Twenty-seven years ago, Doc Watson asked B. Townes to contact Roy and see if he would organize and host a blues stage at Merlefest. Doc had met many players during the ’60’s Folk Revival and wished to start a new stage featuring the blues. Roy was able to contact some of his old friends & mentors, as well as new up and coming men and women dedicated to keeping the blues flame alive, to MerleFest. The “Greatest Acoustic Blues Show On Earth’ was born and premiered at Merlefest in 1996. We are proud to let it be known that Merlefest has done more to keep the traditional pre-war blues alive than any blues fest in the world! Over 75 traditional artists have taken part of this historic event since ’96 including Robert Lockwood, Howard Armstrong Dave Van Ronk, Etta Baker, John Cephas & Phil Wiggins, Honey Boy Edwards, John Hammond, Rory Block, Paul Geremia, Cory Harris, Chris Smither and Blind Boy Paxton.
