Ralph Stanley - Merlefest, Wilkesboro, North Carolina

25th April 2008

(Festivalink.Net FEST0376) 2008

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This is an official live set, which was made available at FestivalLink.net (now defunct) as a digital download in MP3 or FLAC format, or burned to a CD-R.

The set is edited somewhat, but gives a flavour of the live perfomances at the time, with spots highlighting individual band members: Dewey's fiddle on Lee Highway Blues; James guitar show-piece Soldier's Joy and Steve Sparkman letting rip on Clinch Mountain Backstep. Ralph apparently had throat problems caused by high pollen, but doesn't sound in too bad a form on Room At The Top Of The Stairs, Pretty Polly and Robin Built A Nest.... There's also a guest spot featuring Jim Lauderdale and Ralph on I Feel Like Singing Today, the obligatory clawhammer medley... and Dewey's finale of Orange Blossom Special.

The CD-R comes in a generic card digipack, with the individual gig details printed seperately and stuck on the sleeve. Sound quality is pretty good too.

Clips from this show can also be found on youtube with: Room At The Top Of The Stairs, Robin Built A Nest On Daddy's Grave, Rocky Island (and with a different camera), What A Friend We Have In Jesus with George Shuffler, plus I Feel Like Singing Today with Jim Lauderdale. There's also another clip of Ralph guesting at a Doc Watson workshop playing Shout Little Lulie.

• Ralph Stanley: vocals
• Dewey Brown: fiddle
• Jack Cooke: bass
• James Alan Shelton: guitar
• Steve Sparkman: banjo
• Nathan Stanley: mandolin

NB: Jim Lauderdale guests on I Feel Like Singing Today.

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