FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

The Earl Scruggs Music Festival will be hosted at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC from Friday, September 1 through Sunday, September 3, 2023. There are three stages: The FLINT HILL Hill Stage presented by WLOS (main stage), The FOGGY MOUNTAIN Stage presented by Lakeside Mills, The LEGENDS WORKSHOP Stage presented by Gibson Gives. ESMF will include a family area with children’s activities.  We are also offering our exclusive ESMF EXPERIENCES.

We encourage all patrons to bring their instruments and join us at the IBMA Jammin’ Area: Earl’s Pickin’ Pavilion. BYO Instrument! All instrument cases will be subject to search at the festival gate. Lets celebrate Scruggs the best way we know how!

GENERAL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

THURSDAY:

6:00 to 9:00
Free concert onsite, restaurants open

FRIDAY:

10 am – 12:30am

SATURDAY:

10:00 am – 1:00am

SUNDAY:

10:30 am – 7:00 pm

GATES OPEN

8:00am each morning

FRIDAY, SEPT 1

FRIDAY : FLINT HILL

presented by WLOS


3:00pm-3:15pm

Welcome: J.T. Scruggs & Jerry Douglas


3:15pm-3:30pm

Banjo Kickoff: Bringing Scruggs Style Home

with Gena Britt, Charlie Cushman, Rob McCoury, Pete Wernick, Tony Trischka, & Ben Wright


4:00pm-5:00pm

Sister Sadie


5:30pm-7:00pm

The Earls of Leicester


7:30pm-9:00pm

Del McCoury Band


9:30pm-11:00pm

Infamous Stringdusters

*All artist schedules subject to change

FRIDAY : FOGGY MOUNTAIN

presented by Lakeside Mills


10:00am-11:30am

BRNHA* Fine Tuned Project

*Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Project


11:45am-12:15pm

The Wilder Flower


12:45pm-1:45pm

ETSU* Bluegrass Pride Band

*East Tennessee State University


2:00pm-3:00pm

Ages Past


4:00pm-5:00pm

Pretty Little Goat


5:30pm-6:30pm

Jake Blount


7:00pm-8:00pm

Henhouse Prowlers


8:30pm-9:30pm

Shawn Camp


10:30pm-12:00 am

Foggy Late Night: Armchair Boogie


*All artist schedules subject to change

FRIDAY : LEGENDS WORKSHOP

presented by Gibson Gives


11:00am-12:00pm

Secrets of Scruggs Style

“Secrets of Scruggs Style,” featuring Tony Trischka, the long-time Scruggs friend and banjo educator. Top-rank five-string men Charlie Cushman, of the Earls of Leicester, and Pete Wernick, co-founder of Hot Rize, will join Trischka in illuminating the basis of Scruggs’s revolutionary style, its fire and its subtleties. For absorbing the mind-boggling inner architecture of Scruggs’s playing, it’s the best show in town. Thomas Goldsmith brings ‘em on. 


12:30pm-1:30pm

Bluegrass: Big Shows. Big Future?

Acts such as the Del McCoury Band and the Infamous Stringdusters, display hardcore bluegrass ties as well as counterculture appeal, as they draw big festival crowds and new fans. What’s coming next? Rob McCoury and Ronnie McCoury, and Deanie Richardson from Sister Sadie will discuss what the trend means for the music, the musicians and the fans. Thomas Goldsmith moderates.


*All artist schedules subject to change

SATURDAY, SEPT 2

SATURDAY : FLINT HILL

presented by WLOS


11:45am-12:00pm

Welcome: J.T. Scruggs


12:00pm-1:00pm

Tony Trischka: From Flint Hill to the World; A Tribute to Earl Scruggs


1:30pm-2:30pm

Tray Wellington Band


3:00pm-4:00pm

Darin and Brooke Aldridge


5:00pm-6:00pm

Jon Stickley Trio


6:30pm-7:30pm

Jerry Douglas


8:00pm-9:00pm

Della Mae


9:30pm-11:00pm

Greensky Bluegrass


*All artist schedules subject to change

SATURDAY : FOGGY MOUNTAIN

presented by Lakeside Mills


10:00am-10:30am

PacJAM Ramblers


10:45am-11:15am

The Biscuit Eaters


11:30am-12:00pm

Newfound Gap


12:30pm-1:30pm

Into the Fog


2:00pm-3:00pm

Pete Wernick


3:30pm-5:00pm

The Earl Scruggs Revue Tribute Album: Live! From Austin City Limits featuring Tony Trischka Band & Friends


