MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College and to celebrate 'traditional plus' music.

The Music of MerleFest was best explained by Doc himself: "When Merle and I started out we called our music 'traditional plus', meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play. Since the beginning, the people of the college and I have agreed that the music of MerleFest is 'traditional plus'."

The MOMENTS of MerleFest are those unique experiences that only happen here. It may be two musicians you never expected to see collaborating, a shooting star over the Watson Stage during an evening's closing set, or that one set that seems to have touched everyone in the audience.

The MEMORIES of MerleFest include the memory of Eddy Merle Watson, who we honor each day with "The Tribute to Merle" and the new memories we create each year we come together to celebrate MerleFest. Fond memories we will always cherish are those of Doc and his unending contributions to the festival, the college and the music world. At MerleFest, fans would always flock when Doc graced the stage with his amazing flat-picking style, rich baritone voice and humble presence…a presence that will always be missed.

MerleFest, considered one of the premier music festivals in the country, serves as an annual homecoming for musicians and music fans. Held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the late Eddy Merle Watson, son of american music legend Doc Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of "traditional plus" music, a unique mix of music based on the traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, and expanded to include americana, country, blues, rock and many other styles. The festival hosts numerous artists, performing on 12 stages during the course of the four-day event. The annual event has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, funding scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Watson Stage

3:00 pm - 03:45 pm: Presley Barker
4:15 pm - 05:00 pm: Woody Platt and The Bluegrass Gentlemen
5:30 pm - 06:30 pm: The SteelDrivers
7:15 pm - 08:15 pm: Wyatt Flores
9:00 pm - 10:30 pm: The Dead South

Cabin Stage

3:45 pm - 4:15 pm: Roy Book Binder
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Jam Camp with Pete Wernick
6:30 pm - 7:15 pm: The Banknotes Bill Young Tribute
8:15 pm - 9:00 pm: Brent Cobb

Pickin' Place

2:30 pm - 8:30 pm: Jammin' at the Pickin' Place

Dance Stage

10:00 pm - 11:30 pm: Opening Night Dance with Donna the Buffalo

Autograph Tent

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Presley Barker
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Woody Platt and The Bluegrass Gentlemen
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm: The SteelDrivers

Friday, April 25, 2025

Watson Stage

11:30 am - 12:15 pm: Full Cord
12:45 pm - 01:30 pm: Tony Trischka's Earl Jam
02:00 pm - 02:45 pm: Kruger Brothers
03:15 pm - 04:00 pm: Scythian
04:00 pm - 04:45 pm: Dinner Break
05:30 pm - 06:30 pm: The War And Treaty
07:15 pm - 08:15 pm: I'm With Her
09:00 pm - 10:30 pm: Bonnie Raitt

Cabin Stage

11:00 am - 11:30 am: Todd Albright
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm: Rev. Robert Jones
01:30 pm - 02:00 pm: Fancy Hagood
02:45 pm - 03:15 pm: The Barefoot Movement
04:00 pm - 04:45 pm: Dinner Break
04:45 pm - 05:30 pm: Tami Neilson
06:30 pm - 07:15 pm: William Prince
08:15 pm - 09:00 pm: Stephen Wilson Jr.

Creekside Stage

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Jim Lauderdale and The Game Changers
12:15 pm - 01:00 pm: Mark Bumgarner
01:30 pm - 02:30 pm: Pete Wernick's FLEXIGRASS Jam
03:00 pm - 03:45 pm: Woody Platt and The Bluegrass Gentlemen
04:15 pm - 05:00 pm: The Barefoot Movement
05:30 pm - 06:30 pm: Kruger Brothers

Little Pickers Stage

11:00 am - 11:30 am: InterACTive Theater of JEF
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm: Pickin' Thistles
01:30 pm - 02:00 pm: Ella Hennessee
02:45 pm - 03:15 pm: The Wilder Flower
03:15 pm - 03:30 pm: Meet and Greet with Flattop
03:30 pm - 04:00 pm: The InterACTive Theater of JEF
04:30 pm - 05:00 pm: Presley Barker

