The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

Newsletter Signup

Get our news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

* indicates required

Annual MerleFest keeps Watsons’ memory alive

by Kelsey Hamm, Intern A&E Reporter

The 27th annual MerleFest Music Festival in Wilkesboro will host 130 performances across 13 stages April 24 to 27 with Merle Haggard and Alan Jackson headlining the bunch.

MerleFest began in 1988 and is celebrated every year in honor of American folk music icon Doc Watson and his son Eddy Merle Watson, festival director Tad Hagamen said.warren-Merle-646

Hagamen, who graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in business in 1978, said that a wide range of genres such as bluegrass, old-time music, country, blues and rock are all represented at the festival.

“My team and I try to figure out which bands might be coming out with a new record, or if there are artists with unique situations that suit MerleFest,” Hagamen said.

The line-up for this year also includes Old Crow Medicine Show and The Steep Canyon Rangers. MerleFest publicist Judy McDonough said that the wide range of music helps to foster the festival’s family-friendly atmosphere.

“Keeping the festival both musically diverse and family-friendly was important to Doc Watson, and it remains important to us,” McDonough said.

Hagamen said Appalachian students make up a huge part of the festival every year. Many of those involved in managing the festival graduated from Appalachian.

“My father is a bluegrass enthusiast and would bring me to MerleFest every year as a child,” Erica Stewart, freshman biology major, said. “It’s just an incredible festival – there is a limitless amount of fun and music.”

Every year the festival contributes more than $10.7 million to the surrounding region, Hagamen said. Local nonprofit groups run the food booths at the festival, bringing in revenue to help further their mission.

Hagamen said there have been between 75,000 and 80,000 people in attendance at the festival for each of the last five years. He expects this year to be no different.

The festival is alcohol- and tobacco-free, and there is no charge for children under 12 years old. Tickets can still be purchased for the festival at merlefest.com.

Photo: Paul Heckert, Photo Editor

Leave a Comment
Donate to The Appalachian
$1201
$5000
Contributed
Our Goal

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in 2024!

We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions — is dependent upon advertising revenue and donations. We cannot exist without the financial and educational support of our fellow departments on campus, our local and regional businesses, and donations of money and time from alumni, parents, subscribers and friends.

Our journalism is produced to serve the public interest, both on campus and within the community. From anywhere in the world, readers can access our paywall-free journalism, through our website, through our email newsletter, and through our social media channels. Our supporters help to keep us editorially independent, user-friendly, and accessible to everyone.

If you can, please consider supporting us with a financial gift from $10. We appreciate your consideration and support of student journalism at Appalachian State University. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, or if you would prefer to make a recurring monthly gift, please give to The Appalachian Student News Fund through the university here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1727/cg20/form.aspx?sid=1727&gid=2&pgid=392&cid=1011&dids=418.15&bledit=1&sort=1.

Donate to The Appalachian
$1201
$5000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All The Appalachian Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *