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.
2014 Artist Lineup
Donna the Buffalo
- Alan Bibey and Grasstowne
- Alan Jackson
- Alison Brown Quartet
- Balsam Range
- Buncombe Turnpike
- Carolina Chocolate Drops
- Chris Jones and The Night Drivers
- Dailey and Vincent Quartet with Jimmy Fortune
- Darin and Brooke Aldridge
- Del Rey
- Della Mae
- Donna the Buffalo
- Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
- Eleanor Ellis
- Fiona Boyes
- Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
- High Valley
- I Draw Slow
- Jack Lawrence
- Jeff Brown and Still Lonesome
- Jeff Little Trio
- Jerry Douglas
- Jim Lauderdale
- Jon Stickley Trio
- Josh Farrow
- Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice
- Keller Williams
- Kim Robins and 40 Years Late
- Larry Keel and Natural Bridge
- Laura Boosinger
- Lonesome River Band
- Mandolin Orange
- Mark Bumgarner
- Mark Johnson and Emory Lester
- Mark Newton and Steve Thomas
- Mary Flower
- Missy Raines and The New Hip
- Misty River Band
- Moore Brothers Band
- Mountain Feist
- My New Favorites
- Nashville Bluegrass Band
- Niall Toner Band
- Nick Chandler and Delivered
- Nora Jane Struthers and The Party Line
- Nu-Blu
- Overmountain Men
- Paul’s Creek Band
- Pete and Joan Wernick
- Peter Rowan
- Red June
- Richard Watson
- Riley Baugus
- Roland White
- Rory Block
- Roy Book Binder
- Sam Bush Band
- Sanctum Sully
- Scythian
- Shannon Whitworth
- Sheila Kay Adams
- Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
- Steve and Ruth Smith
- Sutton, Holt and Coleman
- Tal Naccarato
- The Banknotes
- The Claire Lynch Band
- The Cockman Family
- The Deadly Gentleman
- The Duhks
- The Fox Fire
- The Hillbenders
- The Kickin Grass Band
- The Kruger Brothers
- The South Carolina Broadcasters
- The Steel Wheels
- The Steep Canyon Rangers
- The Travelin’ McCourys
- The Waybacks
- Tim O’Brien and Darrell Scott
- Time Sawyer
- Timmy and Susana Abell
- Todd Snider
- Toneblazers
- Town Mountain
- Tut Taylor
- Volume Five
- Wayne Erbsen
- Wayne Henderson
- WBT Briarhoppers
- Zephyr Lightning Bolts