Wanna be first to hear who’s playing the 2026 Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival? Come to our free Lineup Announcement live event on May 12, part of our weekly Beer and Banjos concert at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh.
From 6:30-9 p.m., you’ll hear music from the Beer and Banjos All-Stars and a guest band, and we’ve got some extra fun in store as we unveil the festival lineup. It’ll also be the first opportunity to buy our brand-new 2026 festival merch – yes, our beloved banjo-hoisting squirrel will be prominently featured!
Beer and Banjos is a free, family-friendly evening of roots music every Tuesday at Raleigh’s Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard. Hosted by the mighty local musicians known collectively as the Beer and Banjos Allstars, these weekly concerts feature guest musicians and take place on Bowstring’s spacious patio when the weather allows, or inside by the bar when rain, heat, or cold threaten the vibe.
Tips for the musicians are gratefully accepted (look for a helper walking around with a bucket for cash and QR codes for online tips), and don’t forget to check out the merch table. Bowstring serves tasty pizza and other food as well as cold beer and other beverages.
Learn more about Beer and Banjos events statewide here.
Parking at Bowstring Brewyard can fill up fast. If you arrive and find the parking lot full, here are some options:
PAY PARKING: Exit the Bowstring parking lot by turning right onto Wake Forest Road, then quickly take a right (at the light) onto E. Whitaker Mill Rd. Turn right into the parking lot of the StorageMax and look for a kiosk to pay.
FREE PARKING: Turn right out of the Bowstring parking lot and quickly turn left at the light onto E. Whitaker Mill Rd. Turn left into the parking lot of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. It’s about a 5-10 minute walk back to Bowstring from there.
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.
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.
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 2026tickets 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.
WILKESBORO –– MerleFest, presented by Window World, has revealed a star-studded roster joining its highly anticipated Late Night Jam hosted by Old Crow Medicine Show.
The beloved MerleFest tradition promises unforgettable collaborations between special guests including Charlie Starr (of Blackberry Smoke), Maggie Rose, The Creekers, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, DUG, Donna the Buffalo, and more to be announced.
MerleFest is proud to once again welcome our 2026 Acoustic Kids Showcases with Andy May. Since 2001, the Acoustic Kids program has given young musicians of any skill level the opportunity to perform on festival stages in a supportive environment.
Beginner through pro, all musicians 18 or younger are welcome to participate and share their music with the MerleFest audience. Each year, we host three 1.5-hour showcases and a half-hour Acoustic Kids Ambassadors set.
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. Stay tuned for more details at merlefest.org/silent-auction.
MerleFest 2026 tickets are available now, including the highly anticipated Late Night Jam. For general admission passes, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.
About MerleFest MerleFest, presented by Window World, was founded in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Garden of the Senses at Wilkes Community College to memorialize world-renowned flatpicker Doc Watson’s late son, Eddy Merle Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of “traditional plus” music, a unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including old-time, classic country, bluegrass, folk and gospel, blues, and expanded to include Americana, classic rock, and many other styles. The festival hosts a diverse mix of artists on its 12 stages during the course of the multi-day event. MerleFest is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, funding scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, will hold its 38th annual festival April 23-26, 2026 on the campus of Wilkes Community College, featuring a who’s who of “traditional plus” talent.
Slated for the highly anticipated weekend are headliners Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Blackberry Smoke, alongside standouts like Molly Tuttle, Railroad Earth, and The Infamous Stringdusters, to name a few. Today, MerleFest unveiled its complete 2026 schedule for all 12 stages, now available online and via the official MerleFest Mobile App. Free to download on iOS and Android devices, the app features set times, artist bios, a festival map, and more — serving as an all-in-one tool for fans planning their weekend.
In addition to exploring the schedule, fans can now browse the official 2026 MerleFest merchandise collection through the festival’s online store. Festival merchandise is available to shop for a limited time in advance of the April 23-26 weekend, giving attendees the opportunity to pre-order festival favorites and show their MerleFest spirit year-round.
MerleFest is proud to once again welcome our 2026 Acoustic Kids Showcases with Andy May. Since 2001, the Acoustic Kids program has given young musicians of any skill level the opportunity to perform on festival stages in a supportive environment. Beginner through pro, all musicians 18 or younger are welcome to participate and share their music with the MerleFest audience. Each year, we host three 1.5-hour showcases and a half-hour Acoustic Kids Ambassadors set.
