Merlefest 2005 - How life should be.

I wish I could encapsulate all the good things about my past weekend into words. I wish I could convey the features of the landscape for you to imagine how glorious the surroundings were. I wish I could explain how the music that was played soared above anything I could ever describe.

This past weekend I went on yet another solo-mission to hear bluegrass. I was taken to Wilkesboro, North Carolina for Merlefest - a celebration of the life, music, and ideals of Merle Watson - son of Doc. I cut out early from work on Thursday and hit the road - 6 hours later I was setting up my tent on a river bank surrounded by folks from all over who share my love for bluegrass and old-time music. Thursday night I was able to see Loretta Lynn, which set the bar for the next 3 days. She is a true storyteller.

Friday morning, naturally, I woke around 7:30 - never a break. I wanted to get a taste for the local flare, so, I headed to the main drag of town to "the 50s" diner. Wow, it was classic. The accents were thick, the gravy thicker, the biscuits were fresh, and there was something called "livermush" that was served in a sort of patty form alongside your breakfast dish of choice. Then, for a beverage, people were drinking Coke. All the quirks included, it felt very familial.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are a blur of pure incredible. One act after the next blew me away. How can fingers pick that fast? How can harmony sound so sweet? How can music make me feel so good? I ache for what I felt those days. It made me yearn for a lifetime of passion, simplicity, contentment, and enlightenment. However, in the meantime, the great thing about this kind of music is as I sit here at my desk amongst the hustle and bustle of the city, I can live vicariously through what is pumping through my headphones....whew...listen to that fiddle.