2007年VOA标准英语-20th Annual Merlefest Celebrates Folk/Bluegrass

By Katherine Cole
Washington
07 May 2007

More than 80,000 people recently attended the 20th annual Merlefest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, April 26-29, making the four-day event the largest music festival in the southeastern United States. That's quite a contrast to the first Merlefest in 1988, an event that attracted only 4,000 fans. VOA's Katherine Cole has more on this year's musical tribute¹ to the late Merle Watson, son and musical partner of folk and country great Doc Watson.

Sam Bush performs at 2007 Merlefest

Other than Doc Watson, Sam Bush is the only performer to play at every Merlefest. So it's fitting² that he was chosen to lead the "20th Homecoming Jam," that also featured performances by Earl Scruggs, Jerry Douglas, and Pam Tillis, along with Doc Watson.

"Right now we want to call back to the stage the reason we have Merlefest, Mr. Doc Watson," said Bush. "I mentioned earlier what a fortunate time in music it is that we get to hear Doc Watson play. And it's especially fortunate as well when you get to hear Doc Watson alongside³ the reason that every banjo picker here plays the banjo, the man who started it all, Mr. Earl Scruggs!"

The performers who took part in the "Homecoming Jam" this year were Merlefest longtimers, all musicians who had shared the stage with Doc and Merle Watson in the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to Sam Bush and Earl Scruggs, this group included two of Doc's longtime performing partners, guitarist Jack⁴ Lawrence and bass⁵ player T. Michael Coleman.

There were, however, a few notable⁶ first-timers on this year's lineup, such as Elvis Costello, who began his set with solo⁷ acoustic⁸ versions⁹ of some of his greatest hits, before welcoming to the stage a back-up band of Merlefest regulars, including Jim Lauderdale, Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush. Elvis' set proved to be one of the most talked-about of the weekend.

Another band that drew a lot of attention was the female¹⁰ string band Uncle Earl.

The first Merlefest was held on the back of a flatbed truck, quite a contrast to this year's festival, which featured 13 stages. That meant many of the close to 90 acts at Merlefest 2007 played two or three sets over the weekend. But that pales when compared to Uncle Earl's schedule on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The band's Kristin Andreassen explains that their Friday started very early.

Andreassen: "We got up at 8 A.M. We did a school show at 9. Then we played three sets. And then I did the song contest," she said. "[Bandmate] Rayna did a set. Today we've done two things so far."

Cole: "And then you've got at least one more today. You've got your own Uncle Earl set, and then you all are playing in the jam tonight."

Andreassen:  "We're playing in the midnight jam, which usually goes until two in the morning or something like that. They keep us busy."

Cole: "And then are you done?"

Andreassen: "No. We've got a square dance tomorrow."

Cole: "What does it mean for a band to play Merlefest? Is this an important one as things go?"

Andreassen: "Yes. This is one of the big ones for bluegrass. On the east coast, it is probably the biggest bluegrass festival. And it's important for us [Uncle Earl] because it's where we met John Paul Jones a couple of years ago. He produced our last record. John Paul Jones … the bass player from Led Zeppelin, that is! This is the festival that he picked to attend. He was coming from London, and he was interested in American bluegrass music. This is the festival that he picked to come and check out."

Cole: "Is there anyone in particular that you wanted to see at the festival this year? Who are you excited about?"

Andreassen: "Well, I'm about to see The Duhks. I'm very excited about that because they've got a new lead singer, so I'm really excited to check that out. They're a band from Winnipeg. And of course, Doc Watson. This is the Merle Watson memorial festival, and you have to catch Doc play at least one set while you're here."

Cole: "What's so special about Doc Watson?"

Andreassen: "Yes. This is one of the big ones for bluegrass. On the east coast, it is probably the biggest bluegrass festival. And "He has the energy of somebody who sings and plays for the love of the music, almost more so than any other performer that I know right now. And that approach to the music inspires me, and I think it is just really obvious when you watch him play that Doc would be sitting at home and playing the songs if he wasn't onstage playing those songs."

Doc Watson talks with Elvis Costello at 2007 Merlefest

Even with a bill that included fan favorites like Pam Tillis, The John Cowan Band, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, it is the opportunity to see the legendary¹¹ Doc Watson in action that has always been one of Merlefest's biggest attractions. At the age of 84, the folk singer opened and closed the four-day event, performing several sets each day, sometimes with a large band, others with just a bass player and another guitarist as accompaniment.

While he won't admit to having a favorite performance of the weekend, Doc has said he always enjoys his set with Frosty Morn, Merle's band. Many Merlefest attendees agree, as Frosty Morn's once-a-year reunion to play some familiar songs and tell stories about their friend Merle Watson is always one of the festivals best-attended performances.

1 tribute   

n.颂词，称赞，(表示敬意的)礼物；贡品

参考例句：

• She accepted their tribute graciously.她慈祥地接受了他们的致意。
• Many conquered nations had to pay tribute to the rulers of ancient Rome.许多被征服的国家必须向古罗马的统治者朝贡。

2 fitting   

n.[pl.]设备，家具，配件，试穿；adj.适合的

参考例句：

• I'm going to a fitting tomorrow.明天我要去试穿新衣。
• The President's address was a fitting end to a bitter campaign.总统的讲话为一场激烈的竞选运动适时画上了句号。

3 alongside   

adv.在旁边；prep.和...在一起，在...旁边

参考例句：

• There was a butcher's shop alongside the theatre.剧院旁边有一家肉店。
• Alongside of him stood his uncle.他的身旁站着他叔叔。

4 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

5 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

6 notable   

adj.值得注意的，著名的；n.名人，要人

参考例句：

• His achievement is very notable.他的成就是非常显著的。
• He wrote and published the essay under notable's name.他假托名人写文章发表。

7 solo   

n.独奏，独唱；adj.单独的；adv.单独地；v.放单飞，单独表演

参考例句：

• Tara is currently working on a solo album.塔拉眼下正忙着制作个人专辑。
• There's wonderfully lyrical flute solo in the middle of this symphony.在交响乐中间有一段奇妙的抒情长笛独奏。

8 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。

9 versions   

n.译本( version的名词复数 )；版本；（个人对事件的）描述；（原物的）变体

参考例句：

• There are two versions of the game, a long one and a short one. 这游戏有两个版本，一长一短。
• When both versions of the story were collated,major discrepancies were found. 在将这个故事的两个版本对照后，找出了主要的不符之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

11 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。