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The 36th annual MerleFest promises something for every musical taste.
The North Carolina foothills are about to come alive again with the sound of music (someone call Julie Andrews!). The 36th edition of MerleFest—the annual celebration of “traditional-plus” music (think a mix of bluegrass, newgrass, blues, country, rock, folk and more)—is rolling through Wilkes Community College campus in Wilkesboro April 25–28.
Founded by late legend Doc Watson, the Americana fest—named after Watson’s son and fellow picker, Merle—promises something for every musical taste, with 100+ musicians taking to 13 stages throughout the weekend. A musical choose your own adventure, if you will. Nearly 80,000 festivalgoers from across the country and beyond are expected to attend this year’s festival, according to MerleFest Director Frederick “B” William Townes IV, affectionately known as the father of MerleFest.
Want to go to MerleFest for free? The festival is still looking for volunteers, which typically number more than 4,000! Email [email protected] to learn more.
Also a boon for the community, the economic impact totals ~$12–15 million, with the revenue serving 45 local nonprofits. “It grew from a one-day one-man concert to a two-day multistage festival,” he adds—“and, as they say, the rest is history.”
This year’s lineup includes first-time performers, as well as MerleFest veterans, including Grammy-winning alt-country roots string band Old Crow Medicine Show, bluegrass guitar phenom Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, country singer/songwriter Brandy Clark, MerleFest houseband Celtic rockers Scythian, Turnpike Troubadours, The Teskey Brothers, Nickel Creek, Steep Canyon Rangers, the Kruger Brothers, Lukas Nelson + POTR, Béla Fleck, and so many more.
Photo by Lisa Snedeker
And while on that quest for the next musical phenom, don’t miss the annual MerleFest Band Competition, which allows you to hear previously unknown talents (and the next big thing) from across the country as they compete on the Plaza Stage on Saturday for the coveted spot of performing on the festival’s Hillside Stage on Sunday. That is, of course, if you’re not too tired out to catch the winners after staying up for the rollicking Saturday Night Jam or from the Dance Tent. (Push through—you won’t regret it!)Beyond all the great sets, the second-largest tourist draw to North Carolina is about so much more than the music. There’s shopping, a wide range of local fare, nature walk ops and documentary screenings. But, most importantly, it’s about the people—from the longtime volunteers to the fans who have never missed a festival to the first-time attendees. Jerry Douglas, master dobro player of Alison Krauss & Union Station and the Earls of Leicester, calls it a homecoming and a reunion for the musicians as well as their fans. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. One-day tickets from $80, multiday tickets from $205, merlefest.org
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