6:00pm-7:00pm

Zoe & Cloyd


7:15pm-8:30pm

I Draw Slow


8:45pm-10:30pm

Twisted Pine


11:00pm-12:30pm

Foggy Late NIght: Della Mae

*All artist schedules subject to change

SATURDAY : LEGENDS WORKSHOP

presented by Gibson Gives


11:30am-12:30pm

High Lonesome Songs: Then & Now

Tunes written by bluegrass founders Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and the Stanley Brothers became crucial to a distinctive, self-sustaining identity for the new music style. Thomas Goldsmith and award-winning songwriter/educator Louisa Branscomb chair a lively discussion as contemporary songwriting stars Jon Weisberger and Celia Woodsmith explore themes that made early bluegrass songs memorable, and the elements and influences that have since shaped the tunes. 


1:00pm-2:00pm

Earl Scruggs: Music Man from the Piedmont

Our festival honoree didn’t just grow up and develop his style in Cleveland County. Earl Scruggs also felt a lifelong connection to the kinfolk, communities and countryside there and still shows up in the region’s best stories. With Earl’s nephew J.T. Scruggs, his friend Dean Jenks, veteran bluegrass journalist Penny Parsons and ESMF all-star Jerry Douglas. Thomas Goldsmith moderates the story fest. 


*All artist schedules subject to change

SUNDAY, SEPT 3

SUNDAY : FLINT HILL

presented by WLOS


12:15pm-1:30pm

Rissi Palmer


2:00pm-3:15pm

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper


3:45pm-5:00pm

The Jerry Douglas Band


5:30pm-7:00pm

Emmylou Harris


*All artist schedules subject to change

SUNDAY : FOGGY MOUNTAIN

presented by Lakeside Mills


10:30am-11:30am

Gospel Brunch with Darin & Brooke Aldridge


12:00pm-1:00pm

Laura Boosinger & Josh Goforth


1:30pm-2:30pm

The Blue Ridge Girls


3:00pm-4:00pm

The Foreign Landers


4:30pm-5:30pm

Zoe & Cloyd

 


7:00pm-8:00pm

Reedy River String Band


*All artist schedules subject to change

SUNDAY : LEGENDS WORKSHOP

presented by Gibson Gives


1:00pm-1:45pm

Jerry Douglas: World-class Innovator

Resonator guitar standard-setter Jerry Douglas grew up on straightforward bluegrass and the influence of Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt and dobro man Josh Graves. But like his mentor Scruggs, Douglas developed a striking new approach to his instrument. He’s come to excel in mainstream country, advanced jazz, songwriter folk, Celtic music, blues, and the “new acoustic” style he co-founded. Thomas Goldsmith asks: How did Douglas make all this work and how deep does Scruggs’s influence still run?


2:00pm-3:30pm

Wernick Method Jam Class

taught by Pete Wernick: Bring your instrument and learn to jam! No matter what skill level you are, you will leave knowing how to jam with other players. Be able to play G, C, A, D chords (matching notes on fiddle or bass). No jamming experience necessary! You don’t have to register in advance but if you do, you will receive instructional materials in advance of the festival. Spectators welcome!

 

*All artist schedules subject to change

EXPERIENCES SCHEDULE

THURSDAY: EXPERIENCES


7:00pm until 7:30pm

Horse Jumping Demonstrations

    Each day in the Tryon Stadium ring (behind Legends), there will be horse jumping demonstrations for festival goers to enjoy. Even if you're not an equestrian, you will enjoy watching these beautiful horses run through their jumps.

5:00pm until 7:00pm

Pickleball Social

  • Open courts and no registration required.
  • Join your fellow festival goers at Fitness Wide Open and join in our Thursday Pickle Ball Social.
  • Players of all skill levels are welcome and paddles and balls are available to use at no charge.
  • Pick up games or doubles tournaments are common depending on the turnout. 
  • This is a great way to be introduced to the game or just meet some fellow players and music lovers.

6:00pm until 9:00pm

Live Music on the Foggy Mountain Stage

  • Open to the public and early festival arrivals.
  • Seating is limited, bring a chair.
  • A festival ticket is not required.
  • Featuring live music from:
    • Reedy River String Band - 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
    • Pretty Little Goat 7:30 pm-9:00 pm

7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Bourbon & Bluegrass featuring Travis Book at Legends Club Patio

  • Tickets: $50 per person
  • Limited capacity: 125 patrons.
  • Enjoy an evening of live music featuring Travis Book of the Infamous Stringdusters in an intimate setting at the Legends Club. Tasters will sample 4 premium bourbons with tasting notes for each, learning about the different types of bourbon. The event will also feature light appetizers that will pair perfectly with your bourbon. A full cash bar will be available.
  • Four bourbon samples provided.
  • Light appetizers will be served.


