Sample the legendary Merlefest festival (April 28-May 1) on Tennessee Shines with two exciting young bands fusing old sounds with new energy. Firmly planted in Asheville, NC’s thriving roots music scene, Tellico is well schooled in bluegrass but with an unbridled organic “Appalachiacana” sound, combining some of the finest voices, songs and instrumental prowess in western North Carolina and beyond. Their debut album, Relics and Roses was produced by guitar virtuoso Jon Stickley and features the singing and songwriting of Anya Hinkle (guitar, fiddle) and Stig Stiglets (bass), and showcases Aaron Ballance on dobro and pedal and lap steel and Jed Willis on mandolin and clawhammer banjo.  www.Tellicoband.com With roots in northern bluegrass and southern troubadour country, Brennen Leigh, Beth Chrisman and Noel McKay each come to High Plains Jamboree string band with a distinct flavor to their writing and singing. Simon Flory anchors the band on bass and is more country than all the 100 people who move to Austin every day combined.www.highplainsjamboree.com