Experience Merlefest 2025: The 2025 Recap​

MerleFest 2025 had perhaps one of the strongest lineups I’ve ever seen. It’s been well over a week, and I’m still catching up with the whirlwind of memories, trying to get them all down on the page.

First off: the drive from Raleigh was smooth, with surprisingly light traffic. Day 1 brought some memorable moments—one standout being the incredible sand sculpture marking Ed Moore’s retirement. Possibly the best one yet! The texture detail on the bear’s fur was unreal—check out the photo below!

On to the music.

Maureen Bradley was a revelation. She’s young, wildly talented, and possibly the best blues picker I saw at the festival. Listening to her felt like stepping back 100 years to hear someone like Skip James. She moved effortlessly up the neck with Piedmont picking styles, all while maintaining lead licks and driving the rhythm. Absolutely mesmerizing.

Another standout was Christina Vane. After hearing her set, we were scrambling through our schedules trying to find when and where she’d be playing again. She completely captivated the crowd.

That Friday afternoon, we returned to the campsite to change into our evening gear (pants, fleece, long sleeves), then headed back for what turned out to be one of the most eye-opening sets of the weekend: Steven Wilson Jr.

This guy is steeped in character and culture. During what I believe was his second set, he shared stories from his eccentric upbringing—things like evangelical churches and snake charming. Fascinating stuff. His deep, haunting voice, combined with the red-amber glow of the stage lights, created a mysterious and magnetic stage presence.

The final act that night was none other than Bonnie Raitt. Seeing her live was a true life experience. Her voice hasn’t aged a day—still powerful and moving. Her stage banter was hilarious; she mentioned knowing about MerleFest her whole life and always wanting to play it, then joked about the swarms of bugs, including one that flew right into her mouth mid-set.

A fun side note: every night featured the entertaining antics of the “Gravity Check Juggling” duo. Always a crowd-pleaser.

Friday night brought some unexpected rain, which had us at the laundromat Saturday morning drying clothes—classic camping move.

Saturday’s music and kids’ entertainment were top-notch. Shaded activity areas and arts and crafts kept everyone happy.

And of course, Hillside Album Hour was a tribute to Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones—an unforgettable set.