Since its inception in 2006, the Mountain Song Festival, held at the Brevard Music Center, has become a beloved annual gathering for world-class musicians and music lovers alike in the depths of Transylvania County.
“After 20 years, we feel proud of the special musical experience we’ve been able to create and cultivate for the community,” said Woody Platt, co-founder of MSF. “Our goal is to be deeply focused on both the fan experience and the artists’ enjoyment. In many ways, we think of Mountain Song as a boutique festival — intimate, thoughtfully curated and centered around great music.”
Creator of MSF, Platt is a nationally renowned singer-songwriter and native of Brevard. He was also a founding member of the Steep Canyon Rangers, a Grammy-winning Americana/bluegrass act hailing from Western North Carolina that Platt fronted until his departure from the group in 2022.
“I love Brevard and Western North Carolina so much. It’s an incredible feeling to be able to create an event that adds to the culture that makes this community and region so special,” Platt said. “I grew up in Brevard and even graduated high school on the same Brevard Music Center stage that we now use for the Mountain Song Festival — I never take that for granted.”
For Platt, the initial seed of inspiration for MSF came from his late mother, who encouraged her son to gather all his music friends and put on a community event in hopes of raising funds and awareness for the local Boys & Girls Club. To date, MSF has garnered over $2 million for the organization.
“The original idea was simple — use music as a platform to bring the community together while raising money for the club,” Platt said. “That has been the guiding concept since day one.”
Since its formation, the two-day festival has featured some of the biggest names in Americana, bluegrass, country, blues and roots music — Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck, Molly Tuttle, Robert Earl Keen, David Grisman, Mavis Staples, Peter Rowan, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Charley Crockett, Zach Top and many more.
“At the end of the day, we’re simply open to great music,” Platt said. “I think our audience has come to trust the programming and is willing to show up whether they know the artists or not. That’s one of the beautiful things about 20 years — it really does feel like a big family at this point.”
For 2026, there will be special appearances by Sam Bush Band, Tim O’Brien Band, John Cowan Trio, Alison Brown and Cody Hale. As well, the Steep Canyon Rangers play as the festival’s host band with a show each night. Platt’s wife, acclaimed singer-songwriter Shannon Whitworth, is a regular performer alongside her husband at MSF, her songbird voice radiating across the BMC and into the sounding ancient forest cradling the picturesque pavilion stage.
“Each year, I look forward to reconnecting with artists I’ve met out on the road, and I take a lot of pride in welcoming them to perform in our hometown,” Platt said. “The Brevard Music Center is an incredible, world-class venue. And with Steep Canyon Rangers as our hometown heroes and host band, it truly makes Mountain Song feel like something special.”
Reflecting on the festival currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, Platt can’t help but smile in awe at not only how much the event has grown since its first year, but also the gratitude and appreciation for everyone involved.
“Twenty years feels like a big milestone, but it also feels like we’re just getting started,” Platt said. “Hopefully, we have another 20 right around the corner, and maybe one day we’ll see our kids running the festival. We’re truly lucky to call this community our home.”
Editor’s Note: The story was brought to you by a partnership between The Smoky Mountain News and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. Located in Asheville, the BRNHA is a beloved organization focused on the preservation and perpetuation of the rich, vibrant music and culture in Western North Carolina. These two entities are also responsible for the Down the Road magazine, an annual publication that gets officially launched each year at MerleFest. For more information, visit blueridgeheritage.com.
Want to go?
The 20th annual Mountain Song Festival will take place Sept. 11-12 at the Brevard Music Center.
Artists to appear include Sam Bush Band, Tim O’Brien Band, John Cowan Trio, Alison Brown, Cody Hale, and Shannon Whitworth & Woody Platt. There will also be a special performance each night by the Steep Canyon Rangers.
For more information, a full schedule of set times and/or to purchase tickets, visit mountainsongfestival.com.