A sneak peek at Merlefest 2006

The nice folks at Merlefest have released the list of their talent commitments so far for the 2006 festival. "We may add to this roster," they caution. Good lord. As if the following commitments so far aren't enough to rope you in:

Doc Watson and Merle's son Richard Watson
Rory Block
David Bromberg Quartet
Alison Brown Quartet
Sam Bush Band
Guy Clark
John Cowan Band
Jerry Douglas Band
B�la Fleck & The Flecktones
Emmylou Harris
Hot Tuna
The Lee Boys
Laura Love Band
Nickel Creek
Tony Rice Unit
Peter Rowan
Darrell Scott
Mike Seeger
Pete Seeger
Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
Gillian Welch
The Waybacks featuring special guest Bob Weir

(I know. Take a breath, you'll be OK.)

Woody Guthrie tribute Ribbon of Highway Endless Skyway, along with individual performances by tour members Slaid Cleaves, Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmy LaFave, and Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion.

(Uh-huh. Take another breath. Deeeeeep. Take a quick walk if you need to, maybe get some water. OK.)

Paul Asbell
R.G. Absher & Extra Measure
Alberti Flea Circus
Angel Band
The Avett Brothers
Biscuit Burners
Chatham County Line
Thad Cockrell & Caitlin Cary
The Cottars
Donald Davis
Cheick Hamala Diabate
The Dillards
The Ditty Bops
Dixie Dawn
Robert Dotson
Double Decker String Band
The Duhks
Feufollet
Flumpa & Friends
Pat Flynn & Friends
Frosty Morn Band
The Grascals
Green Grass Cloggers
Mitch Greenhill
Nora Guthrie
Jason Harrod
Algia Mae Hinton
Clyde Hollifield
David Holt
Clint Howard Band
Ill-Mo Boys
The Isaacs
David Jacobs-Strain
Reverend Robert Jones
Si Kahn
Jim Lauderdale & his Bluegrass Band
Jack Lawrence
James Leva
The Local Boys
Clay Lunsford
The Mammals
Bill Mathis
Andy May
Mount Rogers Ramblers
Nashville Bluegrass Band
NC Thumb and Finger Style Guitar Players
Pilot Mountain Bobcats
Harvey Reid & Joyce Andersen
Paul Rishell & Annie Raines
Wayne Scott
Larry Skipper
Steep Canyon Rangers
Tut Taylor
Joe Thompson & Bob Carlin
Tom, Brad & Alice
Happy Traum
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason
Charles Welch
Pete & Joan Wernick
The Wilders
The Wilkes Playmakers

Yeah. I know. I'm thinking I'll need to take the rest of the day off.

Of course, all this is subject to change, blah blah blah, the Merlefest peeps say, and keep in mind that changes DO often happen. But often for the better, so do not despair. Not to grouse, but I do still have fingers crossed that somehow BR5-49 and Donna the Buffalo will find a way to get nudged into the schedule. But I'm not saying, I'm just saying, is all. I can definitely "settle" for this lineup.

Anyway, Merlefest is held, of course, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C. The dates are April 27-30, 2006. Ticket sales begin on Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

See you there.