After almost 40 years, MerleFest hasn’t lost sight of the music.
MerleFest has festivals figured out—and Raleigh should take note. The famed folk fest drew ~80K fans to the foothills of the Appalachian mountains April 23–26 (the hosting town, Wilkesboro, has a population of just 3,650) for the four-day music fete at Wilkes Community College.
The fest—founded in 1988 by local bluegrass legend Doc Watson—was launched as a tribute to Watson’s late son Merle, who shared his skill for the genre. Watson always maintained that MerleFest was meant to deliver “traditional-plus” music, a term he and Merle coined to describe “the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.”
In tune with that philosophy, the lineup always includes blues, country, roots rock, and folk—standout artists such as Old Crow Medicine Show, Steep Canyon Rangers, Joy Oladokun and Molly Tuttle joined the lineup this year—and make for a who’s who of big names and trailblazers propelling the genres forward.
Merlefest hit happy mediums across the board: It’s fam-friendly but all ages and all demographics can be spotted, and it’s perfectly low-maintenance—you don’t need to plan outfits weeks in advance or haul yourself across the county looking for a clear purse that fits the guidelines. And because the event is entirely alcohol-free, both the fans and the fest are uniquely focused on the music over the bustle and booze that often come alongside music fests.
As someone who has witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly at music fests across the country, myriad traits left me pleasantly surprised as a first-timer. Here, all the ways MerleFest won me over.
Rain, Rain, Here to Stay I quickly found out that it famously rains every year during MerleFest—at least three locals gleefully told me—and despite the severe drought this year, Mother Nature still provided (the adage allegedly passed around claims the MerleFest rain is the only time a year the “hippies take a bath”). The show went on with ease—all those years of rain stacked up to a lot of unbothered festival goers and multiple booths handing out ponchos.
Jam-Packed Yes, the lineup was immaculate and I thoroughly enjoyed every set I caught, but my favorite performances happened underneath the pickin’ tents, where locals and patrons toting instruments gathered for mini jam seshs.
Each group would simply pick a song and go, bouncing off each other’s notes and chatting as they went—and the musicians that showed were all over the map. Read: A 92-year-old man with a trucker hat, a violin and an incredibly soothing singing voice, followed by an eight(ish)-year-old picking a banjo while holding intense eye contact and coaxing passerbyers over to lend him an ear.
Festival Food Hall Not only were all the food ops local, but they were very inexpensive, by fest and non-fest standards—and in this economy, that’s huge. I’ve never eaten so much at a festival (a Philly cheesesteak, kettle corn and ice cream were all on my menu) and not felt like my bank account was crying. To boot, all the food was very appetizing. Because the fest is entirely alcohol-free, one local theorized with me that they can’t get away with selling mid food to tipsy fete-goers like other festivals can.
Parking = No Problem Transit was shockingly a breeze. Parking is free, and a free (and fast!) shuttle service is provided to and from the fest. Read: The line for the shuttle never took more than 10 minutes, making for a smooth getaway.
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
