tiul file
>Viiiiioi Is...
P0. 14-1^
p'r> C.
May 2008
Servin^^^Jkes^A^hej^S^Ile^hany^
Volume 38- Issue 4
MerleFest 2008 Fun for Over 76,000 Participants
MerleFest 2008, presented by
Lowes, was enjoyed by over
76,000 participants. Over four
days, the Wilkes Community
College campus became the
home of a wide variety of
traditional-plus fans and
players.
Preliminary estimates show
that MerleFest 2008 overall
participation reached 76,708
which is comparable to 2007
participation of 79,412."We
are so proud that MerleFest
fans remain committed to the
event despite current economic
conditions and threatening
weather that included a storm
delay on Saturday," says festival
director Ted Hagaman. "Since
we opened ticket sales in
November we have seen single
day ticket sales outpace four-
day ticket sales.”
MerleFest honors the memory
of Eddy Merle Watson and the
musical contributions that he
and father. Doc Watson, have
made. The music of MerleFest
is best explained by Doc himself; "When Merle and
I started out we called our music traditional-plus,’
meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian
region plus whatever other styles
we were in the mood to play. Since
the beginning, the people of the
college and I have agreed that the
music of MerleFest is traditional-
plus’ and this year’s line-up shows
what that is all about."
I
Performers at MerleFest 2008 included The Avett I WHAT^S INSIDE
Brothers; Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet
featuring Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen, & Ben Sollee;
Sam Bush; The Carolina Chocolate Drops; Jerry
Douglas; Levon Helm & The Midnight Ramble on the
Road with Special Guests; Solas "Reunion,"with Karan
Casey & John Doyle; Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby
with Kentucky Thunder; Ralph Stanley & The Clinch
Mm Boys; Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives;
Rhonda Vincent and The Rage; Dan Tyminski Band;
See MerleFest 2008 on pg. 11
Cougar Cry Hdirorial CjuiJelines And Sraff 2
Ih e Counseling Corner 2
SCiA Presidcnr Ar Aslic Campus Wins Prestigious
Award 3
Bringing Clritical 'Ihinking to the ForcFronr of
Wilkes Coinniuniry Colletje 3
New I’aces ar WCC 4
Marshals Announced [-'or Wilkes C^oinniuniry
CAilleiTe C Annnieneeinenr 12