WILKESBORO, N.C. — MerleFest 2011, presented by Lowe’s and slated for April 28 – May 1, is proud to announce 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.”…

Wilkesboro, N.C. — While MerleFest 2010, is now officially one for the history books, initial figures show that aggregate attendance over the festival’s four days exceeded 76,000 people, who attended the celebration of “traditional plus” music on the campus of Wilkes Community College from Thursday, April 29 to Sunday, May 2. MerleFest is the primary fund-raiser for the college and funds scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs….

Elvis Costello launched his spring tour on April 7th performing several never-before-heard songs during a string of solo acoustic dates on the West Coast. The reviews have been adulatory. San Diego Union Tribune called his show “an altogether stunning evening…there were so many remarkable musical moments during Elvis Costello’s superb solo concert that it’s difficult to rate one above another.”…

Wilkesboro, N.C. — Preparations are well underway for MerleFest 2010 which begins next Thursday, April 29, and runs through Sunday, May 2, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Now in its 23rd year, 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….

Nashville, Tenn. — Award-winning bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent returns to the top of the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart (issue date April 24) with Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers, available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store^® and crackerbarrel.com. The album debuted at #1 and has been in the #1 or #2…