Melanie Bomar: Press

MerleFest 2002:

The biggest ever

By JERRY LANKFORD
Record Editor

The invasion of music fans began in force on Thursday morning as mobs passed through the big tent where the tickets were sold. They carried guitar cases, collapsible chairs, blankets and babies. They swarmed through the multitude of vendor tents, lined up for food varying from pizza to Thai cuisine. And, they filled Wilkes County’s hotels, motels, restaurants and stores. MerleFest 2002 was the biggest ever. Festival officials reported on Monday that the 15th annual event brought an estimated total participation of 81,753. That marks an increase of seven percent compared to last year. About $14.5 million was pumped into the area economy, which is about $2 million more than last year. MerleFest 2002 participants purchased 35 percent more Saturday-only tickets at the gate than in 2001, producing MerleFest’s biggest one-day audience yet, officials said.

The record crowds were drawn by performances of nearly 100 Americana music acts. Those acts included annual favorite Doc Watson. The event was organized to honor Watson’s son, Merle, who died in a 1987 tractor accident. Merle’s son, Richard, is also on the annual bill. Among the long list of MerleFest 2002 performers were Patty Loveless, Earl Scruggs with Family & Friends, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jerry Douglas, Nickel Creek, Sam Bush Band, the Waybacks, Kate Campbell, Jorma Kaukonen, John Cowan Band, Gillian Welch, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band and Leahy.

Festival organizers “B” Townes and Jim Barrows will be figuring final numbers of participants and money spent over the next several days. With the annual flood of funds, the proceeds from MerleFest have made it possible for the college to make capital improvements, including the Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Garden for the Senses, the Doc & Merle Watson Theatre, fiber-optic wiring for the campus, and the endowment of scholarships for its students, festival officials said. MerleFest is also a promoter of music, both professional and amateur. Kate Campbell, Si Kahn, Gillian Welch, and contest chair Jim Lauderdale judged the finals of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, which attracted 853 entries, according to a news release. The results were: General Category: 1st: Witness by Cindy Kalmenson of Nashville, Tenn.; 2nd: Room Enough to Love by Scott and Melanie Bomar of Los Angeles, Calif.; 3rd: Right or Wrong by Cindy Kalmenson of Nashville, Tenn. Gospel Category: 1st: The Baby’s Name by Michael Reno Harrell of Charlotte; 2nd: When Mama Bowed Her Head to Pray by Billy C. Smith, Jr.; and 3rd: Send the Angels Down From Heaven by Mike Burns, Purdys, N.Y.

Country Category: 1st: Penny Wishes by Cheley Tackett, Nashville, Tenn.; 2nd: Hallelujah by Martha Scanlan, Johnson City, Tenn.; and 3rd Broken Moon by John Lilly, Charleston, W. Va.; Bluegrass Category: 1st: Little Bird of Heaven by Martha Scanlan, Johnson City, Tenn.; 2nd: Bluestone Mountain by Mark Brinkman, Pickerington, Ohio; and 3rd: Dig Real Deep by Mary Huckins, Kittredge, Colo. First place in the Doc Watson Guitar Championship went to Scott Fore of Radford, Va., with Steve Lewis (banjo champion) of Todd taking second and Robert Schafer from Elkview, W. Va., finishing third. Steve Lewis of Todd captured the Merle Watson Bluegrass Banjo Championship. Ben Krakaner of Charlottesville, Va. took second with Jason Ericsson of Natrona Heights, Penn. taking third. Aaron Ramsey of Morganton won the MerleFest Mandolin Contest, followed by Chris Hale of Blacksburg, Va. and Joel Whittinghill of Bowling Green, Ky.