For the first Merlefest, even if you came to play, you had to pay. "Every single person on site, including the artists were ticket buyers in 1988," says Merlefest Marketing and Sponsorship Director Art Menius, who has been with the festival since its '88 inception.
Set up to honor Doc Watson's son Merle, killed when his tractor overturned in 1985, the festival has gone from one flatbed truck and an audience of 400, to a 12-stage, four-day affair that attracts an estimated audience of 80,000, drawn from 48 states and 12 countries.
Although the festival has changed in scope, the fundamental principle is unchanged: the music has to be roots-based. "We bring in musicians who may not be famous, may not sell a whole lot of records, but who keep alive the traditional music of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Piedmont North Carolina," Menius says.
That includes artists like Mebane's Joe Thompson, at 87, one of the few African-American square dance fiddlers still performing. The Carolina Chocolate Drops, a local group keeping black string-band music alive with Thompson as their teacher, will accompany him.
Asheville's Toubab Krewe is also involved in roots preservation, but from a bit farther out. The Krewe's sound is rooted in West Africa, and features the drums of Mali and Guinea along with the traditional African instrument the kora, a 21 stringed instrument that sounds like a harp.
Then there's the Charlotte-based Avett Brothers, whose music is based as much on grunge and pop as old-time or bluegrass.
The festival has been mixing in upstarts like Sam Bush and Bela Fleck back when bluegrass puritans considered the stuff they were doing heresy.
In recent years, the festival has extended its tentacles to embrace country artists including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn.
Even the stuff once dubbed alt-country or a subset thereof, got a shot with The Dead/Ratdog guitarist Bob Weir playing with the Waybacks last year. Steve Earle has also visited.
The music formerly described with the alt word is now Americana, defined by Merlefest folk as music that blends bluegrass, folk and Celtic music with country.
Menius says there's always some kind of connection with the artists to the music that's the core of Merlefest. "Elvis Costello, for example, is part of the Harry Smith project, which is about today's stars playing the music that appeared on the anthology of American folk music more than 50 years ago."
Costello, it seems, has a clear view of who's who. "Elvis, growing up in England in the 1960s when there was such a focus on American folk music, is totally aware of who Doc is," Menius says, "and is totally excited to be coming to an event that Doc Watson hosts."
Menius says the theme for this year's 20th Merlefest is the friends and family of Doc and Merle Watson. On a national level, those friends include bluegrassers Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan and Tony Rice. John Cowan, who sang an a cappella version of Sam Cook's "Jesus Gave Me Water" last year that had passers-by stopped in their tracks, tears running down their faces, is a perennial favorite.
Banjo virtuoso Earl Scruggs will be on board prove his 83-year-old fingers are still as nimble as ever. Marty Stuart and Pam Tillis represent country. The Duhks and Donna The Buffalo will be present to add some twists and turns to the traditional music that Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver and The Del McCoury Band are here to represent. And, as usual, longtime Merlelfest fixture Alison Krauss and Union Station will be on hand to dispense their fiery brand of high and lonesome.
Asked what direction the festival is headed from here, Menius is at a loss for words. "I truly don't have an answer for that," he says. "I've been so wrapped up it this last month getting ready for this year, but on May 1st we're gonna start answering that question as a staff."
Merlefest takes place April 26- 29 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro. A schedule is available at www.merlefest.org. Single Day Passes: Thursday -- $ 35; Friday -- $ 45; Saturday -- $ 50; Sunday -- $ 40. Four-day passes are also available.