Rushad Eggleston as the cello’s Che Guevara, and other Merlefest highlights

Posted on by Mannie Dalton

Another spring, the start of another music-festival season.

And around these parts, Merlefest has marked the beginning of the season for the past 20 years. For me, one of the highlights of this year’s 20th festival, which took place last weekend, was seeing Rushad Eggleston of the band Crooked Still play fiddle-style cello.

He’s revolutionizing how the ol’ classical instrument is perceived, and expanding the horizon for all cellists who have yearned to be a part of a pickin’ circle. Eggleston, who was often seen wearing a woodland, cone-shaped hat (fitting for someone who also goes by the name the “Wild Snee Goblin”), popped up everywhere over the course of the weekend, proving that the cello makes a fine bluegrass instrument.

Other Merlefest highlights: the Duhks fabulous new singer, Sarah Dugas; witnessing blues singer Ruthie Foster bring the celestial roof down; east Tennessee native Robinella invoking the spirit of a younger Dolly Parton; and Asheville-based Toubab Krewe’s Saturday night Dance Tent performance that had the crowd jump-dancing, overhead-clapping, hollering and air-punching.

What were your Merlefest hightlights?

— Mannie Dalton, calendar editor

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One thought on “Rushad Eggleston as the cello’s Che Guevara, and other Merlefest highlights”

  1. Ryan Cruse

    If you’re into the wild world of Cello music in it’s various reincarnations, then you’ve probably already heard of the band MELO-M out of Latvia. They’re a “cross over” using their classical educations to apply cellos to the more main stream pop rock genres. If you haven’t checked out this band before in your curious exploration of the limited world of cello music, then I would highly recommend this as your next journey.

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