The annual concert series is held in a spacious outdoor amphitheater at the base of Fisher Peak just off The Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 213) between Galax, Virginia, and Mount Airy, North Carolina.
* Dori Freeman (July 26) * Donna The Buffalo (Aug. 2) * Sister Sadie (Aug. 16) * Paul Thorn (Aug. 23) * Del McCoury Band (Aug 30)
In addition to the Saturday concerts the Music Center also offers:
Midday Mountain Music: Free local and regional music from 12-3 p.m. every day the Music Center is open on the breezeway. Milepost Music: Free concerts from 2-4 p.m. Sundays from June through September at iconic destinations on the Parkway. On the Road: Throughout the year, the Music Center presents events at partner locations off the Parkway or virtually.
Visit the FAQ page for more information about concerts.
Missing the IBMA Bluegrass Live! Fest? You aren’t alone. For some boot-stomping fun in its place, head on over to the North Carolina foothills for MerleFest 2025, the annual homecoming of bluegrass, Americana, folk and almost every other kind of music in between in Wilkesboro.
From April 24–27, the campus of Wilkes Community College will become a musical menagerie with more than 100 musicians taking to 13 stages—exactly what founder and legend late Doc Watson intended when he named the Americana festival after his son and fellow guitarist, Merle.
The 37th MerleFest promises some incredible musical moments and memories with a lineup that includes the much-anticipated return of NC natives The Avett Brothers and Watchhouse (formerly known as Mandolin Orange), and the first-time appearance of icon Bonnie Raitt, whose music—like MerleFest—spans blues, folk, pop, country, rock and R&B.
Triangle-based The Barefoot Movement is also returning to MerleFest, along with another local band, A Different Thread, out of Chapel Hill, which is among the eight hopefuls competing in the 10th Annual Band Competition, where finalists vie for the opportunity to perform on MerleFest’s iconic Hillside Stage.
Late Night Jam Returns Making a surprise return this year, The Bluegrass Situation will present the Late Night Jam hosted by Sam Bush and featuring a super-set of collaborations with East Nash Grass, Jack Lawrence, Joe Smothers, Peter Rowan, T. Michael Coleman, Tony Trischka, Woody Platt (formerly of the Steep Canyon Rangers) and more.
“The Late Night Jam was always a unique and fun bonus set of music where you never knew who would show up or what you might hear,” says MerleFest Artist Relations Manager Lindsay Craven. “We took a pause on this offering so we could revamp and revitalize it for our fans and bring it back bigger and better than ever. Late Night Jam with Sam Bush and Friends will embody the spirit of MerleFest with unique collaborations you can only see here, and the highest-quality musical performances in the roots scene.”
Beyond its unparalleled musical offerings, MerleFest 2025 will also offer visitors a chance to explore the rich history of the festival through the MerleFest Archives and Oral Histories, now on display at the Appalachian State University Libraries. The exhibit spans the festival’s journey from its founding in 1988 to the present day through a curated collection of performance recordings, photographs and memorabilia, providing a glimpse into the festival’s growth and impact.
The state’s second-largest tourist draw, which acts as a fundraiser for WCC, will also offer shopping from a variety of vendors at The Shoppes at MerleFest, the Little Pickers Family Area, the Acoustic Kids Showcase, Jam Camp, Pickers Place, a wide range of good eats that double as fundraisers for the local community, and even nature walks and backstage tours. One-day general admission tickets from $90, multiday tickets from $245, merlefest.org.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, will make its return to Wilkes Community College the weekend of April 24-27, 2025, continuing its tradition of blending incredible music with a deep commitment to its community.
This year’s festival will once again showcase four days of unforgettable performances, while honoring the rich legacy of Doc and Merle Watson. Fans from all over will gather once more in the scenic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains for this iconic event.
MerleFest is proud to once again welcome our 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. Pre-registration is required to participate in Acoustic Kids and is open from February 1 through March 15 (or until all showcases are full, whichever comes first). Register earlyto hold your spot! Online registration, showcase schedules, and FAQs are available at https://andymay.com/acoustic-kids/acoustic-kids-merlefest/, and detailed registration instructions are at https://andymay.com/acoustic-kids/registration-instructions/.
School Day and Outreach – MerleFest School Day hosts students and their teachers from area middle and high schools on Friday to enjoy the festival free of charge. Over 2,300 school children from Wilkes and surrounding counties attend MerleFest annually through the MerleFest School Day program. In addition to welcoming students to MerleFest, the MerleFest Outreach program brings MerleFest to the students. The MerleFest Outreach program enhances regional education by showcasing performances from festival artists in 17 public elementary and middle schools, giving many students who may otherwise not be able to attend a face-to-face encounter with the artists and their craft. This program reaches 5,900 students annually.
The WCC Foundation is pleased to announce that we’ve added a new twist to our Silent Auction! This year’s Silent Auction offers mobile bidding so that festival guests and supporters can view items and place bids even before the festival begins. During the festival, you will be able to place bids from the comfort of your seats. Stay tuned for more details at merlefest.org/silent-auction.