"B" Townes americana Stage

11:30 am - 12:15 pm: Big Richard
12:45 pm - 01:30 pm: Six-String Soldiers
02:00 pm - 02:45 pm: Sweet Megg
03:15 pm - 04:00 pm: The Waybacks
04:30 pm - 05:15 pm: The Cleverlys
05:45 pm - 06:30 pm: Mattie Schell

Traditional Stage

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Songs of Doc Watson with Mitch Greenhill
12:30 pm - 01:15 pm: Wayne Henderson and Friends
02:00 pm - 02:45 pm: Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian From China To Appalachia
03:30 pm - 04:15 pm: Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth
05:00 pm - 05:45 pm: East Nash Grass
06:15 pm - 07:00 pm: Damn Tall Buildings

Pickin' Place

11:00 am - 10:00 pm: Jammin' at the Pickin' Place

Dance Stage

11:45 am - 12:30 pm: School Day Dance with Scythian
01:15 pm - 02:00 pm: Mattie Schell
02:45 pm - 03:30 pm: Damn Tall Buildings
04:15 pm - 05:00 pm: Theo Lawrence
07:15 pm - 08:15 pm: Tami Neilson
10:00 pm - 11:30 pm: Friday Night Dance with The Cleverlys

Austin Stage at Mayes Pit (Cohn Auditorium)

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Banjo Workshop with Pete Wernick, Jens Kruger, Greg Deering
12:20 pm - 12:35 pm: Jack Lawrence
12:40 pm - 12:55 pm: Carol Rifkin
01:00 pm - 01:15 pm: T. Michael Coleman
01:20 pm - 01:35 pm: Joe Smothers
01:40 pm - 02:00 pm: Presley Barker
02:30 pm - 03:15 pm: Thumbpicking Workshop Larry Nixon, Mike Palmer, Clay Lunsford, Josh Goforth, Wayne Henderson and Billy Gee
03:45 pm - 04:30 pm: Anatomy of a Guitar with Wayne Henderson
04:30 pm - 06:00 pm: Acoustic Kids with Andy May

Plaza Stage

11:00 am - 4:00 pm: Open Mic hosted by The Local Boys

Hillside Stage

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Fancy Hagood
12:15 pm - 01:00 pm: Kruger Brothers
01:30 pm - 02:15 pm: William Prince
02:45 pm - 03:30 pm: Big Richard
04:00 pm - 04:45 pm: Donna the Buffalo
05:15 pm - 06:15 pm: Sunset Sessions with Tony Trischka's Earl Jam

Walker Center Stage

11:30 am - 12:15 pm: East Nash Grass
12:45 pm - 01:30 pm: Theo Lawrence
02:00 pm - 02:45 pm: Full Cord
03:15 pm - 04:00 pm: Docabilly Blues Blowout with Mitch Greenhill and Friends
04:30 pm - 05:15 pm: Peter Rowan and The Walls of Time Band
11:00 pm - 12:30 am: Late Night Jam with Sam Bush and Friends

Autograph Tent

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Jim Lauderdale
03:00 pm - 3:30 pm: Fancy Hagood
04:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Damn Tall Buildings
05:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Full Cord
06:00 pm - 6:30 pm: The Cleverlys
07:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Tony Trischka
08:00 pm - 8:30 pm: East Nash Grass

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Watson Stage

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: MerleFest Veterans Jam with Jack Lawrence, Joe Smothers, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, and T Michael Coleman
01:15 pm - 02:00 pm: John McEuen and The Circle Band
02:30 pm - 03:15 pm: Paul McDonald and The Mourning Doves
03:45 pm - 04:30 pm: Donna the Buffalo
04:30 pm - 05:15 pm: Dinner Break
05:45 pm - 06:50 pm: The Altons and Thee Sinseers
07:35 pm - 09:05 pm: Sam Bush
09:50 pm - 11:20 pm: The Avett Brothers

