Winner of the 2026 MerleFest Band Contest, Pressley Laton is an independent alternative-country and roots-rock artist based in Boone, NC, whose music is shaped by Appalachian culture, small-town stories, and a lifelong love of outlaw country and rock and roll. She blends bold, soulful vocals with gritty music and unfiltered storytelling to create a hard-hitting sound that’s raw and real, which Terry Hudson of rBeatz Radio described as “Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Jo Dee Messina.” She and her band leave a lasting impression with high-energy performances that connect just as strongly at festivals as they do in intimate listening rooms.
As a rising North Carolina artist, Pressley has performed at festivals and venues across the Southeast, including MerleFest, Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, Antlers & Acorns: The Boone Songwriters Festival, Amos’ Southend, The Evening Muse, Bird’s Nest Listening Room, and The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country.Van Meter
Led by powerhouse songwriter and Maryland native Jennifer Van Meter, this roots-rock outfit brings a sound where Tom Petty meets The Pretenders, with songs that roam freely across genres and influences. Jen’s been crafting heartfelt songs for over 20 years, sharing stages with the likes of The Lone Bellow and Kasey Chambers, and even landing a feature in American Songwriter.
Her band consists of two veteran Raleigh players, Bruce Clark and Larry Woodard, and songwriter/drummer turned bassist, Braxton Lindsay.
The brand new EP titled “Now What?”, was recorded by Armando Cruz in Clayton, NC, mixed and mastered by Ian Schreier, features Doug Pettibone on guitar, and will be available June 6th.
