Wilkes Community College is the place to be later this month when the annual Merlefest cranks up for its four-day marathon concert.
Allison Krauss and Union Station are grabbing the spotlight this year as one of the headliners, said Tasker Fleming, whose Front Porch Bluegrass radio show airs Sundays on WIZS.
Fleming said he’s heading up to Wilkes County to catch some of the performances. The hard part is deciding which performances to check out – with half a dozen stages spread out across the campus and a 1,600-seat auditorium, concertgoers have a lot of choices.
North Carolina’s legendary musician Doc Watson started the event in memory of his son, Merle, who died tragically in an accident at the age of 35.
What began in 1988 to raise money to help students afford tuition at the college has grown into one of the biggest gatherings of folk and bluegrass musicians in the country, Fleming said. Known now as “Americana” music, Fleming said Merlefest brings music from all over the country for concertgoers to enjoy.
“It’s a great way to spend a day,” Fleming said. “You can find anything from rockabilly on one stage to traditional sounding bluegrass on another.”
Expect about a three-hour drive to arrive at Merlefest, but according to Fleming, “You’ll enjoy it. I promise you it’s worth the effort.”
Visit www.merlefest.org for ticket information, parking and shuttle instructions and a complete lineup of performances.
April 23-26.
(This text and associated audio are part of an advertising trade with WIZS in exchange for tickets.)
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