Article Contributed by Victory Lap PR
Published on 2026-09-08
North Carolina natives and Americana heavyweights The Avett Brothers deliver a rousing Sunday night finale at Earl Scruggs Music Festival. (Eli Johnson for Loch & Key Productions)
The Earl Scruggs Music Festival concluded its milestone fifth annual event this weekend, drawing a record turnout to the stunning grounds of Tryon International in Mill Spring, NC, just minutes from the Cleveland County birthplace of legendary three-finger banjo innovator Earl Scruggs.
Across three unforgettable days, the 2025 International Bluegrass Music Association Event of the Year featured world-class musical performances, thought-provoking live interviews, inspiring youth showcases, and unique add-on experiences, including the newly unveiled Spirits of Bluegrass whiskey experience, family-friendly activities, jam circles, and much more.
Now in its fifth year, Earl Scruggs Music Festival continues to honor the extraordinary legacy of its namesake, whose revolutionary approach to the banjo helped reshape American music and carried bluegrass far beyond its traditional boundaries. Across a career spanning nearly seven decades, Scruggs collaborated with some of the most influential artists of his generation, from bluegrass legends to icons of folk, country, and rock, while inspiring countless musicians who followed in his groundbreaking footsteps.
That enduring influence was on full display throughout this year’s festival, which brought together artists who knew and performed alongside Scruggs with a new generation of musicians carrying his spirit of innovation forward.
Among the standout moments was the iconic North Carolina-bred outfit The Avett Brothers, whose unbridled energy and fierce showmanship made for an electrifying Sunday night finale brimming with raucous singalongs and emotional catharsis.
Earlier in the weekend, banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck brought his star-studded My Bluegrass Heart ensemble to the Flint Hill Stage for a masterclass in boundary-pushing bluegrass, unparalleled musicianship, and improvisational prowess.
The Earls of Leicester paid loving tribute to the foundational sound of Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt, bringing Scruggs’ music to life with the precision and reverence of musicians who understand its place in bluegrass history.
Bluegrass legend Del McCoury, who performed alongside Scruggs throughout his own storied career, further connected the festival to its namesake’s remarkable legacy with a performance that underscored the enduring power of the music they helped shape.
Greensky Bluegrass brought its own genre-bending approach to the weekend, while a new generation of artists, including Mountain Grass Unit, Jacoozy, and East Nash Grass, demonstrated that the spirit of innovation Scruggs championed remains alive and well, pushing bluegrass into exciting new territory.
A major highlight of the milestone weekend was the unveiling of the brand-new Louise Scruggs Stage, a new platform honoring the pioneering woman behind Earl Scruggs’ groundbreaking career and legacy while exemplifying how the festival continues to grow and expand each year.
Named for Earl’s wife, manager, and longtime business partner, the stage celebrates Louise’s lasting influence on bluegrass and the music industry at large. Alison Brown, the festival’s 2026 Artist in Residence and the 2025 honoree of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, helped inaugurate the new stage alongside a slate of performances throughout the weekend.
“She’s the most recent honoree of the Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum with the Country Music Hall of Fame, and an incredible musician and businesswoman and advocate of bluegrass music,” said Mary Beth Martin, Executive Director of the Earl Scruggs Center. “There’s really no one better than Alison to help us kick off that stage.”
Beyond the music, Earl Scruggs Music Festival offers an immersive destination experience that takes full advantage of the exceptional amenities at Tryon International. Attendees can settle in for the weekend with on-site lodging ranging from hotels and cabins to RV and tent camping, while multiple restaurants, scenic walking trails, and open-air gathering spaces invite festivalgoers to relax, explore, and connect between performances.
As The Bluegrass Situation noted ahead of this year’s festival, “Tryon International may just be the most amenity-rich site for a bluegrass festival we’ve ever encountered.”
Among this year’s standout additions was the Spirits of Bluegrass whiskey experience, presented in partnership with The Bluegrass Situation, which brought together thoughtfully curated whiskey tastings, bluegrass culture, and the convivial spirit of the festival in a one-of-a-kind experience.
Elsewhere throughout the grounds, hands-on activities, jam circles, and casual opportunities to connect with fellow fans extended the festival experience well beyond the stages. The festival also continues to invest in the next generation through JAM Kids—Junior Appalachian Musicians performances and interactive seminars, creating meaningful opportunities for young musicians while inviting attendees of all ages to learn, participate, and celebrate the music together.
The spirit and legacy of Earl Scruggs are alive and well at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival. All sights are now set on the festival’s return to Tryon International in Mill Spring, NC, during Labor Day Weekend, September 3–5, 2027.
The festival benefits the Earl Scruggs Center, WNCW 88.7, and Isothermal Community College.
Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2027
September 3–5, 2027
Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC
Festival Information and Tickets
