MERLEFEST 2013
PRESENTED BY LOWE'S
A HUGE SUCCESS

MerleFest, presented by Lowe's, has come to a close for another year. Early estimates show that, from its start on Thursday, April 25, to its close on Sunday, April 28, aggregate participation over the festival's four days exceeded 76,000 participants, staying level with last year's numbers. MerleFest, held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Endowment Corporation, funding scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs.

"This year we thought it was important to celebrate the life and music of our dear friend Doc Watson," said Ted Hagaman, director of the festival. "For the past 25 years he has been the artistic center of MerleFest, so everyone – musicians and fans – came together as a family to pay special tribute to the man and the musician who meant so much to us all."

"We deeply appreciate the support of the great folks of Wilkes County, everyone who works here at the college, and of course our volunteers and fans, for making this all possible," added Hagaman. "With over 90 artists playing on 14 stages, representing everything from bluegrass and blues, to gospel, country and Americana, we feel that we succeeded again in giving our festival guests a great value for their entertainment dollars."

Performers who turned in riveting performances at MerleFest 2013 include The Avett Brothers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Leon Russell, The Charlie Daniels Band, Gov't Mule, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, American Legacies: The Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Donna the Buffalo, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Peter Rowan, Scythian, Roy Book Binder, the Kruger Brothers and many more.

MerleFest is known for its warm, inviting family atmosphere. A key part of that effort is the new and improved Little Pickers area, sponsored by Charlotte and Greensboro area Burger King Restaurants®. Designed with kids in mind, the area offers activities and crafts to enhance children's experiences at MerleFest - including their own chance to perform at the MerleFest Youth Showcase. Also, children 12 years of age and younger were admitted free to the festival when accompanied by an adult with paid admission.

A significant part of MerleFest's mission is to give back to the community. In that spirit, the outreach program took place on Thursday, with more than 20 of the artists at MerleFest 2013 giving performances for nearly 10,000 children at local schools. In addition, on Friday morning more than 3,500 school children from Wilkes and surrounding counties attended the festival.

Volunteers are integral to the success of MerleFest. Over 600 individual volunteers, over 100 volunteer stagehands, and over 70 volunteer groups, including college and community organizations, helped to make the festival a success. Also, each food vendor at MerleFest supports a local non-profit, with proceeds going to further their work and mission. "Quite simply, MerleFest would not be possible without the support of our 4,000+ volunteers," says festival director Ted Hagaman. "Some of these individuals and organizations have given of their time since the festival began, and we are so grateful to them."

Please join us next year for MerleFest: April 24–27, 2014.

MerleFest, considered one of the premier music festivals in the country, is an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the late Eddy Merle Watson, son of American music legend Doc Watson who passed away May 29, 2012. MerleFest is a celebration of "traditional plus" music, a unique mix of music based on the traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, and expanded to include Americana, country, blues, rock and many other styles. The festival hosts over 90 artists, performing on 14 stages during the course of the four-day event. The annual event has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Endowment Corporation, funding scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs.