For tickets, camping and more info, visit www.redwingroots.com.
Red Wing Roots Music Festival announces full lineup for June 19-21, 2026, event at Natural Chimneys Park
Monthly Archives: April 2026
Jim Lauderdale releases latest album with the Po’Ramblin’ Boys at MerleFest 2026
One of the constants at MerleFest is that it will rain. Sometimes it’s just a few drops and sometimes it’s a downpour, but as someone who has attended this premiere outdoor (mostly) festival that celebrates all types of music faithfully for more than two decades, I can promise you that something will fall from the sky and this year was no different.
Photo by Pixels on Paper Photography
Another constant at MerleFest is Jim Lauderdale, who made his 29th appearance this year. You can always find Lauderdale, a native North Carolinian, performing on one stage or another as well as jumping in to jam with The Waybacks during the popular Album Hour or just walking around the Wilkes Community College campus on his way to or from another set chatting with other musicians or fans.
This year Lauderdale released his 39th album — yes, you read that right 39th — called “The Birds Know” with The Po’Ramblin’ Boys at MerleFest on April 24. Lauderdale kicked off Friday’s festivities on the Creekside Stage with tunes from his new bluegrass album as well as his 38th album, Country Super Hits Volume 2, which he released in March.
It’s not the first time the Americana legend has teamed up with IBMA Award-winning torchbearers The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. “The Birds Know” is a follow-up to 2023’s “The Long and Lonesome Letting Go” which also featured The Po’Ramblin’ Boys.
Continue readingMalpassfest is set for May 7-9 at Denton Farm Park
| Malpassfest promises to be a fun-filled weekend of incredible music, band meet-and-greets, camping, great food and shopping—all right on site. Three-day passes are only $100 through April 24. It’s a festival with something the whole family will enjoy! Don’t miss your chance to see the headliners, The Malpass Brothers, and catch other amazing performances from Riders In The Sky, The Grascals, The Kody Norris Show, Sister Sadie, and many more stellar acts. There will also be a jam session with The Malpass Brothers on Thursday and Friday nights beginning at 10:30 p.m. For tickets, camping information, and all the details, visit this link: https://dentonfarmpark.com/bluegrass-festival/ |
A dozen reasons to attend MerleFest 2026 on April 23-26
If you are already a fan of MerleFest, then you can skip to No. 1. For the uninitiated, however, MerleFest is the younger, Eastern cousin of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I discovered this gem of Americana festivals more than two decades ago after I moved to North Carolina from spending nearly a decade out West attending the Telluride festival. You may be surprised to learn that MerleFest has nothing to do with Merle Haggard, although that has proved confusing over the years. It was especially confusing the year the Hag himself closed out the four-day music festival. Instead it is named in memory of Eddy Merle Watson, son of bluegrass legend and North Carolina native Doc Watson. Known as one of the best flat-picking and slide guitarists of his generation, Merle Watson died in a farming accident in 1985 at the age of 36. Doc Watson started the Americana festival that bears his son’s name as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College in 1988 to honor his son and their style of music, that Doc referred to as “traditional plus,” meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles the Watsons were in the mood to play. We lost Doc Watson in 2012 but he and Merle Watson’s musical celebration continues on featuring bluegrass, Americana, country, blues, rock and many other styles. This year’s festival will play host to a diverse number of artists, performing on 13 stages during the course of the four-day event April 23-26. Watch this video from the very first #MerleFest 1988 featuring Mark O’Connor, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Sam Bush and John Cowan, many of whom will be performing this year. And while there are many more than 12 reasons to attend MerleFest, it seemed fitting to highlight a dozen reasons since that is the same number of stages the festival features.
Continue readingIt’s not too late to get tickets for MerleFest 2026 with headliners Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charles Wesley Godwin, Blackberry Smoke and many, many more on April 23-26
From the good folks over at MerleFest:
The countdown is officially underway as MerleFest, presented by Window World, makes final preparations for its 38th annual festival taking place April 23-26, 2026, on the campus of Wilkes Community College. This year’s event marks highly anticipated performances by 27-time GRAMMY winner Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Blackberry Smoke, plus a very special edition of the beloved Late Night Jam with Grand Ole Opry, hosted by Old Crow Medicine Show.
Tickets for the MerleFest Late Night Jam with Grand Ole Opry are available now at the box officeand online until sold out. With Old Crow Medicine Show as the house band, the Late Night Jam is sure to turn into a full-fledged jubilee –– an Opry-inspired showcase built on collaboration,spontaneity, and deep musical roots. With a rotating cast of guests including Charlie Starr, Willie Watson, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Maggie Rose, and more, the night promises the kind of once-in- a-lifetime moments that define MerleFest.
Festival goers can also catch Old Crow Medicine Show across multiple special performances throughout the weekend, including a full-album set of O.C.M.S. and Big Iron World featuring special guest Willie Watson on the Watson Stage (Friday, 9:00-11:00 p.m.), as well as a special acoustic Hillside set (Saturday, 1:30-2:15 p.m.). The fan-favorite Album Hour returns to the Hillside Stage on Saturday (3:15-4:45 p.m.), hosted by The Waybacks.
Additional programming highlights include the Docabilly Blues Blowout at the Walker Center (Friday, 3:15-4:00 p.m.), featuring appearances by Amelia Day, Jim Lauderdale, Uwe Kruger, and more. Download the official MerleFest mobile app to start planning your weekend and ensure you never miss a beat.
The WCC Foundation is thrilled to continue the Silent Auction this year, featuring the convenience of online bidding and the chance to view items in person throughout the festival.You can browse and place bids before and during the festival — all without missing a beat of the music. This year’s auction will showcase an even greater variety of distinctive, high-quality items, and the 50/50 Raffle is back for another exciting year! Proceeds support the SAGE (Supporting Academic Goals for Education) First Year Experience program, empowering students to start strong and achieve their goals. For more information or to bid now visit merlefest.org/silent-auction.
