagaman said. MerleFest app “We’ve tried to ramp up the technology this year by placing large screens on both Also new this year is a free MerleFest sandwich or sides of the stage. We’re also going to place app for mobile devices that provides the a third screen on the rear of the produc- lineup, schedule, artist biographies, map, tion tower (where the spotlights and audio announcements, social media links and large sandwich mixing boards are located, directly in front more. The app is compatible with Android of the main stage) so that everyone in the and iOS platforms. A link at www.merlefest. Offer good through May 15, 2013 general admission area will be able to see org goes directly to the app store, where the better. We feel that will add to the experi- app can be downloaded. MerleFest • Wilkes Journal-Patriot • April 2013 • 3 MerleFest Bound? Get Geared Up at Cooks! RICHARD WATSON Merle’s son Come visit our booth at MerleFest keeps family tradition alive We have sandals… Chaco • Keens • Reef • Teva • Sanuk • Merrell and more Richard Eddy Watson of Deep Gap, Merle Watson’s son, returns this year to perform Friday, Satur- We have hats… day and Sunday and represent the Tilley • Western Hats • Shady Brady • Tula and more Watson family as the life and music of his grandfather, Doc Watson, is celebrated. We have Western wear… Richard is a formidable blues Ryan Michael shirts • Double D Ranchwear and much more musician and has his dad’s mod- est and appreciative charm. He mastered his father’s blues We have Life is Good style and began performing with apparel and hats… Doc at MerleFest every year starting in 1991. He performed elsewhere with Doc and toured with both We have camping supplies… Merle and Doc. We have The North Face • Mountain Hardwear Richard’s front-porch picking backpacks • tents style led to many great perfor- mances, such as the 1992 record- ing “Feeling the Blues,” which he We have rain gear… dedicated to his father, and the Jackets • ponchos • Hunter rain boots • duck boots Grammy-nominated “Third Gen- eration Blues,” recorded with Doc. “I’m just happy that MerleFest hap- We have Western boots… pened in memory of Dad,” Richard Old Gringo • Ariat • Corral said. “He’d be overwhelmed and find it hard to express how much We have great he appreciated it.... I’m glad for all of my dad’s friends and loved ones Smartwool socks… to gather and enjoy the music.” Richard enjoys seeing new art- ists at MerleFest and picking with Visit us online at blues players. Doc once said, “I could retire, www.cookssports.com but my grandson Richard plays a good blues guitar. One of the most gratifying things that happened to If you haven’t visited our booth or our store… please come by… me after Merle left is the fact that Merle’s son, Richard, started play- You’ll be glad you did! Have a great festival! ing the guitar.... He’s got a wonderful personality, just like his dad had. Willow Lane He loves his family, and he loves me and his mam’ma (RosaLee) awful in West Park good. The other reason is that he’s North Wilkesboro a fine musician, and he’s finally got over stage fright. He has a lot of Merle’s attributes.” 667-4121 4 • MerleFest • Wilkes Journal-Patriot • April 2013 Music of MerleFest is featured on several different stages The stages of MerleFest are: featuring traditional music at its best; spot for performances; venue. Home of the Midnight Jam; • Watson Stage, with some of the largest • Dance Stage, beneath a large tent, with • Little Pickers Family Area, offering • Americana Stage, offering a relaxed acts and collaborations; everything from clogging to Cajun dances, activities, games and live music for the venue on the lawn near the Visitors Center; • Cabin Stage, next to the Watson Stage, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; young and the young at heart; • Lounge, with guitar, banjo, and mando- with some of the best acoustic music; • Chris Austin Stage, with some of the • Hillside Stage, with MerleFest artists lin contests and songwriter’s coffee house, • Mayes Pit Learning Stage, with instru- best songwriting and blues music; up close and jammin’. It’s the scene of some workshops and special performances. ment instructional sessions and more; • Creekside Stage, under a tent near very memorable and lively performances; • Pickin’ Place, an area for music fans • Traditional Stage, beneath large tent, Moravian Creek, a particularly pleasant • Walker Center, providing an indoor and musicians to pick and sing together. WILKES STEEL MIKE’S & RECYCLING 117 Maple Street, BODY SHOP Phone (336) 667-4800 Highway 268 East River Road, Phone (336) 838-5117 210 Elkin Highway, North Wilkesboro, NC (336) 667-9291 North Wilkesboro Mike McNeil, Owner Fax (336) 667-0504 MerleFest • Wilkes Journal-Patriot • April 2013 • 5 900 Main Street North Wilkesboro 336-838-5964 Like us on Facebook 538 N. Andy Griffith Parkway • Mt. Airy, N.C. 336-789-8105 1-888-289-4748 Sales Hours: M-F 9-6 • Sat. 9-5 Service Hours: M-F 8-5:30 Saturday Service Available Until 1 p.m. 6 • MerleFest • Wilkes Journal-Patriot • April 2013 Watson influenced generations of musicians starting in 1960s Doc Watson profoundly influenced generations of guitar- The group often lacked a fiddler and Watson taught himself ists, beginning with young musicians learning to play the fiddle tunes on the electric instrument, in addition to the guitar as the folk movement achieved national popularity popular finger-style music of Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. in the 1960s. Smithonian Institute folklorist Ralph Rinzler is credited The New York Times wrote that when he came to national with “discovering” Watson in 1960 at the fiddler’s convention attention during the folk music revival of the early 1960s, in Union Grove.