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.
2019 Artist Lineup
Brandi Carlile
Donna the Buffalo
The Del McCoury Band
- American Aquarium
- Amos Lee
- Andy May
- Ana Egge & The Sentimentals
- AZTEC SUN
- Banknotes
- Bob Hill
- Cane Mill Road
- Carol Rifkin
- Carolina Blue
- Catfish Keith
- Charles Welch
- Dailey & Vincent
- David Holt
- David LaMotte
- Dirk Powell Band
- Donna the Buffalo
- Driftwood
- Elephant Sessions
- Elizabeth Cook
- Ellis Dyson & The Shambles
- Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys
- Happy Traum
- Irish Mythen
- Jack Lawrence
- Jeff Little Trio
- Jess Morgan
- Jim Avett
- Jim Lauderdale
- Joe Smothers
- Jontavious Willis and Andrew Alli
- Junior Brown
- Junior Sisk
- Larry Stephenson Band
- Laura Boosinger
- Lindi Ortega
- Mark Bumgarner
- Mark & Maggie O’Connor
- Maybe April
- Michaela Anne
- Mile Twelve
- Mitch Greenhill and String Madness
- Molly Tuttle
- Nixon
- Blevins
- & Gage
- Pete & Joan Wernick and FLEXIGRASS
- Presley Barker
- Professor Whizzpop!
- Radney Foster
- Roy Book Binder
- Salt & Light
- Scythian
- Sean McConnell
- Shane Hennessy
- Si Kahn & The Looping Brothers
- Steep Canyon Rangers
- Steve Poltz
- T. Michael Coleman
- The Avett Brothers
- The Black Lillies
- The Brother Brothers
- The Casey Kristofferson Band
- The Del McCoury Band
- The Gibson Brothers
- The Harris Brothers
- The InterACTive Theatre of Jeff
- The Kruger Brothers
- The Local Boys
- The Milk Carton Kids
- The Trailblazers
- The Waybacks
- Todd Albright
- Tom Feldmann
- Tony Williamson
- Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike
- Wayne Henderson
- Webb Wilder and Yarn