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 as a digital download in MP3 or FLAC format, or burned to a CD-R.

The set is a bit truncated, 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.

• 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.

Other artwork / related images: