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.
2016 Artist Lineup
Donna the Buffalo
- Andy May
- Annie Moses Band
- April Verch
- Ash Breeze
- Banknotes
- Becky Buller
- Bill Mathis
- Billy Strings and Don Julin
- Blue Mafia
- Bob Hill
- Bonnie Logan
- Britt Gully
- Bryan Sutton
- Carbon Leaf
- Carol Rifkin with John Fowler and Jeanette Queen
- Charles Welch
- Clyde’s on Fire
- Commonwealth Bluegrass Band
- Dave Rawlings Machine
- David and Valerie Mayfield
- Donna the Buffalo
- EmiSunshine
- Fireside Collective
- Foghorn Stringband
- Fruteland Jackson
- Grace & Tony
- Happy Traum
- High Plains Jamboree
- Holt and Coleman
- In With The Old
- Jack Lawrence
- Jeff Little Trio
- Jeff Scroggins & Colorado
- Jeni & Billy
- Jerry Douglas
- Jim Avett
- Joe Smothers
- John Prine
- Jonathan Byrd & The Pickup Cowboys
- Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice
- Kacy & Clayton
- Karl Shifflett & Big Country Show
- Kenny and Amanda Smith
- Kristy Cox
- Laura Boosinger
- Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys
- Liz Frame and The Kickers
- Liz Vice
- Lou Reid & Carolina
- Love Canon
- Mark Bumgarner
- Mark Tobolosky
- Penny and Sparrow
- Pete & Joan Wernick
- Roy Book Binder
- Salvador
- Sarah Potenza
- Scythian
- Seth Walker
- Shannon Whitworth
- Sherman Lee Dillon
- Shinyribs
- Sierra Hull
- South Carolina Broadcasters
- Sparky & Rhonda Rucker
- Steep Canyon Rangers
- Steve and Ruth Smith
- String Madness with Mitch Greenhill
- Susie Glaze & the Hilonesome Band
- Sutton
- Tellico
- The Barefoot Movement
- The Bros. Landreth
- The Brothers Comatose
- The Buck Stops Here
- The Commons
- The Contenders (Josh Day & Jay Nash)
- The InterACTive Theatre of Jef
- The Kruger Brothers
- The Local Boys
- The Slocan Ramblers
- The Waybacks
- The Whiskey Gentry
- The Williams Brothers
- The Wood Brothers
- Tom Feldmann
- Uncle Ted White
- Wanamaker Lewis
- Wayne Henderson
- We Banjo 3
- Westwend
- Will Overman Band
- Wood & Wire
- Zoe & Cloyd