8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Open gym

  • Free use of the gym from 8:00am to 4:00pm for all festival patrons without an extra fee.
  • Explore the Wide Open Fitness Center at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and stay in shape all festival weekend. The gym features a variety of fitness equipment and space including a full CrossFit Gym, weight and cardio machines and plenty of room for various floor exercises in an indoor climate controlled space.

FRIDAY: EXPERIENCES


9:30 am

JAM Golf Tournament at Cleghorn Golf Club

  • $400 per team or $100 per player.
  • 9:30 Shotgun Start at Cleghorn Golf Club.
  • Join us at the beautiful Cleghorn Golf Club just 4 miles from the festival for a charity golf tournament benefiting the Junior Appalachian Musicians. Sign up as a team of 4 or individually and enjoy 18 holes of golf with fellow music lovers. Registration includes your green fee, cart fee, range balls and lunch. Prizes for the top teams as well as longest drive and closest to the pin. Hole Sponsorships are available.

    Learn more about the Junior Appalachia Musicians program by visiting

    https://jamkids.org/


5:00pm until 5:30pm

Horse Jumping Demonstrations

    Each day in the Tryon Stadium ring (behind Legends), there will be horse jumping demonstrations for festival goers to enjoy. Even if you're not an equestrian, you will enjoy watching these beautiful horses run through their jumps.

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Trail Rides

    • Meet at 8:30 am at the General Store.
    • Cost: $95 per person max of 10 people per day.
    • Enjoy a Tryon Western Adventure 1 Hour (9:00 am- 10:00 am) Trail Ride. Participants meet at the Tryon General Store where a guide will provide instructions and gear. The trail ride will explore the beautiful wooded trails of the Tryon International Equestrian Center, guided by local experts. No experience is required, minimum age of 10 years old.


9:00 am - 10:00 am

Yoga

  • No fee to attend with a festival wristband.
  • Location: Wide Open Fitness Gym.

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Intro to Pickleball in the Wide Open Fitness Gym

  • No fee to attend with a festival wristband.
  • No registration or additional fee required.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Open gym

  • Free use of the gym from 8:00am to 4:00pm for all festival patrons without an extra fee.
  • Explore the Wide Open Fitness Center at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and stay in shape all festival weekend. The gym features a variety of fitness equipment and space including a full CrossFit Gym, weight and cardio machines and plenty of room for various floor exercises in an indoor climate controlled space.

SATURDAY: EXPERIENCES


10:00am until 10:30am
02:45pm until 03:15pm
05:00pm until 05:30pm

Horse Jumping Demonstrations

    Each day in the Tryon Stadium ring (behind Legends), there will be horse jumping demonstrations for festival goers to enjoy. Even if you're not an equestrian, you will enjoy watching these beautiful horses run through their jumps.

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Bluegrass Brunch at Legends Club featuring Zoe & Cloyd

the Bluegrass Brunch is sponsored by Boyd Automotive

  • Buffet with outdoor seating on Legends Patio.
  • Price $25 per person.
  • 200 seats available.
  • Enjoy a gourmet brunch buffet at the Legends Club while listening to a private performance by Zoe & Cloyd on the Legends Stage. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some amazing music in an intimate and beautiful setting with a delicious gourmet brunch buffet.


9:00 am - 10:00 am

Trail Rides

    • Meet at 8:30 am at the General Store.
    • Cost: $95 per person max of 10 people per day.
    • Enjoy a Tryon Western Adventure 1 Hour (9:00 am- 10:00 am) Trail Ride. Participants meet at the Tryon General Store where a guide will provide instructions and gear. The trail ride will explore the beautiful wooded trails of the Tryon International Equestrian Center, guided by local experts. No experience is required, minimum age of 10 years old.


9:00 am - 10:00 am

Yoga

  • No fee to attend with a festival wristband.
  • Location: Wide Open Fitness Gym.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Open gym

  • Free use of the gym from 8:00am to 4:00pm for all festival patrons without an extra fee.
  • Explore the Wide Open Fitness Center at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and stay in shape all festival weekend. The gym features a variety of fitness equipment and space including a full CrossFit Gym, weight and cardio machines and plenty of room for various floor exercises in an indoor climate controlled space.

