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.
Festival Poster
2024 Artist Lineup
Donna the Buffalo
Larkin Poe
Old Crow Medicine Show
Turnpike Troubadours
- “B” Townes
- Adeem the Artist
- Alexa Rose
- Andy May
- Arkansauce
- Ashes & Arrows
- Banknotes
- Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart
- Bob Margolin
- Brandy Clark
- Buffalo Nichols
- Carol Rifkin
- Carolina Detour
- Charles Welch
- Chatham County Line
- Chatham Rabbits
- Colby T. Helms & the Virginia Creepers
- Corey Harris
- Dan Tyminski Band
- Darin & Brooke Aldridge
- Donna the Buffalo
- Ettore Buzzini
- Evan Honer
- Falling Timber Band
- Goldpine
- Gravity Check Juggling
- Into the Fog
- Jack Lawrence
- Jake Kohn
- Jeff Little Trio
- Jerry Douglas
- JigJam
- Jim Lauderdale
- Joe Smothers
- John McEuen
- Josh Goforth
- Kruger Brothers
- Kyshona
- Larkin Poe
- Laura Boosinger
- Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road
- Lukas Nelson & POTR
- Mark Bumgarner
- Missy Raines & Allegheny
- Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen
- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
- Nefesh Mountain
- New Dangerfield
- New Found Gap
- Nick Shoulders
- Nickel Creek
- Old Crow Medicine Show
- Palmyra
- Pete & Joan Wernick
- Peter Rowan
- Pixie & The Partygrass Boys
- Presley Barker
- Roan Street Ramblers
- Roy Book Binder
- S.G.Goodman
- Sam Bush
- Scythian
- Shinyribs
- Sierra Hull
- Steep Canyon Rangers
- T. Michael Coleman
- The Earls of Leicester
- The Harris Brothers
- The InterACTtive Theater of Jef
- The Langan Band
- The InterACTtive Theater of Jef
- The Local Boys
- The Sensational Barnes Brothers
- The Silent Comedy
- The Sullivan Sisters
- The Tan & Sober Gentlemen
- The Teskey Brothers
- The Waybacks
- Them Coulee Boys
- Tony Williamson
- Turnpike Troubadours
- Twisted Pine
- Uwade
- Wayne Henderson
- Willie Carlisle
- Willie Watson
- Wyatt Ellis