For over thirty years, MerleFest’s Late Night Jam has been the after-hours festival gathering space for some of the best pickers in the world mingling alongside new generations of talent. This annual tradition was initially led by festival founder Doc Watson, his family, and his peers. In 2025, the Late Night Jam hosting torch was passed to the equally legendary Sam Bush, who held court alongside Peter Rowan, Casey Driessen, Jerry Douglas, and countless other musical friends. Over the years, BGS has had the pleasure of partnering with MerleFest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina to present the Late Night Jam on the Saturday night of the festival. As in 2025, we’ll be back this year in 2026 to enjoy the fun with Ketch Secor and Old Crow Medicine Show stepping in as hosts. Tickets for the Late Night Jam are still available.
In the run up to this year’s festival, set for April 23 through 26, BGS is partnering with MerleFest and our videographer friends at I Know We Should to share exclusive video clips from 2025’s Late Night Jam. Next in the series is a video that perfectly captures the jam session vibe of the evening. Bush, the host for the Late Night Jam, calls out to his friend, the legendary Peter Rowan, off stage: “Oh, Peter?” “Hello Sam, how are you this evening?” Rowan responds, in a cartoonish British accent. “Is it tea time yet?” He continues, to chuckles from the audience. “It’s totally tea time, Pete,” Bush responds with a mandolin chop and a laugh. The audience eats it up, happy to be on board for what’s clearly a typical, relaxed hang between lifelong friends, collaborators, and pickers.
Of course, Peter Rowan was on stage to play, so he introduces his version of a song Doc Watson used to perform frequently, “House of the Rising Sun.” With a broad, plodding, and pocketed groove he begins the familiar lyric. Rowan’s delivery, as always, is haunting and time-collapsing. Accompanied by Bush, Sam Bush Band banjo player Wes Corbett and drummer Chris Brown, Rowan gives an exciting acoustic guitar solo pressing forward against the lazy groove. Joining them on stage are perhaps the most VIP of the VIPs at MerleFest, “The Vets,” Jack Lawrence (guitar, center), Joe Smothers (guitar, right), and T Michael Coleman (far right), all alumni of Doc Watson’s various bands and lineups over the years.
As the on-the-fly arrangement continues, solos are swapped and Rowan delivers an absolute classic like only he can. A perfect way to wrap up a Saturday at MerleFest, at the Late Night Jam.
Over the next few weeks we’ll share additional exciting performances from 2025’s Late Night Jam. Stay tuned for more and make your plans now to experience it live, in person, at the 2026 Late Night Jam at MerleFest, hosted by Ketch Secor & Old Crow Medicine Show. Buy your tickets here – and get more information on the Late Night Jam here.
Video Credits: I Know We Should, Brad Wagner and Juan Soria.