11:00 am

Pickleball doubles tournament at Wide Open Fitness Gym

  • $5 per player, registration required.
  • .
    If you haven’t played before, come learn to play on Friday and get some practice during the open gym. We have paddles and balls. Players come dressed in their own attire. The courts are indoor and climate controlled. If you don’t have a team we will pair you with another single.

SUNDAY: EXPERIENCES


10:30 am - 11:30 am

Bluegrass Gospel Set at the Foggy Mountain Stage with Darin & Brooke Aldridge

sponsored by Boyd Automotive

  • Open to all.
  • Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar at Foggy Mountain Stage.
  • Brunch Specials offered before and during the gospel set at Rogers Diner.

Seating located in the stage area.
Brunch specials and breakfast available for purchase at Roger’s Diner.


12:30pm until 01:00pm

Horse Jumping Demonstrations

    Each day in the Tryon Stadium ring (behind Legends), there will be horse jumping demonstrations for festival goers to enjoy. Even if you're not an equestrian, you will enjoy watching these beautiful horses run through their jumps.

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Trail Rides

    • Meet at 8:30 am at the General Store.
    • Cost: $95 per person max of 10 people per day.
    • Enjoy a Tryon Western Adventure 1 Hour (9:00 am- 10:00 am) Trail Ride. Participants meet at the Tryon General Store where a guide will provide instructions and gear. The trail ride will explore the beautiful wooded trails of the Tryon International Equestrian Center, guided by local experts. No experience is required, minimum age of 10 years old.


9:00 am - 10:00 am

Yoga

  • No fee to attend with a festival wristband.
  • Location: Wide Open Fitness Gym.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Open gym

  • Free use of the gym from 8:00am to 4:00pm for all festival patrons without an extra fee.
  • Explore the Wide Open Fitness Center at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and stay in shape all festival weekend. The gym features a variety of fitness equipment and space including a full CrossFit Gym, weight and cardio machines and plenty of room for various floor exercises in an indoor climate controlled space.

AMENITIES SCHEDULE

TRYON Restaurants

Tryon Interntational Equestrian Center offers world class restaurants and bars.

Silo Bar: Th-Sun 3pm-1pm

Rogers Diner: Th-Sun 7am-11pm

Campagna: Th-Sun 11am-11pm

Legends: Th-Sun 11a-11pm

Blue Ginger (Sushi): Th-Sun 11am-9pm

Taco Mundo Th-Sun (near Silo Bar) 11am-4pm

General Store
(Starbucks, Sandwiches, Coffee, and general grocery items incl beer, wine, ice) 7am-11pm

Bears BBQ TIME: 11am-9pm

Earl Express Shuttle

Friday: 10am – 1am
Saturday: 9am – 2am
Sunday: 9am – 6pm

Wide Open Fitness Gym

First floor International Pavilion – Tryon International Equestrian Center offers the Wide Open Fitness Gym, which includes a game room, workout room, and courts for pickleball and dodgeball.

Open gym (no free w/ festival wristband) Fri, Sat, Sun from 8a-4:00p;

Yoga Class (no fee w/ festival wristband) @ 9a-10a Fri, Sat, Sun (beginners welcome);

Pickleball (no fee for open play; $5 fee for tournament, registration required)

REGISTER HERE

Thursday, Social 5p-8p;
Friday, Intro, 11a-1p;
Saturday, Tournament ($5/player, registration required, we will pair w/ team if you don’t have one) 11a-1p.

More info on Experiences Page and
More info at fitnesswideopen.com

LAND OF RHYTHM KID ZONE

The legacy lives on! Our Land of Rhythm Kid Zone offers kid-friendly activities, including face painting, games, an instrument “petting zoo”, and more! Thanks to our friends at @uptownshelby and @landofrhythm: Home of Earl Scruggs for hosting the Kid Zone as a way to celebrate Earl’s legacy and honor his commitment to teaching kids.

We are excited to share his story and passion for music with the next generation! Click the link in our bio for more details. Remember: Children 12 and under are admitted free to the festival with an adult with a General Admission pass!

Kid Zone Hours

Friday: 1pm – 6 pm
Saturday: 11am – 6 pm
Sunday: 12pm – 4 pm

JAMMIN'

We encourage all patrons to bring their instruments and join us at the IBMA Jammin’ Area: Earl’s Pickin’ Pavilion. BYO Instrument! All instrument cases will be subject to search at the festival gate. Lets celebrate Scruggs the best way we know how!

Weekend Jams will take place each day at the Jammin‘ Area: Earl’s Pickin’ Pavilion:

Friday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm

Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm

Sunday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm