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Wilkesboro, NC. — MerleFest 2010, slated for April 29 -May 2, is proud to announce the line up for the event’s 23rd 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.”

Merlefest 2010 Lineup

• Doc Watson – docsguitar.com
• Richard Watson
• Susana and Timmy Abell – timmyabell.com
• Alberti Flea Circus – albertifleacircus.com
• The Avett Brothers – theavettbrothers.com
• Jim Avett – jimavett.com
• Balsam Range – balsamrange.com
• Shana Banana – shanabanana.com
• The Banknotes
• Bearfoot – bearfootband.com
• The Belleville Outfit – bellevilleoutfit.com
• Roy Book Binder – roybookbinder.com
• Brave Combo – brave.com/bo/
• Buffalo Barfield – buffalobarfield.com
• Sam Bush Band – sambush.com
• Cadillac Sky – cadillacsky.net
• T. Michael Coleman – tmichaelcoleman.com
• Elvis Costello – elviscostello.com
• John Cowan Band – johncowan.com
• Dailey & Vincent – daileyvincent.com
• Dehlia Low – dehlialow.com
• Donna The Buffalo – donnathebuffalo.com
• Jerry Douglas – jerrydouglas.com
• The Duhks – duhks.com
• Eleanor Ellis – eleanorellis.com
• Alice Gerrard
• The Gibson Brothers – gibsonbrothers.com
• Great Big Sea – greatbigsea.com
• The Greencards – thegreencards.com
• Buddy Greene – buddygreene.com
• Mitch Greenhill – folkloreproductions.com/about.html
• George Hamilton IV – georgeiv.net
• John Hammond – johnhammond.com
• Corey Harris – myspace.com/coreyharrismusic
• Wayne Henderson – waynehenderson.org/Wayne/AboutWayne.htm
• David Holt – davidholt.com
• The InterACTive Theater of Jef – jefthemime.com
• Phil Jamison -swangathering.com/Catalog/OT/sgotstaff1.html
• Jeni & Billy – jeniandbilly.com
• The Kruger Brothers – krugerbrothers.com
• Jim Lauderdale – jimlauderdale.com
• Jack Lawrence – jacklawrence.com
• The Lee Boys – leeboys.com
• Little Feat – littlefeat.net
• Jeff Little – jefflittle.net
• The Local Boys
• The Lovell Sisters – lovellsistersband.com
• Harry Manx – harrymanx.com
• Bill Mathis
• Andy May – andymay.com
• Nashville Bluegrass Band – nashvillebluegrassband.net
• Nation Beat – nationbeat.com
• The Neighbors – myspace.com/theneighborspage
• Ben Prestage – myspace.com/bprestage
• Missy Raines & The New Hip – missyraines.com
• Red Molly – redmolly.com
• Tony Rice – tonyrice.com
• Peter Rowan – peter-rowan.com
• Scythian – scythianmusic.com/indexmain.cfm
• Anne and Pete Sibley – anneandpetesibley.com
• Joe Smothers – myspace.com/joehsmothers
• Steep Canyon Rangers – steepcanyon.com
• Tut Taylor – webpages.charter.net/tutbro
• Happy Traum – happytraum.com
• The Travelin’ McCourys – myspace.com/thetravelinmccourys
• Rhonda Vincent and The Rage – rhondavincent.com
• The Waybacks – waybacks.com
• Lightnin’ Wells – hlightninwells.com
• Pete and Joan Wernick – drbanjo.com
• Shannon Whitworth – shannonwhitworth.net
• The Wilders – wilderscountry.com
• Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society
• Tony Williamson – mandolincentral.com/bio.html
• W.P.A. – myspace.com/wpaband
• Wylie and The Wild West – wylieww.com
• Zephyr Lightning Bolts – zephyrlightningbolts.net

“Yet again, the MerleFest line up fulfills the festival’s mission of bringing in an incredibly exciting, diverse, and talented group of musicians,” comments Festival Director Ted Hagaman. “Fans can count on more surprises, spontaneous jam sessions and one-of-a-kind musical collaborations, and we will continue to add to this line up. We encourage MerleFest fans to keep checking our website (www.merlefest.org) for updates.”

In addition to providing the full line up, the festival’s website, merlefest.org, is a complete source of information on all aspects of the event. Festival fans are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the MerleFest e-newsletter or register as a volunteer. Fans can also follow the latest MerleFest developments on Facebook and Twitter.

The MerleFest box office will open for 2010 ticket sales on Tuesday, November 10, at 2:00 p.m. EST. Ticket purchases can be made on the web at Merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. With over 75 acts performing on 15 stages during the course of the event, MerleFest is an entertainment value. An early bird ticket discount is available through March 12, 2010.

The MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College and a celebration of “traditional plus” music. Scheduled for April 29 – May 2, 2010, the event is held on the campus of Wilkes Community college in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

– From Karen Byrd PR