MerleFest Spotlight: Kacy & Clayton

As of today we are just 43 quick days away from MerleFest!  Visit the MerleFest website now to grab your tickets to see over 100 bands and artists that all celebrate the roots of bluegrass, folk, and Americana music. 

Leading up to this family-friendly event, we will be spotlighting some of the must-see acts.  One of those acts, Kacy & Clayton, will be performing at the highly notable festival, SXSW before hitting MerleFest. Kacy & Clayton is Kacy Anderson (vocals, violin) and Clayton Linthicum (guitar, melodeon, vocals). The duo interprets and composes music inspired by traditional music from Southern Appalachia and the British Isles.

As children they were surrounded by rural musicality, absorbing the knowledge of Kacy’s grandfather (Clayton’s great-uncle) Carl Anderson. Although the second cousins are young in age, they have been playing music together for over a decade and have created a distinct and cohesive sound. Kacy’s completely unforced vocals are always in her own distinct and natural timbre. Clayton’s instrumental talents serve every song with modesty; he reserves his virtuosity for only those few transitions that require elaborate expression. The production values of their recordings are consistent and simple.

Kacy & Clayton shun studio trickery and gimmicks, pursuing mixes that recall the natural warmth of 1970s British folk LPs. In fact, much of their repertoire could easily be mistaken for hidden gems of decades past. Their return to form is no mere retro affectation; it is a respectful bearing of the torch passed on from their deep and studied musical heritage.

MerleFest, presented by Window World and slated for April 28-May 1, 2016, takes place on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the heart of Appalachia. The 2016 lineup will feature over 100 artists, including John Prine, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jason Isbell, Dave Rawlings Machine, Brandi Carlile, The Wood Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, Tim O’Brien, Tommy Emmanuel, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Alison Brown, Doug Seegers, Jim Lauderdale and more!

The four-day event, the largest roots and Americana music festival in the nation, takes place on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the heart of Appalachia. MerleFest continues the legacy of Doc Watson and is a benefit for the college. This homecoming of roots music artists and fans draws nearly 80,000 participants every year.

*Details courtesy of Hearth Music PR 

MerleFest Continues Popular Acoustic Kids Showcases

MerleFest, presented by Window World and slated for April 28-May 1, 2016, is pleased to announce the return of the Acoustic Kids Showcases to the 2016 festival.

Young pickers and singers are encouraged to apply before the March 21 deadline in order to perform during the showcases. The Acoustic Kids Showcases allow the next generation of pickers and singers and other traditional-style performers to highlight their talents for music fans at the four-day festival.

These showcases, which played to standing-room-only crowds in 2015, reflect an elevation and encouragement of talented young performers that have been part of the festival from its early days. Hosted by performer and beloved MerleFest veteran Andy May, these showcases will provide an opportunity for young performers through age 16 to perform in a supportive environment.

Participants selected will be notified by April 11. Selection is not based on how advanced a child’s performance might be, but rather it is based on a child's confidence in performing at his or her level. In fact, beginners are encouraged to apply.

 

Additional instructions and details about the Acoustic Kids Showcases, may be found at http://andymay.com/acoustic-kids/application-instructions/.
You may apply online or download a printable application at http://andymay.com/acoustic-kids-application-merlefest/.

Andy May is well known to MerleFest fans as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, mandolinist, producer, educator and visual artist. His Acoustic Kids Showcases have given many hundreds of young performers supportive performance opportunities for over 25 years.

The current MerleFest 2016 lineup and stage schedules are available online at MerleFest.org/lineup. Tickets for MerleFest 2016 may be purchased at MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. An Early Bird discount is available through April 27, 2016.

The Acoustic Kids Showcases are held on Friday and Saturday on the Austin Stage, Dance Stage and Mayes Pit. (Program pocket schedule has specific times.) Additionally, from among this year’s pool of applicants, several performers will be chosen for a special “Acoustic Kids Ambassadors” performance hosted by Andy May on the Cabin Stage Saturday evening.

MerleFest Spotlight: Scythian

It's time to start gearing up for North Carolina's most coveted celebration of music: MerleFest 2016. This homage to bluegrass, Americana and folk music will take place from April 28 to May 1 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C., where artists such as John Prine, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, The Wood Brothers, and The Steep Canyon Rangers will perform.

Dance-inducing Celtic rock and American folk band, Scythian, will once again bring the party to MerleFest.  "Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian merges Irish, gypsy, and Americana with thunderous energy, technical zest, and soulful songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance rock concert experience."  

Performing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the festival, Scythian promises to deliver an exciting set on each stage, including the dance tent.  The band is highly anticipating their return to MerleFest; guitarist and vocalist Dan Fedoryka states, "...we're looking forward to coming back to the fest we feel is a second home to us in a state we love. We have to say, it's also a fest where we feel the love. We've never experienced such positive interactions with attendees and every year we leave reinvigorated and convinced that we're musically on the right path. What can I say, there's no place like MerleFest!"

Scythian has spent the last year touring in support of their latest album, Old Tin Can. In April, ahead of MerleFest, the band will release their album in the land that inspired them, Ireland.  They take touring to a whole new level by inviting 180 of their fans to join them while performing at various Irish hot spots for eight days of barn-stomping fun. To learn more about this traveling party, visit Scythian's website.  

Scythian's next North Carolina show will be played at Blind Tiger in Greensboro on March 11.  This is just in time to celebrate St. Patrick's day with a band immersed in authentic Irish tradition.  

We'll keep you posted on specific play times and locations for Scythian as MerleFest gets closer.  Visit the festival's website to purchase tickets and for lineup details.     

MerleFest Spotlight: Steep Canyon Rangers

The always anticipated MerleFest is quickly approaching.  The fest that was started in 1988 focuses on "music, moments, and memories" created through the best folk, Americana, and Bluegrass music around. In preparation, we'll be spotlighting some bands from the lineup.  If you're unable to attend the festival on April 23-26, be sure to catch these notable acts during their individual tours.  

Grammy and IBMA award winners, Steep Canyon Rangers will share their pickin' skills on Sunday on the Hillside Stage.  The group has been jammin' together for a dozen years now, gracing the stages of Carnegie Hall, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Cat's Cradle and the Orange Peel. They have also had the fortune of being joined by musician and comedian Steve Martin on numerous occasions. Their most recent collaboration is with Grammy-award winning Edie Brickell titled "Test of Time." Proceeds from this song will go to the Oskar Blues CAN'd Aid Foundation which focuses on giving back to the community. 



Steep Canyon Rangers are currently putting the finishing touches on their new studio album produced by Dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas. The new album will follow the "free wheeling and high-energy approach of their previous album, Tell the Ones I Love." Their high-energy records translate to energetic and interactive shows, combining the older traditions with modern appeal.

MerleFest is held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC.  Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased on their website. Visit for a day or stay for the weekend, but don't miss this foot-stompin' event.

*Information courtesy of Lotos Nile Media