#bethanystarr

YES I AM. (I put off answering this because there was a mix-up with my work schedule that was my fault and I was maybe not going to be able to get the whole weekend off and I was so anxious about it I couldn't even talk about it but WE GOT THAT SORTED TODAY I AM 100% GOING.)

my father and I have attended every year for the last -- five? six? years and we daydream about it all winter; I'm so excited.

(but also sad because it'll be the first year without Doc, ouch. fun story: about six or seven years ago Dad and I got tickets to a Doc Watson concert in Scranton because we thought, hey, he's a hugely influential figure in bluegrass, the show will probably be just kind of okay, he's really old now, but we want to see him at least once while he's still around. and then? it was one of the best shows I've ever been to -- Doc was funny and articulate and still an incredibly dynamic musician, playing these immensely spare old-time songs with the kind of fierce vivid drive that is why the oral tradition happens, and told stories about the early years of the recording industry that were both fascinating and deftly worded. the next year we won tickets to Merlefest, which Dad had always wanted to attend, via our local NPR station, realised the drive from Pennsylvania to North Carolina was not actually that bad, and loved the festival so much that we've budgeted for it every year since.) 

(also Doc used to do really lovely Sunday morning sets and I'm gonna miss those. I always got this really incredible peaceful vibe from being around him -- "around" as in "twenty feet away and not directly communicating", but he was funny and kind and genuine and canny, and very emotional without cloying sentiment, and his family's made Merlefest probably the most welcoming and joyful festival atmosphere I've ever experienced -- and I've been to a lot of festivals.) 

last year I couldn't scrape up enough money for a ticket until, like, THE DAY BEFORE THE FESTIVAL, so ended up scalping for a ticket outside the gate (and scored a $200 premium ticket for $100!), and this year I'm planning to do basically the same (but if I can't get in within an hour I'll just pay the $150ish at the gate). we didn't get Midnight Jam tickets this year, though, and I'm a bit sad about that -- Scythian is hosting!!!!! and I've been saying they should host for years because not only are they one of my favourite live bands, but they're also amazing at connecting with a crowd and experimenting with other musicians on the fly and putting together really unique things. but alas, not much money this year.