Carolina in the Fall audience at night

May 19, 2016

Wilkesboro, NC – February 29, 2016 ––The second annual Carolina In The Fall™ Music and Food Festival presented by Wilkes Communications, Inc. continues its’ tradition of celebrating the heritage of western North Carolina through music, food and beverage. On September 23rd and 24th, 2016, over 100 musicians, chefs, vintners and craft beer brewers from the region will gather on Main Street in Wilkesboro, NC to engage audiences with the best of their craft.

Wilkes County’s own The Kruger Brothers will be the Festival hosts again and welcome some of North Carolina’s best Folk/ Roots music bands. They will be joined by bands from other regions that tip their hats to the rich musical history of Wilkes, the Heart of American Folk Music™. This year’s line-up include previously announced headliners The Kruger Brothers, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Steel Wheels and Symphony of the Mountains. Additional acts being announced include Humming House, Sarah Siskind (with Travis Book), The Contenders, Molly Tuttle Band, Slocan Ramblers, Locust Honey and many others. In all, over 30 bands and performers will be on hand to bring the very best in Roots, Americana and Bluegrass music.

Humming House – Back by popular demand at Carolina in the Fall Music and Food Festival is Humming House. This band embodies what’s right about 21st century Nashville. It’s the way they weave together threads of Music City’s folk, soul, and bluegrass legacies. It’s in the inspirational and revealing songwriting. It’s in their acoustic instrumentation, presenting mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar and bass in fresh roles. It’s in the pleasant tension between rousing energy and nuanced arrangements. And it’s in the voices, with two complimentary stylists up front and backed by the full band’s rapturous harmonies.

Sarah Siskind (with Travis Book) Born in North Carolina and living in Brevard, Sarah Siskind continues to be one of today’s most respected and covered songwriters as well as a stand-out independent artist. Spin Magazine calls her “an artist you must hear now”. Armed with a striking vocal style and solid guitar and piano work, Sarah is a regular NPR performer with features on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, World Cafe with David Dye, All Songs Considered, Song Of The Day and most recently NPR’s Mountain Stage. She has toured with Bonnie Raitt, Paul Brady, Grammy winner Bon Iver (who also famously covered her “Lovin’s For Fools”) and The Swell Season and had songs recorded by Alison Krauss (the GRAMMY nominated “Simple Love”), Randy Travis, Madi Diaz and many more.

The Contenders - Thrumming and heady, with a steady heartbeat and a hint of honky-tonk, The Contenders speak of wanderers and highways, lovers and losers, good times and missed chances, swimming pools and movie stars, all with a ferocity born of hard work and honed skill. Jay Nash and Josh Day (of Wilkesboro) have been players and poets for the better part of two decades; they have been making music, telling tales, drinking whiskey, and having fun touring together as The Contenders since 2012. Faithful disciples of Rock ’n’ Roll and musician’s musicians both, Nash and Day have given a big stage to their talents and drives with this debut EP, so pour a good glass, give a nod to your betters, and meet The Contenders.

Molly Tuttle Band - A virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and award winning songwriter with a distinctive voice, Molly has turned the heads of even the most seasoned industry professionals. She began performing on stage when she was 11, and recorded her first album, The Old Apple Tree, at age 13. Since then, she’s appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, was featured on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, won first place in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at Merlefest, and, last May, graduated from the Berklee College of Music, which she attended on a Hazel Dickens Memorial Scholarship. Her lovely voice, impeccable guitar playing, and sensitive song writing make her a star on the rise.

Slocan Ramblers - The Slocan Ramblers are Canada’s young bluegrass band to watch. Rooted in the tradition, fearlessly creative, and possessing a bold, dynamic sound, The Slocans (2015 Edmonton Folk Fest Emerging Artist Award recipients), have quickly become a leading light of Canada’s roots music scene, built on their reputation for energetic live shows, impeccable musicianship and their uncanny ability to convert anyone within earshot into a lifelong fan. A fan-favorite at Merlefest 2016, Slocan is making a name for themselves on the worldwide stage.

Honey Dewdrops - Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish share more than most couples. As the Honey Dewdrops, they share stages from venues to festivals across North America, stretches of rolling, infinite roadway, and a lot of songs; they share one mic and a hunger to pay attention to what endures. This hunger to explore and document is evident in their 2012 release Silver Lining, a Top Ten record on national Folk and Americana stations.   With tight harmonies and an musical ensemble that includes clawhammer banjo, mandolin and guitars, the effect is to leave listeners with only what matters: the heart of the song and clarity over ornamentation.

For a complete listing of all bands and performers, visit www.carolinainthefall.org.

Each evening during the festival, the Kruger Brothers will host the Carolina Jam™ at the Yadkin Valley Event Center at the Wilkesboro Holiday Inn Express. Artists from each day will come together to present once in a lifetime, unforgettable jam sessions. Last year’s Jams were the talk of the festival and beyond. These sessions are available to those that purchase a VIP ticket.

In addition to great music, those that attend the festival will enjoy some of North Carolina’s best food as food trucks from across the state will bring their amazing recipes to feed the masses and vie for the coveted Carolina in the Fall™ Food Truck Championship Award. If you have a grown-up thirst, local vineyards and regional craft beer breweries will be onsite to provide a taste of the region’s best adult beverages.

In its’ second year, Carolina in the Fall has already become an annual pilgrimage for music and food lovers from around the nation, Carolina in the Fall™ presented by Wilkes Communications, Inc. will be held the last weekend of September each year. Save the date and make the annual pilgrimage to Wilkes, the Heart of American Folk Music.

Local accommodations consist of campgrounds and area hotels. The Town of Wilkesboro is opening up the Sewerfest Campground for the Carolina in the Fall™ festival. Contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your campsite or click the link on the festival website.

Make plans now to be in Wilkesboro on September 23rd and 24th to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season of Carolina in the Fall™. Festival tickets are available at www.carolinainthefall.org. Round Two pricing began on June 1st and is as follows: Single Day pass $30.00, Two Day pass $50.00. The VIP package that includes both days and the evening jam sessions is $90.00. Round Three pricing will begin August 1st.

Carolina in the Fall Music and Food Festival™ is made possible through the partnership of Wilkes Communications, Inc., the Kruger Brothers, Heart of Folk, LLC and the Town of Wilkesboro.