On this day, as the earth spins a melody of passing time and unfolding seasons, we find a moment of pause, of reflection, to honor a figure whose music courses through the veins of American heritage like a mighty river. March 3rd stands as a beacon, lighting the path back to the birth of a legend, a virtuoso, a true son of Appalachia – Doc Watson. This homage, crafted from the soulful threads of Grateful Web, aims to celebrate a man whose artistry has not just shaped, but has been deeply enmeshed with the essence of American folk and bluegrass.

As the stages are broken down and the gear is packed up, fans from across the country and the world are coming down from their annual MerleFest excitement. The centerpiece of MerleFest 2023—which took place this past weekend, April 27-30, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina—was the all-encompassing celebration of what would have been MerleFest founder Doc Watson’s 100th birthday.

Valerie June and Bill Frisell have joined forces on a fresh interpretation of Doc Watson’s “Handsome Molly” featured on new tribute album I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 out next Friday, April 28. Valerie June is a renowned singer-songwriter with a distinct and rich voice whose soulful vocals and captivating stage presence have earned her critical acclaim, while Grammy-winning artist Bill Frisell’s innovative guitar playing has made him a legend in the music world.

Guitarists Jeff Parker and Matthew Stevens have shared a new recording of “Alberta,” featured on a new tribute album to the pioneering legacy of Doc Watson.  I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 will be released April 28 on FLi Records / Budde Music.  Jeff Parker is an experimental musician that has released a number of acclaimed solo recordings and key projects in the worlds of jazz, electronic, rock and improvisational music.  Matthew Stevens is a GRAMMY-winning guitarist, composer and producer; he produced this loving tribute to Wats

2023 will mark MerleFest’s 35th festival and, as previously announced, will honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday year through musical collaboration and commemoration over the weekend of April 27-30, 2023, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Today, MerleFest, presented by Window World, shared another piece of celebratory news. My Name Is Merle, director Robert Kinlaw’s latest documentary, is set to premiere Saturday evening at 4:30 PM during MerleFest 2023 at the Walker Center.

A second preview of the forthcoming tribute album I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 has been released. The recording features Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal performing “I Am A Pilgrim,” and honors what would have been Doc Watson’s 100th birthday today.  I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 celebrates the deep influence and legacy of the North Carolina guitarist, singer and songwriter and features new renditions of some of Watson’s most beloved recordings from his expansive catalog.

A dazzling array of musicians, across generations and genres, have contributed to a new album that celebrates the deep influence and legacy of Doc Watson, the North Carolina guitarist, singer and songwriter who would have turned 100 on March 3 of this year. I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 features new renditions of some of Watson’s most beloved recordings from his expansive catalog.

MerleFest, presented by Window World, will honor Doc Watson’s 100th birthday, and commemorate the festival’s 35th year in 2023. To celebrate the historic milestone, organizers intend to showcase MerleFest’s unique history, celebrate the festival’s diverse, genre-crossing catalog, and present unique artist collaborations to honor the festival’s founding folk icon.

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the first round of artist additions for 2023. Taking place April 27-30, 2023, on the campus of Wilkes Community College, MerleFest 2023 will feature performances from North Carolina’s favorite sons The Avett Brothers, country mega-star and Highwoman Maren Morris, the genre-weaving cultural collective Black Opry Revue. Also joining the lineup are award-winning MerleFest veterans Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, and many more.

Collaborative musical encounters between distinct artists have been woven into the fabric of bluegrass at least as far back as the in-studio meeting of Flatt & Scruggs with Doc Watson. So it was almost inevitable that, at some point, the idea would surface of bringing together musicians from the groups that make up the rosters of sister labels Mountain Home Music Company and Organic Records.