The 2017 Merlefest is a Who’s-Who List of Roots Music Performers.
The lineup for the 2017 Merlefest is a head-spinning list of the best acts from across the Roots genre. The festival is being held April 27-30 on the campus of Wilkesboro Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. With 13 stages of music over four days, it will be a jam-packed showcase of Americana, bluegrass, and roots performances. The lineup includes:
The Avett Brothers, Sam Bush Band, Leftover Salmon, Zac Brown Band, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Sierra Hull, Del McCoury Band, Sarah Jarosz, Jim Lauderdale, Darrin and Brooke Aldridge, Bryan Sutton Band, Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, Claire Lynch, Mountain Heart, Roanoke, Pete and Joan Wernick, Bill Mathis,Tift Merrit, Jorma Kaukomen, John Driskell Hopkins Band, Alberti Flea Circus, Todd Albright, Jim Avett, Banknotes, The BattleAx Band, Bethel University Renaissance Bluegrass Band, Roy Bookbinder, The Bluegrass Experience, Laura Bossinger & the Midnight Plowboys, Mark “ Brink” Brinkman, Andy Buckner, Mark Baumgarner, Chatham County Line, T. Michael Coleman, The Contenders, J.P. Corimer, Counterclockwise String Band, Dear Brother, Pat Donohue, John Doyle, Eric Ellis, Flando Calrissian, Scott Freeman, Front Country, The Gravy Boys, The Green Grass Cloggers and Strictly Strings, Mitch Greenhill, Virgil Harden & the Appalachian Countdown, Nate Harris and Spice Creek Ramblers, Wayne Henderson, Bob Hill, David Hill, The Hook and Bullet, I Draw Slow, The InterACTive Theatre of Jef, Steve James, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, The Local Boys, Locust Honey String Band, Lydia Luce, Andy May, Pat McInerney, Meagan Nash, Carol Rifkin and Jeanette Queen, Scythian, ShadowGrass, Steve and Ruth Smith, Joe Smothers, Ed Snodderly, The Stray Birds, String Madness with Mitch Greenhill, Surry Line, Swift Creek, 10 String Symphony, Ken Tizzard, The Trailblazers, Happy Traum, Uncle Joe and the Shady Rest, The Waybacks, The WBT Briarhoppers, Charles Welch, Uncle Ted White and Tony Williamson.
Merlefest was founded in 1988 by the legendary Doc Watson as a tribute to his son Eddy “Merle” Watson who died in a tragic accident. In Doc’s own words, “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 festival will also have a multitude of activities for music lovers of all ages including shops, Little Pickers Family Area, Pickin’ Place, Acoustic Kids Showcases, Jam Camp, Songwriters Coffee House, nature walks and more. There are camping and hotel options in the Wilkesboro area, with shuttle buses running throughout the festival.
You can check out the Merlefest website for more information about tickets, lodging, activities, and directions. And you can check off some of those artists on your bucket list all at one place: at Merlefest this April 27-30 at Wilkesboro Community College!
Official website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
We created a Spotify playlist of this year’s Merlefest. Enjoy!