Cabin Stage

11:15 am - 12:00 pm: Muireann Bradley
12:45 pm - 01:15 pm: Cristina Vane
02:00 pm - 02:30 pm: TopHouse
03:15 pm - 03:45 pm: Acoustic Kids ambassadors
04:30 pm - 05:15 pm: Dinner Break
05:15 pm - 05:45 pm: Emily Nenni
06:50 pm - 07:35 pm: John R. Miller
09:05 pm - 09:50 pm: The Steel Wheels

Creekside Stage

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Memories of The Watson Family hosted by T. Michael Coleman with Watson Family Friends
12:15 pm - 01:00 pm: Mitch Greenhill’s Journey in Song
01:30 pm - 02:30 pm: Mando Mania hosted by Tony Williamson
03:00 pm - 03:45 pm: Jeff Little Trio
04:15 pm - 05:00 pm: The Secret Sisters
05:30 pm - 06:30 pm: Hazel at 100, a Celebration of Hazel Dickens

Little Pickers Stage

11:15 am - 11:45 am: InterACTive Theater of JEF
11:45 am - 12:15 pm: Gravity Check Juggling
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm: Dear MariBella and The Pigkickers
12:45 pm - 01:00 pm: Meet and Greet with Flattop
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm: Open Mic for Kids 12 and Under with Larry Skipper
02:30 pm - 03:00 pm: Myles Gee
03:00 pm - 03:30 pm: Gravity Check Juggling
03:30 pm - 04:00 pm: Scythian's Cake For Dinner!
04:30 pm - 05:00 pm: Creekwater Collective
05:00 pm - 05:30 pm: Gravity Check Juggling

"B" Townes americana Stage

11:30 am - 12:15 pm: Humbird
12:45 pm - 01:30 pm: Della Mae
02:00 pm - 02:45 pm: Emily Nenni
03:15 pm - 04:00 pm: John R. Miller
04:30 pm - 05:15 pm: TopHouse
05:45 pm - 06:30 pm: Denitia

Traditional Stage

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Banknotes
12:15 pm - 01:00 pm: Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth
01:45 pm - 02:30 pm: The Fretliners
03:15 pm - 04:00 pm: Becky Buller
04:45 pm - 05:30 pm: Tony Williamson
06:15 pm - 07:00 pm: The Secret Sisters

Pickin' Place

11:00 am - 10:00 pm: Jammin' at the Pickin' Place

Dance Stage

11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Acoustic Kids Showcase with Andy May
01:00 pm - 01:45 pm: The Steel Wheels
02:30 pm - 03:15 pm: Cristina Vane
04:00 pm - 04:45 pm: The Hooten Hallers
05:30 pm - 06:15 pm: Paul McDonald and The Mourning Doves
07:15 pm - 08:15 pm: Donna the Buffalo

Austin Stage at Mayes Pit (Cohn Auditorium)

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Learn to Jam with Dr. Banjo Pete Wernick - BRING YOUR INSTRUMENT!
12:30 pm - 01:15 pm: History of MerleFest with B Townes
01:45 pm - 05:15 pm: The Greatest Acoustic Blue Show on Earth
02:05 pm - 02:35 pm: Charles Welch
02:35 pm - 03:20 pm: Todd Albright
03:20 pm - 04:05 pm: Rev. Robert Jones
04:05 pm - 04:50 pm: Muireann Bradley
04:50 pm - 05:15 pm: Roy Book Binder and Fats Kaplin
05:45 pm - 07:15 pm: Acoustic Kids with Andy May

Plaza Stage

11:30 am - 04:00 pm: MerleFest 2025 Band Competition with Host Mark Bumgarner
11:45 am - 12:00 pm: The Well Drinkers
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm: A Different Thread
12:45 pm - 01:00 pm: Corrie Lynn Green
01:15 pm - 01:30 pm: Ranford Almond
01:30 pm - 02:15 pm: Lunch Break
02:15 pm - 02:30 pm: Mama and The Ruckus
02:45 pm - 03:00 pm: Charlie Maples
03:15 pm - 03:30 pm: Upstream Rebellion
03:45 pm - 04:00 pm: Admiral Radio
04:30 pm - 04:45 pm: Band Contest Winner Announced
04:45 pm - 05:30 pm: Presley Barker