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.
The 2025 MerleFest Mobile App, is available now for Apple and Android devices. Start planning your weekend with performance schedules, reminders, and artist discovery through the official MerleFest 2025 Spotify playlist.
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.
The North Carolina Museum of History is embarking on a transformative journey that will redefine how visitors experience the state’s rich history. As part of this project, the physical museum building will close to the public on October 7 to begin an exciting makeover that will last two to three years. The Museum Shop will remain open to the public until December 29, 2024.
Don’t miss your chance to visit the museum before it closes. With two exciting concerts planned, this final weekend will punctuate the many wonderful years of programming and exhibits the museum has brought to the community. Following the museum building’s closure, Tar Heel Troubadours will experience a brief pause during this time.
From 7–9:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, there will be a performance by Rissi Palmer, who is known for her groundbreaking work in country and R&B music, coining her own genre called “Southern Soul.” She advocates for musicians of color and those marginalized in mainstream country through her radio showColor Me Country with Rissi Palmeron Apple Music Country. Palmer will be joined by Miko Marks has created a unique sound by blending country, blues, southern rock, and gospel. Her warm and soulful spirit has drawn widespread acclaim, establishing her as a catalyst for change in the country music genre.
The Henhouse Prowlers will perform from 7–9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. The group has been spreading their powerful and original music for nearly two decades. Their latest album, Lead and Iron, showcases their songwriting and intricate instrumentation. The band has also been working with the US State Department and their nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors, to tour more than 25 countries, bridging cultural gaps through music and education. Their experiences in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East have shaped their worldview and influenced their approach to incorporating international elements into their traditional American music repertoire.
A new exhibit, “African American Musicians of North Carolina,” is coming to the City of Raleigh Museum! Visitors can view the materials from Aug. 4, 2023, through Oct. 29, 2023.
“African American Musicians of North Carolina” celebrates the contributions of individuals and bands to regional and popular culture. In addition to a title and introductory panel, seven panels feature various musical genres and celebrate some of our state’s most notable musicians and sounds. Genres, or musical styles, include string bands, blues, gospel, jazz, soul, funk, and hip hop. A final panel highlights N.C. Arts Council’s African American Music Trail through the state’s central coastal plain. An interactive touch screen allows users to learn more about several musicians and listen to examples of Black North Carolinians’ musical creations.
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources created this traveling exhibit to help cultural heritage institutions statewide connect with local communities, according to the City of Raleigh’s website.
The exhibit is part of the department’s “Come Hear NC” initiative, which celebrates North Carolina’s musical traditions, artists and legacy. Learn more at www.ncarts.org/comehearnc.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Christmas is coming early to the North Carolina Museum of History, which is celebrating its 120th birthday on Saturday, Dec. 3.
In honor of the occasion, the museum is featuring free admission all day to its current ticketed exhibit “The Power of Women in Country Music.” And from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be live on-site broadcasting from the Triangle’s country music station WQDR, specially themed treats, a special birthday promotion in the Museum Shop, and more, according to the museum’s website.
From international superstars, including Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, Shania Twain and Taylor Swift, to contemporary North Carolina artists, such as Rhiannon Giddens, Rissi Palmer and Kasey Tyndall, “The Power of Women in Country Music,” is on loan from the GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles. The exhibit highlights the past, present and future of country music’s greatest female trailblazers.
Artifacts include Swift’s white “Mean” dress and banjo as well as a replication of the wooden cabin the pop star performed in front of at the 2021 Grammy awards. Palmer’s microphone she uses on her podcast, “Color Me Country.”
The exhibit opened to rave reviews on Oct. 28 and runs through Feb. 26, 2023. “This empowering exhibition will be amplified with a special concert series, author series, family events and activities, and much more,” the museum website states.
One of the concerts, Southern Songbirds: Alice Gerrard and Friends, is free and set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, at the museum. “Gerrard will join us with special guests for a screening of her biopic, “You Gave Me a Song,” followed by a short performance and Q & A with the artist. Gerrard will be joined by Tatiana Hargreaves and Dashawn Hickman. This event will be emceed by legendary North Carolina native Jim Lauderdale,” the museum stated in an email.
From international superstars, including Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, Shania Twain and Taylor Swift, to contemporary North Carolina artists, such as Rhiannon Giddens, Rissi Palmer and Kasey Tyndall, “The Power of Women in Country Music,” coming to the North Carolina Museum of History from the GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles, highlights the past, present, and future of country music’s greatest female trailblazers.
This empowering exhibition will be amplified with a special concert series, author series, family events and activities and more. Tickets are available at this link: Purchase tickets!
“The Power of Women in Country Music” will take visitors on a journey through the history of women in country music, from the early years and post–World War II to the emergence of Nashville as a country music mecca and to female country artists becoming international pop sensations. The exhibit will feature artifacts, such as instruments and costumes, and special content from a diverse roster of 70 female country artists.
Be sure to save these dates for our Southern Songbirds concert series too, emceed by legendary North Carolina native Jim Lauderdale:
musicreporterblog 