Wilkesboro, N.C. — The box office will open for MerleFest 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. MerleFest 2010 will celebrate its 23rd year from April 29 – May 2, 2010….

The ever-smiling Tony Shorter of Nothin’ Fancy wows the crowd with his charm and crooner voice Friday during this past weekend’s indoor bluegrass festival at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Ill. Other members of the group, two-time winners of SPBGMA’s Entertaining Group of the Year award, are, from left, Mike Andes on mandolin, Gary Farris on guitar, fiddler Chris Sexton in background and Mitchell Davis on banjo. [end]

The McKinnon twins — Keith on guitar and Kevin on mandoln — fllank Carrie Hassler Friday at the Greater Downstate Bluegrass Festival in Springfield, Ill. Hassler and her band, Hard Rain, performed two shows during the weekend event. Big names, including Rhonda Vincent, Doyle Lawson, Nothin’ Fancy and Dailey & Vincent pulled in sizeable crowds for the festival, part of the Midwest Bluegrass lineup of festivals. [end]