Hillside Stage

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Denitia
12:15 pm - 01:00 pm: Jim Lauderdale and The Game Changers
01:30 pm - 02:15 pm: Alison Brown
03:00 pm - 04:30 pm: Album Hour with The Waybacks
05:15 pm - 06:15 pm: Sunset Sessions with Asleep at the Wheel

Walker Center Stage

11:30 am - 12:15 pm: Alison Brown
12:45 pm - 01:30 pm: Becky Buller
02:00 pm - 02:45 pm: Kruger Brothers
03:15 pm - 04:00 pm: Humbird
04:30 pm - 05:30 pm: John McEuen and The Circle Band

Autograph Tent

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Humbird
02:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Della Mae
03:00 pm - 3:30 pm: The Steel Wheels
06:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Emily Nenni
08:30 pm - 9:00 pm: John R. Miller

Sunday April 27, 2025

Watson Stage

11:30 am - 12:15 pm: Fog Holler
12:45 pm - 01:45 pm: Peter Rowan's Walls of Time Band
02:35 pm - 03:35 pm: Leftover Salmon
04:20 pm - 06:00 pm: Watchhouse

Cabin Stage

11:00 am - 11:30 am: Andy May
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm: The Resonant Rogues
01:50 pm - 02:35 pm: Silent Auction Winners
03:35 pm - 04:20 pm: The Lil Smokies

Creekside Stage

11:00 am - 11:30 am: Sunday Morning Devotions with Roy Dobyns and Jeff Little
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Gospel Songs of Doc Watson with Jeff Little Trio and Friends
12:30 pm - 01:30 pm: Gospel Hour with Dale Ann Bradley

Little Pickers Stage

11:00 am - 11:30 am: Sing-A-Long with JEF and Laura Boosinger
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Gravity Check Juggling
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm: Carolina Detour
12:45 pm - 01:00 pm: Meet and Greet with Flattop
01:00 pm - 01:30 pm: InterACTive Theater of JEF
01:30 pm - 02:00 pm: Gravity Check Juggling
02:00 pm - 02:30 pm: 12 Note Map
03:00 pm - 03:30 pm: Gravity Check Juggling

"B" Townes americana Stage

11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Sunday Blues with Roy Book Binder featuring Charles Welch, Todd Albright, Rev. Robert Jones, and Fats Kaplin
01:00 pm - 01:45 pm: Florencia and The Feeling
02:15 pm - 03:00 pm: The Resonant Rogues
03:30 pm - 04:15 pm: Donna the Buffalo

Traditional Stage

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Pete and Joan Wernick's Traditional Jam
12:30 pm - 01:15 pm: Shaped Note Singing with Laura Boosinger
02:00 pm - 02:45 pm: Women Who Sing and Play Traditional featuring Carol Mallett Rifkin
03:30 pm - 04:15 pm: Wayne Henderson and Friends

Pickin' Place

11:00 am - 4:30 pm: Jammin' at the Pickin' Place

Dance Stage

11:45 am - 12:30 pm: The Fretliners
01:15 pm - 02:00 pm: Fog Holler
03:00 pm - 03:45 pm: Florencia and The Feeling

Hillside Stage

11:00 am - 11:45 am: Band Contest Winner
12:15 pm - 01:00 pm: The Local Boys
01:30 pm - 02:15 pm: The Lil Smokies
02:45 pm - 03:30 pm: Scythian

Autograph Tent

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm: The Fretliners
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Fog Holler
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm: The Resonant Rogues

Date:
April 24 - 27, 2025

Location:
Wilkes Community College,
1328 S Collegiate Dr,
Wilkesboro, NC 28697

Click here to Buy Tickets

Click here for more informstion