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. Online bidding for both the Silent Auction and the 50/50 Raffle will launch on April 6th. Stay tuned for more details at merlefest.org/silent-auction.
MerleFest 2026 tickets are available now, including the highly anticipated Late Night Jam featuring host Old Crow Medicine Show, guests Charlie Starr (of Blackberry Smoke), Maggie Rose, The Creekers, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, DUG, Donna the Buffalo, and more. For general admission passes, reserved seating, backstage tours, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.
About MerleFest
MerleFest, presented by Window World, was founded in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Garden of the Senses at Wilkes Community College to memorialize world-renowned flatpicker Doc Watson’s late son, Eddy Merle Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of “traditional plus” music, a unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including old-time, classic country, bluegrass, folk and gospel, and blues, and expanded to include Americana, classic rock, and many other styles. The festival hosts a diverse mix of artists on its 12 stages during the course of the multi-day event. MerleFest is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, funding scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.
About Window World®
Window World®, headquartered in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is America’s largest replacement window and exterior remodeling company, with more than 225 locally owned franchises nationwide. Founded in 1995, the company sells and installs windows, siding, doors, and other exterior products, with over 23 million windows sold and installed to date. Window World is an ENERGY STAR® partner and its windows, vinyl siding and entry doors have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal. Through its charitable foundation, Window World Cares®, Window World and its franchisees provide funding for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Since its inception in 2008, the foundation has raised over $19 million for St. Jude. Window World also supports veterans through its Window World Military Initiative (WWMI). WWMI defines Window World’s commitment to honor and serve America’s veterans, active military, and military families across the entire franchise system by focusing on three pillars: Careers, Community Outreach and Partnerships. The Veterans Airlift Command has been a partner since 2008. During that time, Window World has contributed over $3.0 million in flights and donations to the organization. For more information, visit WindowWorld.com or call 1-800 WINDOWWORLD. For home improvement and energy efficiency tips, décor ideas, and more, follow Window World on Facebook and Instagram.
MerleFest will host its 11th Annual Band Competition, where eight talented finalists will compete for the opportunity to perform on MerleFest’s iconic Hillside Stage.
The competition performances will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, April 25, on the Plaza Stage with the winner announced at 4:30 p.m.
The competition provides a platform for bluegrass, Americana, and old-time bands to gain exposure, with the winner earning a prestigious slot at 11 a.m.on the Hillside Stage on Sunday, April 26.
Past winners of the MerleFest Band Competition include Mama & The Ruckus (2025), Melissa McKinney (2024), The Burnett Sisters Band & Colin Ray (2022), Will Easter and Shay Martin Lovette (2019). The competition, often featuring roots-oriented talent, has also seen winning artists such as Ashley Heath & Her Heathens, Fireside Collective, The Trailblazers and Into the Fog.
Listen up: The 22nd rendition of the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance held in the bucolic, rolling hills of Chatham County, North Carolina, just a short drive from Raleigh or Greensboro, is set for May 7-10, 2026.
Headliners for this year’s event, hosted by festival founders Donna the Buffalo, include returning acts Rising Appalachia, Chatham Rabbits and Jim Lauderdale, among many others.
Holiday Ticket Special through January 19 4-Day Admission = $139* 4-Day Youth (13-15) Admission = $72* *PLUS APPLICABLE FEES
MerleFest, presented by Window World, has unveiled lineup details in a press release for its 2026 event, taking place over four unforgettable days from April 23–26 on the campus of Wilkes Community College.
Fourteen-time GRAMMY winners Alison Krauss & Union Station will mark their long-awaited return to the MerleFest stage since their Sunday night closing appearance at the festival’s 25th celebration.
Also making a comeback are Old Crow Medicine Show, a longtime festival favorite whose ties to its founding legend Doc Watson trace back to the turn of the millennium. The revelrous string ensemble will also play host to this year’s Late Night Jam –– a beloved MerleFest tradition that was revived last year after a brief hiatus. Also on the bill are golden-voiced West Virginia singer/songwriter Charles Wesley Godwin, hard-driving Southern rock stalwarts Blackberry Smoke, decorated flatpicker and vocalist Molly Tuttle, along with Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Creekers, Trey Hensley, and many more. Additional acts will be announced in December, organizers say.