MerleFest 2026 tickets are available now. For general admission passes, Late Night Jam tickets, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase. Save by purchasing advance tickets before April 22.
Scythian announces String Break Cruise 2027 full lineup
Here’s the latest from your favorite Celtic rockers Scythian:
Headlining this musical juggernaut is the Grammy-Winning Steep Canyon Rangers! One of North Carolina’s most beloved bands, the Steeps are a headliner in the Bluegrass-Americana circuit, and their show will leave you with a grin on their face.
Next up we have String Break I favorites Carbon Leaf returning for another epic adventure on the high seas. Carbon Leaf’s brand of Indy Folk blends radio-ready tunes with masterful lyrics which will have you laughing, crying and dancing all in one set!
Indy-folk phenoms Tophouse are blowing things up while committing to their third straight String Break Cruise. Aside from being a viral internet sensation, Tophouse has received a standing ovation at their Grand Ole Opry debut, opened for Molly Tuttle at the Ryman, made their MERLEFEST debut and will be releasing their much anticipated new music starting in Gebruary! It’s starting to feel that String Break wouldn’t be String Break without Tophouse and we’re thrilled to have them back!
Yet another Virginia favorite – The Steel Wheels – is making their String Break debut, and we couldn’t be more pumped! If you joined us for Appaloosa 2025, you will recognize the founders of Redwing Roots Music Festival, who have long been favorites on the Americana music scene and their music is a masterful marriage of folk music with pop sensibilities.
JigJam (AKA, Jiggy Jiggy Jam Jam…if you know you know) AND The Elders will ALSO be returning for their second year in a row!
JigJam’s star keeps on rising as they solidify their status as the inventors of “iGrass” (Irish Bluegrass). The lads from Tullamore are quickly becoming favorites in the bluegrass world. With several Grand Ole Opry performances under their belts, you may see members popping up on stage with Sierra Ferrel here and there and their resume keeps on growing and growing.
The Elders are perhaps the most talented songwriters on the Irish circuit, and their fanbase follows them whenever they leave their home of Kansas City. If any band owned a city, it is The Elders and Kansas City. Almost 200 fans joined them aboard this past year, and it promises to be yet another epic set of shows in 2027!
We’re fired up to welcome back Socks in the Frying Pan for their THIRD straight year aboard String Break! The lads from County Clare bring blistering Irish trad, tight-as-a-drum harmonies, and the kind of onstage chemistry that turns every set into a full-blown session. And of course…the “friendly feud” with Tophouse continues. There may or may not be exaggerated storytelling. There may or may not be questionable attempts at Irish accents from certain Montana-based individuals. And there will absolutely be musical fireworks.
Upstate New York-based Driftwood made a huge splash at Appaloosa 2025 earning them a slot on String Break III. Their mix of male and female lead vocals creates a variety which hooks the listener and makes them feel like all their worries have melted away and they’re sitting on the deck of a ship somewhere in the Caribbean (hmmm…)
Closing out this incredible lineup is long-time Scythian buddies House of Hamill! Founded by the former lead singer of Enter the Haggis, House of Hamill is the perfect marriage of Celtic and Americana (kind of like String Break Cruise!) If you like harmonies, House of Hamill is your band.
We’re also thrilled to welcome Hilary Klug as an official Special Guest on String Break Cruise III! A Nashville-based fiddler, champion buck dancer, and viral sensation, Hilary has carved out a one-of-a-kind lane in the acoustic world. With roots in traditional Appalachian music and a modern energy that’s captivated millions online, Hilary brings authenticity, charisma, and serious chops to every stage she steps on!
Now that we gave you some info on the lineup, let’s get down to important navigational details (don’t abandon ship just yet)!
From Jan. 17–23, 2027, we’ll be casting off from Ft. Lauderdale’s Everglades Port and charting a course through pure paradise. Our stops include the Bahamas, Princess Cays, and Grand Turk — because if you’re going to pick and grin till the sun comes up, you might as well do it somewhere with turquoise water and a drink with an umbrella in it!
String Break Cruise III is ALL-INCLUSIVE
🍹 Princess Plus — automatically included!
Every guest is automatically enrolled in the Princess Plus package, and yes…it rules. This means
- Staff gratuities included
- WiFi for one device
- 15 FREE drinks per day (up to $15 each — cheers!)
- Two premium desserts a day
- Two casual dining meals
- Two fitness classes
All included. No extra math. No surprise charges. Just smooth sailing. And you can always upgrade your package for more perks!
💰 ZERO RISK — ALL REWARD!
Your deposit is FULLY REFUNDABLE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. That’s right — you can secure your spot now with absolutely no worries! Drop anchor early and relax.
!!! You MUST book through Travel Professionals !!!
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: To access ANY String Break Cruise activities, you must book through Travel Professionals. If you book through Princess Cruises or any other website, you’ll be sailing…but you will not have access to String Break events. We don’t want anyone lost at sea on this one!
🛌 Cabins go faster than a stiff tailwind!
Remember, we’re already pushing 600 signups and last year sellout was at 950. This ship will sell out fast! The best rooms disappear QUICK, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. If you care about where you’re bunking, it’s best to sign up TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF STRING BREAK CRUISE!
Three cruises in, and somehow each one gets bigger, louder, and more special. We cannot adequately express how blessed we are to have been given this incredible opportunity to build such a wonderful community through this project. And it’s all thanks to each and every single one of you who has supported us along the way! String Break Cruise isn’t for us – it’s for you.
Thank you for helping us get this far – now let’s test the limits and see how far we can really go!
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