This year’s edition of MerleFest, which took place in Wilkesboro, North Carolina from April 24-27, 2025, was the epitome of how Doc Watson described the festival he and his wife Rosa Lee founded in 1988 to honor their son Merle — “traditional plus.” To make it even more inviting, the weather fully cooperated, as the predicted rain was replaced by cool mornings, sunny afternoons, and tranquil evenings. In other words, perfection.
As noted in this column’s preview, it seemed like there were more performers on the “plus” side of the equation than usual. Still, there was plenty of the traditional to satisfy even the most discerning of MerleFest veteran fans. Also of note is during my previous 25 years of attending this fest, I have always heard some grumbling about this or that. But not this year, as festival goers seemed to listen even more intently, more enthusiastically, and more persuasively.
