Merlefest 2006: Saturday Afternoon

Merlefest 2006: Saturday Afternoon

After a late morning of jamming at the cabin, I got to Merlefest in time to check out some vendors and then sit down for the Mammals' Watson Stage. The weather is beautiful, sunny and cool, no hint of rain. As big as the crowds have been all week, we were fearing an insane Saturday, but so far it seems we have the same size crowd as yesterday.

The Mammals are playing a very mellow and low-tempo set compared to their other sets. Pretty good still, but just lower-key. They played a great song that reallly stuck out, though -- "Kiss the Break of Day." It's a "Rocky Top" sorta tune about fiddles and rock n' roll music. Sounds right up my alley! "Fill my bow with some rock n' roll..."

On up the hill to the Walker Center to catch the Biscuit Burners. Wow! This place is packed!

Reminds me of Polecat Creek with the two female vocals up front... songwriting is on par too, but the instrumentalists are better. Actually, I think I'd summarize them as a crossing of Polecat Creek and the Steep Canyon Rangers -- kinda a neo-Old Time and straight up Bluegrass. Very North Carolina... very good!

Another random tip -- if you're going to see a show in the Walker Center's auditorium, try getting there a little early and go ahead and plan on staying the whole time. Unlike the outside stages where you're free to sit on the ground and move around as you like, the auditoriums seat layout keeps you land-locked" through-out the show.

Wandered around for a bit, taking in the sights. Now we're over at the Hillside checking out "Blue Country Heart" -- an all-star Country Blues band consisting of Jorma Kaukonen, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, & Byron House. Very very good. I love Sam Bush on fiddle... beautiful. We're gonna hang out here for a bit and then check out Guy Clark & Verlon Thompson on the Americana stage.

More CDs to buy:
* The Biscuit Burner's two CDs

[Posted from my Treo 650 phone. I am ALL that is geek.]