Following a show-stopping debut in 2022, Earl Scruggs Music Festival will return to Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina, September 1-3, 2023.
Lauded by Music Fest News as “a spectacular weekend,” the newly-minted festival has already gained serious attention for its top notch musical programming, world class amenities, and accessible price point.
Today, the festival is proud to announce the lineup for its second annual event, which features performances from some of today’s most established artists, including Americana legend Emmylou Harris, jamgrass titans Greensky Bluegrass, GRAMMY award winning quintet The Infamous Stringdusters, plus Del McCoury Band, Tony Trischka’s Tribute to Earl, Della Mae, and more. Returning to the ESMF stage this year will be festival host and artist-at-large Jerry Douglas, who will appear throughout the weekend alongside his longtime outfit The Earls of Leicester and The Jerry Douglas Band. A complete list of 2023 performers is below.
Established in partnership with WNCW 88.7 at Isothermal Community College in Spindale, NC and the Earl Scruggs Center located in Shelby, NC, Earl Scruggs Music Festival “has already risen to the top tier of annual music festivals” (Bluegrass Today). WMOT in Nashville adds, “[Scruggs’ family] would have been impressed by this tribute to the most influential bluegrass musician in history.” With a standout lineup featuring the best in traditional roots music and progressive fusions, Earl Scruggs Music Festival will continue to illuminate the profound impact that Scruggs had on American culture, while uplifting fresh and noteworthy voices in the genre. A portion of proceeds will support the festival’s beneficiaries, the Earl Scruggs Center and Isothermal Community College, who serve Earl Scruggs’ home region of the Carolina Foothills with cultural programming through multiple channels.
Additional programming to be announced at a later date will include a special presentation by the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Fine Tuned Project, performances by Junior Appalachian Musicians and PacJAM, and more. The festival will once again take place on the pristine grounds of Tryon International Equestrian Center. Known for its roster of rotating events including world class equestrian competitions, festive holiday celebrations, concerts, and more, the immaculate campus will serve as a quintessential backdrop for the festival, which promises on-site lodging, dining, and comfortable amenities throughout the event weekend.
Earl Scruggs Music Festival kicks off September 1-3, 2023 in Mill Spring, NC. Advance-price tickets are currently on sale, with a variety of General Admission and VIP packages available. VIP ticket packages include reserved seating in VIP-exclusive indoor and outdoor spaces, exclusive merchandise items, complimentary refreshments, and more. On-site camping, glamping, and cabin rentals are also available for reservation via the festival website.
For more details and to stay up-to-date on all things Earl Scruggs Music Festival, visit earlscruggsmusicfest.com.