Merlefest This Weekend!

The late, great  Doc Watson

Roots and Americana fans will be converging on the campus of  Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina for Merlefest this coming weekend (April 25-28.)

This fest is in its 26th year, and this will be the first without eight-time Grammy winner Doc Watson, who died in March 2012. Doc founded the festival to honor the memory of Merle Watson, his late son and picking partner who died in a tractor accident in 1985.

This year's lineup includes The Avett Brothers, Sam Bush, Gov’t Mule, John Cowan, Peter Rowan, Del McCoury and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Donna The Buffalo, Leon Russell, Jerry Douglas, Delta Rae, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charlie Daniels Band, Michael Martin Murphy, Leon Russell, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, The Waybacks and more.

This is not an on-site camping fest, other than a lot for RVs (with no electricity hookups.) There are private campgrounds, cabins, motels, and homes for rent in the area. Shows are held in various venues throughout the campus. It's a very family-friendly crowd -- you can't bring alcohol into the venue.

Tickets: Four-day general admission, $150; Thursday, $40; Friday, $55; Saturday, $60; Sunday, $45.

In the early evening on Saturday, Sam Bush will lead an all-star lineup of 15 or so musicians who knew Doc and Merle best in a tribute that will include film clips and interviews with Doc. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band headlines on Saturday. 

WMVY Radio in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts (now an online-only station) has a great archive where you can stream past Merlefest performances.