Well, I just got back from Merlefest 2016! What a great experience to volunteer and be a part of such a global music adventure! Quite a few of the performers this year were from Canada, and I found myself wondering if the people at PGMusic were familiar with them.

Some of the posts above this one mention the line-up of performers, so I won't repeat that information here... but if you want to know what you missed, scroll up and check it out!

I am very happy to report that one of the forum member from here accepted my offer to stay at my home and commute to Merlefest each day! The forum member who goes by the name "dga" (real name: David Abowd) also lives in NC and is a fan of the same music, so it worked out well for both of us!

David is a very smart man. He used to own a music store and repaired instruments, so he knows all kinds of obscure details about the construction of the instruments the performers had on stage, and his explanations and observations were very enlightening to me!

As a former music store owner and NAMM attendee, he also knew many of the music vendors and performers on a first name basis, so I just faded into the background and let David shine in multiple ways! He is a very people-oriented communicator (unlike me, I try to remain invisible) and it was interesting watching him engage others in conversation for 4 days!

Probably my least favorite part of the festival (working as stage crew) was hauling Donna The Buffalo's Hammond B3 off the stage at the end of her band's performance. It wouldn't have been too bad, but the stage was on a raised platform, and the stairs were too narrow to fit a person comfortably on each corner of the organ.

Anyway, it was a great time.. it was wonderful to meet and bond with David Abowd (dga) and I want to repeat the invitation for next year to others from the forum who may want to attend Merlefest

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0