MerleFest 2009 Announces Line Up Tickets on Sale November 11 MerleFest® 2009, presented by Lowe's and slated for April 23-26, 2009, is proud to announce the line up for the event's 22nd year. The following artists will join host Doc Watson on the campus of Wilkes Community College for a celebration of what Doc calls "traditional-plus" music - traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, complemented by spontaneous jam sessions and musical collaborations not seen anywhere else: Doc Watson, Richard Watson, Susana and Timmy Abell, The Alberti Flea Circus, Angel Band, Banknotes, Buffalo Barfield, Bearfoot, BeauSoleil, Rory Block, Blue Highway, Roy Book Binder, Laura Boosinger, Bob Bovee and Gail Heil, Broken Wire, David Bromberg, Sam Bush, Cadillac Sky, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Circuit Riders, Clack Mountain String Band, T. Michael Coleman, The John Cowan Band, The Dixie Beeliners, Donna The Buffalo, Pat Donohue, Robert Dotson, The Duhks, The Farewell Drifters, Benton Flippen Band, Full Throttle Bluegrass Band, Rayna and Dan Gellert, The Grascals, The Gravy Boys, Great Big Sea, The Greencards, Mitch Greenhill, George Hamilton IV, Emmylou Harris, Wayne Henderson, Violet Hensley, Willette Hinton and Family, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, David Holt, Sierra Hull and Highway 111, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, Phil Jamison, The Kruger Brothers, Jim Lauderdale, Jack Lawrence, Mark Lippard, Jeff Little, The Local Boys, The Lovell Sisters, Doug MacLeod, Andy May, Del McCoury Band, Tift Merritt, Mountain Heart, Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Neighbors, New North Carolina Ramblers, Ollabelle, Out on the Ocean, Polecat Creek, Missy Raines and the New Hip, Loretta and Lindsay Rice, Tony Rice, The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Patrick Sauber, Martha Scanlan, Scythian, Anne and Pete Sibley, Joe Smothers, Spring Creek Bluegrass Band, The SteelDrivers, Rodney Sutton, Patrick Sweany, Tut Taylor, Joe Thompson, Tom, Brad and Alice, Happy Traum, Mac and Jenny Traynham, Travis Tritt and Jerry Douglas, The Waybacks, WCC Child Development Singers, Pete and Joan Wernick, Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society, Tony Williamson and The Zephyr Lightning Bolts. "MerleFest is known for surprises and special moments," comments Festival Director Ted Hagaman. "We still have a couple of things in the works, so we encourage MerleFest fans to keep checking our website merlefest.org for updates to our talent line up." In addition to providing the full line-up, merlefest.org is a complete source of information on all aspects of the event. Festival fans are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the MerleFest e-newsletter to keep up with the latest developments. They can also sign up to volunteer by visiting the site. The MerleFest box office will open for 2009 ticket sales on Tuesday, November 11, at 2:00 p.m. EST. Ticket purchases can be made at merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. With over 90 acts performing on 15 stages during the course of the event, MerleFest is an entertainment value, with 2009 ticket prices remaining the same as for 2008. MerleFest, celebrating its 22nd year in 2009, is a four-day event that honors the memory of instrumental virtuoso Eddy Merle Watson and the contributions of Doc and the entire Watson Family to the musical traditions of the region and nation. Held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, MerleFest began in 1988 as a fundraiser for the college and remains the largest fundraiser for the institution.