Festival-goers kept a wary eye on Ray’s Weather, western North Carolina’s favorite meteorology site with special MerleFest daily–and hourly–forecast. With rain inevitable, music lovers stocked up on ponchos, boots, and tarps and headed to Wilkesboro for the 35th MerleFest. This year was particularly meaningful, marking what would have been Doc Watson’s 100th birthday.
Every day was packed with the variety of talent and the breadth of genres that makes this music festival so popular. Master guitarist Tommy Emmanuel sang the opening lines to one of Doc’s best loved songs, “Deep River Blues”:”Let it rain, let it pour… ” His selections ranged from Simon and Garfunkel’s “An American Tune” and “Mind Your Own Business” (joined by Jerry Douglas on dobro) to a medley of Beatles’ songs and “Classical Gas.”
Emmanuel also joined Little Feat on the next set on “Dixie Chicken.” Mike Marks joined the band for harmony on “Willing,” with the crowd singing along.
Texas honky-tonk singer Joshua Ray Walker captured the crowd with his powerful, self-deprecating lyrics in such songs as “Canyon” and “Sexy after Dark.”
Chris and Rich Robinsons of Black Crowes, performing as Brothers of a Feather closed out the first night of what promised to be four full days of music.
