MerleFest 2011, presented by Lowe's and scheduled for April 28-May 1, has announced the initial lineup for the event's 24th year.
The following artists will join host Doc Watson on the campus of Wilkes Community College for a celebration of "traditional-plus" music - a term Doc coined to describe the unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, and expanded to include Americana, country, "plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play."
Doc Watson
Richard Watson
Susana and Timmy Abell
Alberti Flea Circus
Balsam Range
The Banknotes
Rory Block
Roy Book Binder
Alison Brown Quartet
Buffalo Barfield
Sam Bush Band
Cadillac Sky
Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
T. Michael Coleman
Crooked Still
Ken Crouse
Donna The Buffalo
The Doobie Brothers (with newest member John Cowan)
Casey Driessen
Eleanor Ellis
Emmitt-Nershi Band
Paul Geremia
Mitch Greenhill
George Hamilton IV
Harper
Corey Harris and Phil Wiggins
John Hartford String Band
Bob Hill
David Holt
The InterACTive Theater of Jef
Veronika Jackson
Jeff and Vida
Johnson's Crossroad
Catfish Keith
The Kruger Brothers
Sonny Landreth
Jim Lauderdale
Jack Lawrence
Jeff Little
The Local Boys
Lyle Lovett
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Corb Lund
Bill Mathis
Andy May
Del McCoury Band
Nashville Bluegrass Band
The Neighbors
Tim O'Brien
Pauls Creek Band
Red Molly
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
Scythian
Shana Banana
The Sigmon Stringers
Sinai Mountain Ramblers
Slate Mountain Ramblers
Steve and Ruth Smith
Joe Smothers
Snyder Family Band
Tut Taylor
Town Mountain
Happy Traum
The Wailin' Jennys
The Waybacks
Charles Welch
Pete and Joan Wernick
Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society
Josh Williams Band
Tony Williamson
Zephyr Lightning Bolts
Dedicated to keeping MerleFest attendees in the loop, new information will be shared immediately through social media venues such as the festival's official website (www.merlefest.org), Facebook and Twitter.
One of North Carolina's public radio stations, WNCW, will air a special devoted to the artists of MerleFest 2011 on November 4 at 8 p.m. EST, and fans anywhere can tune in live at www.wncw.org.
Tickets for the festival go on sale on Tuesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. EST at www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. Early bird tickets are available through March 13, 2011.