MerleFest, presented by Window World, has unveiled lineup details for its 2027 event, taking place over four unforgettable days from April 29–May 2 on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Acclaimed Americana duo Gillian Welch & David Rawlings are set to return, alongside Southern rock supergroup Toy Factory Project, North Carolina’s marquee folk-rock outfit The Avett Brothers, and country music queen Wynonna Judd. Also slated for the festival’s 39th installment is a special MerleFest “Delebration,” Del McCoury@88, honoring the bluegrass patriarch with Del McCoury & The Travelin’ McCourys. The lineup also features legacy pickers Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester, and Alison Brown, along with a parade of on-the-rise ensembles including Mountain Grass Unit, Magoo, The Brudi Brothers and more. View the complete lineup below.
Each year, MerleFest honors the legacy of North Carolina music legends Doc and Merle 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. For this year’s Late Night Jam, The Travelin’ McCourys present The Grateful Ball. The Late Night Jam continues to foster the spirit of collaboration, spontaneity, and shared musical discovery that has long defined the MerleFest experience. This separately-ticketed, after-hours event is the ideal nightcap for those looking to witness a night of groundbreaking, “only at MerleFest” moments. Visit merlefest.org/purchase for details and to stay tuned for guest announcements.
