Wilkesboro (North Carlina), USA - FestivaLink.net is a new exclusive music download site that lets music lovers capture forever the magic of their favorite music festivals. It also lets those who can’t be there experience the energy and excitement of live performances. FestivaLink.net does that by letting music lovers purchase legal, full-length recordings from the nation’s premier music festivals. The site is a collaborative effort among FestivaLink, LLC, Airshow Mastering, an award-winning post-production company in Boulder, Colorado, and festivals throughout the U.S.

MerleFest, held in Wilkesboro, NC in late April, is the first festival to partner with the new site. Those who register at www.festivalink.net before May 1 will receive a free download of selected MerleFest performers. An all-pro recording team will capture every note of the selected sets at MerleFest’s Watson and Cabin stages in high-resolution audio, in stereo and multi-track. After the festival, the recordings are carefully mixed and mastered, to capture the spontaneous genius, surprise players, and one-of-a-kind solos that make these live events so special.

“We love festivals the give and take between the musicians and the audience in the open air can lead to some inspired music,” says Ann Blonston, GM of FestivaLink. “We’re glad we can capture those special moments and share them with those who love MerleFest, including those who couldn’t be here this year.”

Some of the best roots and Americana musicians in the world are participating in MerleFest, and their performances will be available on Festivalink.net. Participating artists include Robert Earl Keen, Hot Tuna, Jim Lauderdale, The Grascals, Laura Love, The Mammals and Larry Sparks. Art Menius, MerleFest Marketing Director says, “We respect the music created by the artists at MerleFest. All downloads we offer are approved by the artist and the artist is paid fairly for that download.”

For years people have “bootlegged” live music concerts. There are two monumental problems with bootlegging: First, artists and songwriters aren’t compensated for the recordings. The other is the questionable sound quality of bootleg concerts. Despite the drawbacks, some bootleg because they want to capture a memorable musical event. Now, with FestivaLink.net, folks can have professionally recorded and legal copies of their favorite musical experiences.

Downloads will be available in Mp3 format at 128 kpbs resolution and will play on any Mp3 compatible audio device. Downloads will also be available in FLAC, a popular “lossless” format that is decoded on computer. It can then be loaded onto any personal player or burned to CD at full-resolution. And finally, Festivalink.net will also offer physical CDs of performances.