Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Nickel Creek, Earl Scruggs, Rosanne Cash and Lucinda Williams are among the acts to perform at MerleFest 2004, festival organizers announced Monday (Sept. 8). Set for April 29-May 2, 2004, at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C., the 17th annual festival celebrates the music of the late Merle Watson and his father, Doc Watson. Other performers at MerleFest 2004 include the Sam Bush Band, the John Cowan Band, the Derailers, Donna the Buffalo, Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer, the David Grisman Quintet, Hot Tuna, Jeannie Kendall, Natalie MacMaster, Tim O'Brien, Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio, the Tony Rice Unit, the Savoy Doucet Cajun Band, Gillian Welch and Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison. Tickets go on sale Nov. 11. 09/08/03