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Any MerleFest 2005 ticket holder except for past champions and artists performing at MerleFest may enter these competitions for guitar, mandolin, and banjo. For each contest, twenty registrants will be randomly selected from all those who register on time. Only the actual contestants may wait in line, no substitutes or placeholders.
MerleFest 2004 by Gabriel Nelson |
MerleFest will again present a major league guitar summit, the 14th DOC WATSON GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP. This high profile contest for acoustic, flatpick guitarists will happen on Friday afternoon, April 29, from 3:00 until 5:45 pm at The Student Center Lounge on the Wilkes Community College campus. Registration takes place in the Student Center lobby between 1:30 and 2:30 pm on Friday. The winners of the Doc Watson Guitar Championship will receive prizes of the very highest order. Cash prizes are sponsored In Memory of Bruce G. Sanders, late of Greensboro, NC. Gallagher Guitar of Wartrace, Tennessee built Doc's personal guitar and Don Gallagher continues the family tradition, so it's no surprise that the champion will receive a Gallagher. From San Diego, California, Taylor Guitars, have earned a sterling reputation in the hands of such practitioners as Dan Crary and our second place winner. Third place receives a Deluxe Calton Guitar Case, courtesy of Lonesome Pine Studios from Deep Gap, NC. The champion will perform on the Cabin Stage on Saturday. Previous champions include Kenny Smith, a long time member of the Lonesome River Band.
Registration: for the eleventh annual MERLE WATSON BLUEGRASS BANJO CHAMPIONSHIP takes place in the Student Center Lobby at Wilkes Community College between 8:30 and 9:30 am on Friday, April 29. The competition begins at 10:00 am. In keeping with Merle Watson's identification with the 5-string banjo and North Carolina's fame for having spawned the bluegrass three-finger style, this event has become one of the nation's foremost banjo contests. Offered as top prizes are a Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard Model Banjo or Deering The Legacy banjo. First place winners will also perform on the Cabin Stage before the festival audience on Saturday. First place receives a choice of one of the two prize banjos and a check for $300. Second place earns the remaining banjo and a check for $200. Third place receives a check for $50 and a Deluxe Calton Guitar Case, courtesy of Lonesome Pine Studio from Deep Gap, NC. Cash prizes are sponsored by Waverly Tuning Machines, a division of Stewart-MacDonald. Previous champions include Cody Kilby.
MerleFest presents the ninth annual MERLEFEST MANDOLIN CONTEST from 3:00 until 5:45 pm on Thursday, April 28, at The Student Center Lounge on the Wilkes Community College campus. Registration: takes place in the Student Center lobby between 3:00 and 4:00 pm on Thursday. The Grand Prize includes $300, a Flatiron F-5 Artist Mandolin, awarded by the Flatiron Mandolin Co., a division of Gibson USA, and a performance on the Cabin Stage. Second-place prize includes $200 and a Flatiron Mandolin; third prize - $50 and a Calton Mandolin Case, courtesy of Lonesome Pine Studio from Deep Gap, NC. Both mandolins carry a lifetime warranty. D'Addario Strings sponsors the cash prizes. Previous champions include the acclaimed Johnny Staats and Ashby Frank.
MerleFest 2005 will also include two events for songwriters. The popular Songwriters' Coffeehouse, sponsored by AccuCopy, again happens on Friday evening, April 29. Songwriters selected by lot from on site registrants on site will share the stage with singer-songwriters performing at MerleFest. Recorded entries for the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest must be received by March 18, 2005. A panel of Nashville music industry figures will evaluate all the recorded entries, choosing three finalists in each of four categories: bluegrass, country, gospel, and general. Finals will take place at MerleFest 2005 on April 29 with songwriters performing at the festival judging. At MerleFest finalists receive 4-day tickets and lodging within thirty miles of the event. The first place contestants will perform for the main stage audience. For entry information, please call 800-799-3838 or visit the web site (www.merlefest.org). All entries must be submitted on tape or CD with entry fee and an official entry form to The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest; PO Box 121855; Nashville, TN 37212 or submitted on line through www.sonicbids.com. Entries without completed entry form and fee will not be judged. Chris Austin Songwriting Contest sponsors include Thomas Fisher of Morgan-Keegan, Fishman Transducers, SonicBids, Acoustic Guitar, D'Addario, and Epiphone.
JamBase | North Carolina
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