Each year, MerleFest honors the legacy of North Carolina music legend Doc Watson while celebrating and uplifting the next generation of talent. Its “traditional plus” framework invites curiosity and exploration among performers and attendees alike, creating a festival experience that is always fresh while preserving the soul of what makes MerleFest such a cherished annual tradition. One can’t-miss experience this year is the Saturday night Late Night Jam, hosted by Old Crow Medicine Show. This separately-ticketed, after-hours event is the ideal nightcap for those looking to witness a night of groundbreaking, “only at MerleFest” collaborations. Visit merlefest.org/purchase for details and to stay tuned for guest announcements.
MerleFest 2026 will also welcome Sam Bush, The Jerry Douglas Band, Peter Rowan & The Walls of Time Band, Sister Sadie, Jake Shimabukuro, Hogslop String Band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Melissa Carper, Leon Timbo & The Family Band, DUG, Scythian, Donna The Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, The Waybacks, Amelia Day, Andy May, Banknotes, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, The InterACTive Theatre of Jef, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Joe Smothers, The Knackered Ramblers, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen, Pete & Joan Wernick, Presley Barker, Roy Book Binder, T. Michael Coleman, Tony Williamson and Wayne Henderson, with additional artists to be announced in the coming weeks.
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. Stay tuned for more details at merlefest.org/silent-auction.
MerleFest 2026 tickets are available now. For general admission passes, as well as covered patio seating, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.
MerleFest volunteer applications are now open. As a volunteer, participants will receive free entry to the festival for the entire day of their shift, free parking and shuttle, and 10% off camping at River’s Edge Campground. Most importantly, volunteers will be supporting a major fundraiser for Wilkes Community College. Please visit merlefest.org/volunteer to sign up before the April 15 deadline.
Apply to be a MerleFest vendor! Vendors are carefully selected to provide a variety of quality and unique goods for every MerleFest fan. Included in the vendor fee is the cost of your tent, tent setup, fire extinguisher, gutters, table, chairs, lightbulb for night time illumination, on-campus security, as well as general admission passes for the entire festival and one on-campus parking pass. Simply put, it’s a great deal! Please visit merlefest.org/vendors to apply now before the application window closes on Jan. 15.
Apply to be a MerleFest food vendor! MerleFest is looking for a few select non-profit organizations to fill availability in the main food tent! If your civic organization or local non-profit has food service experience and would like to participate, please visit merlefest.org/vendors to apply. The application window closes on Dec. 1.
Apply to be a food truck vendor! MerleFest is accepting applications for food trucks. A limited number of food trucks will be featured in the Shoppes at MerleFest. These vendors will be carefully selected in order to bring only the best offerings and service to our fans. Please visit merlefest.org/vendors to apply now before the application window closes on Dec. 1.
Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival has announced the artist lineup for the 16th annual rendition on May 21-24, 2026, of one of my favorite festivals!
Returning to bucolic Pop’s Farm just outside Martinsville, Virginia, festival organizers have expanded the previously announced lineup to more than 45 performers, including headliner St. Paul & The Broken Bones.
Other new arrivals among the many jam scene favorites scheduled to perform across Roaster Walk’s six stages include Kitchen Dwellers. Keller Williams, Maggie Rose, Dumpstaphunk, Shadowgrass, Clay Street Unit and Dizgo. This intergenerational group of artists will join the performers confirmed with the festival’s initial lineup announcement in October, including Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Mountain Grass Unit, Eggy, John Brown’s Body, Yarn, Holy Roller Music, Caitlin Krisko and the Broadcast, Tan & Sober Gentlemen and Isaac Hadden.
In keeping with its founding mission, proceeds from the 2026 Rooster Walk will go to a range of regional and local charities, including the Penn-Shank Memorial Scholarship Fund – a college scholarship fund that spurred the festival’s inaugural presentation and remains at its heart. Rooster Walk has raised more than $378,000 for its charitable partners since its founding.
Tickets for Rooster Walk 16 are available now. Learn more at roosterwalk.com
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