Contests & Events

MerleFest, the Americana music celebration, will again present a major league guitar summit, the 16th DOC WATSON GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP. Sponsored by GALLAGHER GUITARS, TAYLOR GUITARS, LONESOME PINE, IN MEMORY OF BRUCE G. SANDERS, and JOHN PEARSE STRINGS, this high profile contest for acoustic, flat-pick guitarists will happen on Friday afternoon, from 3:00 until 5:45 PM in Alumni Hall on the Wilkes Community College campus in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

How To Enter:
Registration takes place in the Student Center lobby between 1:30 and 2:30 PM on Friday, No entry fee is charged, but the contestants and accompanists must purchase festival tickets. Everyone who registers on time will be issued a number. Twenty registrants will be randomly selected from all those who register on time to join the second and third place contestants from last year.   Contestants must stand in the registration line and cannot appoint someone else to stand in line to hold their place.  There is no registration fee, but contestants and accompanists must be paid festival ticket holders. Order of appearance will be determined by drawing a number one-half hour before the contest begins. If there are nine (9) or less registered, contestants will play three (3) tunes and judges will place winners without an additional tune. Score cards will NOT be given out.

In Memory of Bruce Sanders 1949 -2002

Sponsors and Prizes:
The winners of the Doc Watson Guitar Championship will receive prizes of the very highest order! Cash prizes are sponsored in memory of Bruce G. Sanders. Gallagher Guitar of Wartrace, Tennessee built Doc's personal guitar and Don Gallagher continues the family tradition, so it's no surprise that the champion will receive a Gallagher. From San Diego, California, Taylor Guitars, have earned a sterling reputation in the hands of such practitioners as Dan Crary and our second place winner. Lonesome Pine (1-800-BLUEGRASS) provides a Calton Case for the third place winner. John Pearse Strings provides certificates redeemable at their booth in the Expo Center for one dozen guitar strings to the top three.

All winners of prizes worth more than $600 will receive a 1099-MISC.

Prize Descriptions:

First: A Cabin stage performance on Friday or Saturday, $300, a Doc Watson model Gallagher Guitar, a certficate for one dozen John Pearse Strings, and the opportunity to judge the following year's contest.

Second: The runner-up will receive $200, a Taylor Guitar, a certficate for one dozen John Pearse Strings, and entry into the 2008 contest.

Third: The third place contestant will win $50, a Calton Case, donated by Lonesome Pine, a certficate for one dozen John Pearse Strings, and entry into the 2008 contest.

The panel of judges will choose three finalists and, after a second round of competition, the three prize winners. Presentation to the winners will take place at approximately 5:45 PM. The champion will perform on the Cabin Stage on Saturday.

DOC WATSON GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP RULES

ELIGIBILITY
THE CONTEST IS OPEN TO ANY PAID FESTIVAL TICKET HOLDER EXCEPT 1) THOSE WHO ARE PERFORMING AS A BILLED OR PAID ENTERTAINER AT THE MERLEFEST AND 2) THE WINNERS OF THE PREVIOUS DOC WATSON GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WE HAVE DECIDED THAT WE MUST LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CONTESTANTS DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS. WE WILL ACCEPT ONLY TWENTY (20) CONTESTANTS PER CONTEST. THESE WILL BE RANDOMLY SELECTED FROM ALL THOSE REGISTERED ON TIME. THESE 20 WILL JOIN THE 2nd & 3rd PLACE FINISHERS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

ENTRY
Registration takes place in the Student Center lobby between 1:30 and 2:30 PM on Friday. No entry fee is charged, but the contestants and accompanists must purchase festival tickets. Everyone who registers on time will be issued a number. Twenty registrants will be randomly selected from all those who register on time to join the 2nd and 3rd place contestants from the prior year.   Contestants must stand in the registration line and cannot appoint someone else to stand in line to hold their place.  There is no registration fee, but contestants and accompanists must be paid festival ticket holders. Contestants must stand in the registration line and cannot appoint someone else to stand in line to hold their place. Order of appearance will be determined by drawing a number one-half hour before the contest begins. If there are nine (9) or less registered, contestants will play three (3) tunes and judges will place winners without an additional tune. Score cards will NOT be given out. Winners will be announced following the conclusion of the contest, and the champion will play as part of the Saturday concert on the Cabin Stage.

CONTEST RULES

a)Contestants must play only acoustic guitars; no electrical instruments will be allowed for contestants or accompanists.

b)Contestants may have one acoustic rhythm instrument player for accompaniment.

c)Contestants will not be allowed to take two guitars for their own use on stage, nor may they repeat a tune due a broken string.

d)MerleFest and the Doc Watson Guitar Championship reserve the right to eliminate contestants whose style of playing and selection of material is not in keeping with the flavor of the festival.

e)A MEDLEY OF TUNES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

f)Contestants may not speak into the microphone.

g)Contestants will be prepared to play four instrumental numbers in traditional fiddle tune or bluegrass style.

h)Two numbers will be played in the first round and the other two in the final round should the contestant be selected as a finalist.

i)The judges will select three contestants to play in the second and final round as finalists. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers

j)All contestants must play with a FLAT PICK. NO FINGER PICKING WILL BE ALLOWED.

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING

In an effort to judge the contests objectively and equally, the following criteria will be considered by the judges and assigned point value in each area:

1. ARRANGEMENT (40 Points): Contestant's version of the tune selected. Is it appropriate to the tune and instrument? Difficulty and originality will be considered.

2. EXECUTION, TUNING (40 Points): Fingering, picking and dynamics will be considered. Is the guitar in tune?

3. SPIRIT (10 Points): The music should be played with life and feeling. It should not appear listless nor should it drag.

4. OVERALL IMPRESSION (10 Points): The general effect of the contestant's performance.