I enjoyed listening to The Greenscards play several times on different stages throughout the Merlefest weekend, and then Kym Warner and Carl Miner performed as a duo Saturday that afternoon to yet another crowded lawnful of fans. This was a great acoustical set with guitar, mandolin and mandola. I didn’t get the full name of this song, but I hope to find it on one of their albums.
SPOTLIGHT ON…
(To see the larger-view slide show, just single-click on any one image below)
… and so the festivities resumed all day Saturday with some repeat performers as well as new lineups, no one more or less astounding than the last. One regret – I was a lightweight Friday night and missed Los Lobos, who are one of my all-time most favorites (will likely kick myself on that bad choice for a long time). After trekking over to the interview tent to watch several musicians’ interviews and planning for a not-to-be-missed 8pm interview, I wandered and listened to music coming from everywhere. There would be no leaving early this night.
My radar antennae led me toAppalachian mountain music of Johnson’s Crossroad (based in Asheville, NC); Carl Miner and Kym Warner of The Greencards who worked magic with the guitar, mandolin and mandola (this is to the mandolin what the viola is to the violin); preserving and promoting the Creole culture, the get-up-and-dance Zydeco songs of Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys; and from Winnepeg, Canada, siblings Sarah and Christian Dugas (former members of The Duhks).
Attending the Hillside Album Hour that afternoon convinced me to never again miss this particular event. FYI, hosted by the Waybacks, the classis album is not known to the public until the music begins – imagine this – Jimi Hendrix!! These musicians stripped down, turned around and made his music their music, and the hillside shook (guest musicians are listed in the photos). Susan Tedeschi snuck in and nailed “Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire”.
Some down time, dinnertime after that, got to the interview tent at 7:40 for the Susan/Derek interview and recorded video/audio off the Canon 5DMarkII for 10 minutes before the “card full” light went on. It just didn’t matter; they had my full attention for an additional 10 minutes. When asked if there was one last question, I spoke up and asked Derek how Eric Clapton tapped him for his tour a few years ago. The tale was funny and wonderful, and I hope to receive another interviewer’s audio soon which includes my Q&A. This was truly a fine experience; both were so open to questions and sharing about the ride they’ve been on.
Later that night, the 11-member Tedeschi Trucks Band hit the Watson stage. At this point, I took more daring liberties with the media pass and inched up to the front, looking more like a duck in a shooting gallery than a photographer, but I got the shots I hoped for. Am still working on the video (have only touched the tip of the iceberg learning multimedia techniques); however, as with my first Merlefest post, here are some images I hope you’ll enjoy.
(To see the larger-view slide show, just single-click on any one image)
Yes indeed! Music, Moments, Memories, no denying it. All 3 of these descriptions resounded at the annual Merlefest held the weekend of April 26-29 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC. Everyone should have this much fun!
As a second-year photo student enrolled at Randolph Community College, I was fortunate enough to requisition photo equipment from the lab (unlike anything I own) and take my best shot(s) at the festival. In addtion, after several email conversations with a representative of the Merlefest/college organization, I proudly walked around with a media pass which provided access to the interview tent as well as stage front! Talk about the stars being lined up (figuratively, and literally re: the many musicians)!!
It’s funny though. I had all this gear and I believe there are some good shots here, but throughout Friday and Saturday, both the cooperative weather and astounding music kept me away from the interview tent most of the time (BUT STAY TUNED, more about the interview of a lifetime for the “Part 2″ post). And, those who know me well wouldn’t believe this, but I actually DIDN’T shoot photos every minute of every hour. It was too easy to just sit on the lawn, listen and soak it all in – which is what it’s all about in the first place, right?
Here are a few of the bands I caught and thoroughly enjoyed. It’s impossible to get to all 13 stages at any given time, so I still missed an awful lot of talented musicians. Anyway, click on their sites or listen to some iTunes clips when you get a chance.
From Toronto, Enter the Haggis, is a roots/rock band who were extremely engaging, as the members brought many instruments to the stage: fiddle, bagpipes, mandolin, accordion, trumpet and ukelele in addition to guitar, drums, and bass.
The Greencards, a 4-piece band (2 members, Kym Warner and Carol Young from Australia) who’ve toured the states with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. They’ve been labeled as a progressive bluegrass group, but also Irish folk, gypsy and rock. Although I missed part of their set, I quickly became a fan. (Note: Kym and Carl Minor played later as a duo and rocked the house!)
Lost Bayou Ramblers, from Lafayette, Louisiana – just love, love, love when a fiddle and accordion come together for a cajun reel. Great music material (and I like the layout of their web site as well – different).
Peter Rowan & the Free Mexican Airforce – as a bluegrass singer/songwriter, Peter’s a grammy-award winner and 6-time nominee. He started playing folk and blues in the Boston area, and with a career spanning 5 decades, he currently spends his time playing in 3 different bands!
The Waybacks. That is all. I’m hooked, enough said! My brother turned me on to one of their songs, but I never got around to purchasing anything in iTunes, as their music varies so much (which may explain why I had difficulty trying to define what I wanted). Their sets at the festival clinched it for me.
This is often the case in this southwestern Oregon city situated in the Rogue River Valley. I can be at my folks’ house while it’s shrouded in thick early a.m. fog, then ride up to my sister’s place just a few miles away and take a hike with her along this road enjoying the warmth of the sun! That’s the Siskiyou National Forest in the background. Amazingly beautiful country!
I’ve visited this area a lot over recent years and still come back for various shooting projects (this one being large format film using a Sinar camera). This is the southwest corner of Revolution Cotton Mills, where, while remodeling is ongoing throughout the mill, it hasn’t yet reached this area – I just love the look of the peeling paint and the sealed-in windows, but the door remains open.
We learned to work with masking and compositing in our Digital Imaging class, and though I’ve been away from it for awhile, I decided it was time to return and test my skills.
I had always heard and read a lot about The Natural Science Center. I even hike through Guilford Courthouse and Battleground Parks and walk by the Center all the time, but never once ventured in inside. It’s a wonderful place to visit, and the reptile center didn’t disappoint.
But, before posting the snake image on the blog, I really hated the tan background walls behind the snake and wanted to “replace” it with something that might have a better impact on the overall image. A small bamboo grove grows in our back yard, so I took several shots of some cut-down poles and stacked them up on saw horses.
Then back inside to the computer to try and work some magic to make a composite image of both of my green subjects, and voila’!!
