Missing the IBMA Bluegrass Live! Fest? You aren’t alone. For some boot-stomping fun in its place, head on over to the North Carolina foothills for MerleFest 2025, the annual homecoming of bluegrass, Americana, folk and almost every other kind of music in between in Wilkesboro.
From April 24–27, the campus of Wilkes Community College will become a musical menagerie with more than 100 musicians taking to 13 stages—exactly what founder and legend late Doc Watson intended when he named the Americana festival after his son and fellow guitarist, Merle.
The 37th MerleFest promises some incredible musical moments and memories with a lineup that includes the much-anticipated return of NC natives The Avett Brothers and Watchhouse (formerly known as Mandolin Orange), and the first-time appearance of icon Bonnie Raitt, whose music—like MerleFest—spans blues, folk, pop, country, rock and R&B.
Triangle-based The Barefoot Movement is also returning to MerleFest, along with another local band, A Different Thread, out of Chapel Hill, which is among the eight hopefuls competing in the 10th Annual Band Competition, where finalists vie for the opportunity to perform on MerleFest’s iconic Hillside Stage.
Late Night Jam Returns Making a surprise return this year, The Bluegrass Situation will present the Late Night Jam hosted by Sam Bush and featuring a super-set of collaborations with East Nash Grass, Jack Lawrence, Joe Smothers, Peter Rowan, T. Michael Coleman, Tony Trischka, Woody Platt (formerly of the Steep Canyon Rangers) and more.
“The Late Night Jam was always a unique and fun bonus set of music where you never knew who would show up or what you might hear,” says MerleFest Artist Relations Manager Lindsay Craven. “We took a pause on this offering so we could revamp and revitalize it for our fans and bring it back bigger and better than ever. Late Night Jam with Sam Bush and Friends will embody the spirit of MerleFest with unique collaborations you can only see here, and the highest-quality musical performances in the roots scene.”
Beyond its unparalleled musical offerings, MerleFest 2025 will also offer visitors a chance to explore the rich history of the festival through the MerleFest Archives and Oral Histories, now on display at the Appalachian State University Libraries. The exhibit spans the festival’s journey from its founding in 1988 to the present day through a curated collection of performance recordings, photographs and memorabilia, providing a glimpse into the festival’s growth and impact.
The state’s second-largest tourist draw, which acts as a fundraiser for WCC, will also offer shopping from a variety of vendors at The Shoppes at MerleFest, the Little Pickers Family Area, the Acoustic Kids Showcase, Jam Camp, Pickers Place, a wide range of good eats that double as fundraisers for the local community, and even nature walks and backstage tours. One-day general admission tickets from $90, multiday tickets from $245, merlefest.org.
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.”
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
Spring 🤝 live music. Kicking off concert season is MerleFest, a celebration of “traditional plus” music (aka a unique mix of sounds from the Appalachian region—think bluegrass, Americana, country, blues, rock and others) taking place April 27–30 at Wilkesboro Community College. The term was coined by the late, great Doc Watson, who founded the festival 35 years ago to honor and remember his son and fellow picker Merle.
This year marks what would have been Watson’s 100th birthday and festival organizers have pulled out all the stops to celebrate, including one of the most impressive lineup of headliners the festival has ever hosted (!).
Acts include NC’s own The Avett Brothers; Southern rockers The Black Crowes’ Chris and Rich Robinson; Little Feat and Marcus King; the reunited acoustic Nickel Creek; country phenoms Maren Morris, Lori McKenna, Miko Marks and Tanya Tucker; guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel; and perennial MerleFest fan-favorites Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and house band Scythian—just to name a few.
While it’s almost always the headliners that draw in the crowds, it’s the myriad other artists—the ones found in the small print on the bottom of the festival poster—that make MerleFest so special. That’s because those lower-tier acts playing on the Creekside or Cabin stages today often find themselves as the headliners on the main Watson Stage in a few short years. And that’s when you can brag that you “discovered” the latest “overnight” success. It’s win-win!
On that quest for the next musical phenom, don’t miss the annual MerleFest Band Competition. The contest allows festival attendees to hear previously unknown talents from across the country as they compete on the Plaza Stage on Saturday for the coveted spot of performing on the festival’s Cabin Stage in front of thousands of festivalgoers.
Of course, MerleFest is about so much more than the music that’s played on more than a dozen stages, around campfires and in spontaneous picking circles that pop up all over the rolling campus. It’s about shopping at unique vendors and eating a variety of yummy local fare, which also supports the community in a variety of ways. Most importantly, it’s about the people—from the longtime volunteers to the fans who have never missed a festival in 35 years to the folks who will show up for the first time—but not their last. Think of it like both a homecoming and a reunion for the musicians and their fans.
“I love everything about MerleFest,” says Raleigh’s Danny Rosin, president and co-owner of Brand Fuel, who never misses attending the festival with a gang of family and friends. “But one of my favorite things about MerleFest is that I see folks there that I only see at MerleFest year after year. It’s really special.”
For this particular milestone event, organizers will also feature MerleFest’s unique history and present unique collaborations to honor the founding folk icon. In addition to the Doc-Centennial, not-to-be-missed traditions include Donna The Buffalo’s opening night dance party on Thursday, The Waybacks’ legendary Album Hour set on Saturday at the Hillside Stage, and a trio of Sunday morning gospel sets at the Creekside Stage. Another highlight will be Doc Watson’s 100th Birthday Jam hosted by The Kruger Brothers on Saturday. Also new this year: My Name Is Merle, director Robert Kinlaw’s latest documentary, is set to premiere Saturday at 4:30pm at the Walker Center.
The weekend forecast currently anticipates rain—but would it really be MerleFest if it didn’t?! No matter what, it won’t stop the music. Rock on!
