Photo Credit: Devin Ulery
The Scene
Thirty years ago, the legendary Doc Watson founded MerleFest to honor the memory of his son who died in a tragic accident. Now 80,000 fans gather every spring on the campus of Wilkes Community College for America's largest roots festival. Legends mix with newcomers to perform surprising collaborations of bluegrass, folk, and Americana.
2011 Artist Lineup
- DOC WATSON
- RICHARD WATSON
- SUSANA AND TIMMY ABELL
- ALBERTI FLEA CIRCUS
- BALSAM RANGE
- THE BANKNOTES
- RORY BLOCK
- ROY BOOK BINDER
- ALISON BROWN QUARTET
- BUFFALO BARFIELD
- SAM BUSH BAND
- CADILLAC SKY
- MICHAEL CLEVELAND AND FLAMEKEEPER
- T. MICHAEL COLEMAN
- CROOKED STILL
- KEN CROUSE
- DONNA THE BUFFALO
- THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (WITH NEWEST MEMBER JOHN COWAN)
- CASEY DRIESSEN
- ELEANOR ELLIS
- EMMITT-NERSHI BAND
- PAUL GEREMIA
- MITCH GREENHILL
- GEORGE HAMILTON IV
- HARPER
- COREY HARRIS AND PHIL WIGGINS
- JOHN HARTFORD STRING BAND
- BOB HILL
- DAVID HOLT
- THE INTERACTIVE THEATER OF JEF
- VERONIKA JACKSON
- JEFF AND VIDA
- JOHNSONÂ’S CROSSROAD
- CATFISH KEITH
- THE KRUGER BROTHERS
- SONNY LANDRETH
- JIM LAUDERDALE
- JACK LAWRENCE
- JEFF LITTLE
- THE LOCAL BOYS
- LYLE LOVETT
- LOST BAYOU RAMBLERS
- CORB LUND
- BILL MATHIS
- ANDY MAY
- DEL MCCOURY BAND
- NASHVILLE BLUEGRASS BAND
- THE NEIGHBORS
- TIM OÂ’BRIEN
- PAULS CREEK BAND
- RED MOLLY
- PETER ROWAN BLUEGRASS BAND
- SCYTHIAN
- SHANA BANANA
- THE SIGMON STRINGERS
- SINAI MOUNTAIN RAMBLERS
- SLATE MOUNTAIN RAMBLERS
- STEVE AND RUTH SMITH
- JOE SMOTHERS
- SYNDER FAMILY BAND
- TUT TAYLOR
- TOWN MOUNTAIN
- HAPPY TRAUM
- THE WAILINÂ’ JENNYS
- THE WAYBACKS
- CHARLES WELCH
- PETE AND JOAN WERNICK
- WILKES ACOUSTIC FOLK SOCIETY
- JOSH WILLIAMS BAND
- TONY WILLIAMSON
- ZEPHYR LIGHTNING BOLTS