Music festival season in full swing

This summer's local area music and arts festival lineup began last weekend with MerleFest 2009, a festival to commemorate the loss of Doc Watson's son, on the campus of Wilkes Community College, in Wilkesboro, N.C.

"The magic of MerleFest is the unique, eclectic mixture of all the artists who're there over the course of the weekend," said Karen Byrd, media relations spokesperson for MerleFest. "There are performances and collaborations here you just can't see anywhere else."

MerleFest ran from April 23 to April 26. This year the festival featured 95 artists over the four-day festival, Byrd said. The lineup of artists included guitarist Doc Watson, who's receiving an honorary degree from UNCA during commencement, among others, combined with the seasonal weather, made conditions for a successful festival, Byrd said.

"People are out in force and enjoying the nice weather, which really helps attendance," Byrd said.

Before the first day of the festvial, the musicians branched out to the community, Byrd said.

"Yesterday was the outreach program where several of the performing artists did performances at local schools, churches and community centers as a way of exposing the music of MerleFest to other members of the community," Byrd said.

Another area festival, Lake Eden Arts Festival kicks off May 7 and continues until May 10. The weekend festival is held twice annually, in the spring and in the fall, at Camp Rockmount in Black Mountain.

In past festivals LEAF attracted Toubab Krewe, Les Nubians, Billy Jonas and Michael Franti. This year, guitarist Martin Sexton is among the headliners, according to LEAF officials.

LEAF is more than music. The festival offers an array of culinary attractions, including a booth run by Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria. The festival also holds a poetry contest and handicraft booths.

"I've been to LEAF twice," said Adam Kelly, 23, a literature major at UNC Asheville. "Other festivals always advertise themselves as family-oriented, but aren't really geared towards family or children. LEAF really is family oriented."

Location is a crucial aspect to any festival, and LEAF's location makes it particularly attractive, Kelly said.

Emily Nolan, 20, an Asheville native who currently attends Johnson and Wales University, started going to LEAF as a child, she said.

"I have been going to LEAF since it was called Black Mountain Festival," Nolan said. "LEAF is my favorite, just because I have been going for so long."

Nolan will maintain tradition, and attend the arts and music festival this spring, she said.

Tickets for LEAF vary in price. A three-day, two-night adult festival ticket costs $139. A three-and-a-half day, three-night adult ticket, which allows festival-goers to arrive Thursday afternoon, costs $161. LEAF offers discounts for those buying two tickets.

Just across the stateline in Manchester, Tenn., Bonnarooo Music and Arts Festivals kicks off Thursday, June 11 on a 700-acre farm.

Across the Tennessee stateline, Bonnaroo kicks off Thursday, June 11. The annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is held in Manchester on a 700-acre farm.

"Bonnaroo is one of the biggest festivals around, period," said Sam Everest, 19, a business major at UNCA. "There's so many people at the festival, like 80 or 90 thousand people."

Bonnaroo's list of performers for summer 2009 includes Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Al Green, Snoop Dogg, Nine Inch Nails, Ben Harper, Toubab Krewe and dozens more. Bonnaroo is not atop Everest's list this summer because of its massive attendance and its increasingly "corporate" nature.

But one band could invigorate the festival this summer, he said.

"This year Phish is playing for two nights, and that is going to bring them so much attention," Everest said.

Remaining tickets to Bonnaroo cost $249.50 per person. All tickets are full-weekend passes and cover camping and parking.

There is an extra $125 dollar fee for RV parking.

There are two must-see festivals this summer: All Good Music Festival and Campout and Rothbury Festival, which will both require some traveling, Everest said.

Rothbury Festival, held in Rothbury, Mich., hosts a lineup of artists that includes Damian Marley, The Dead, Bob Dylan and rappers Nas and Gift of Gab, among others.

"Rothbury definitely tops off the list of summer festivals," Everest said. "It tops the lists of most people I know, too."

The Michigan festival runs from July 2 to July 5. A weekend-long ticket equals the price of Bonnaroo's admission at $249.50 per person.

The festival offers VIP tickets for $490 per person.

"It's just a really laid-back and fun festival," Everest said. "It's more of a jam band-based festival, and there's something for everybody."

Locally, Everest plans on going to LEAF, he said.

There are other local festivals this spring and summer. On the weekend of May 22-24, Sherrill's Ford, NC will host Fiddler's Grove, a Bluegrass Festival. Fiddler's Grove, a festival that is 85 years old, features various bluegrass artists. Weekend-long tickets are $35 and ticket applications are available through the festival's Web site.

The Flat Rock Music Festival hosts the Flat Rock Spring Fling on May 2.

The single-day event featuring six performers costs $35. Unlike other festivals, the Spring Fling is held indoors, according to the festival's Web site.

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