Jim Hensley and Kody Norris at the final Willow Oak festival – photo © Laura Ridge
As the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end.”
2026 would appear to be the final year for the Willow Oak Music Festival in Roxboro, NC unless something changes. It’s a decision that was made by its promoter, Mike Wilson, former guitarist and vocalist with the Bass Mountain Boys. After fourteen years on Father’s Day weekend at his pastoral rural campground in north central North Carolina, Wilson decided that it had been a good run, but it was time to give it up and pursue other options in his senior years.
With the festival ending, there were several presentations to recognize the man and the music that he loved and helped promote. The volunteers who arrived early and had worked each festival banded together to present plaques to Wilson and Susie Comer, his significant other, on Wednesday evening before the stage show launched on Thursday.
Their plaque read: “In appreciation to Mike Wilson, Keeping Bluegrass Alive Homer & Bambi, Tom & Paula, Vernon & Gale, Junior & Rhonda, Darrell & Eileen Willow Oak Family Music Festival 2026.”
Wilson expressed his gratitude to his band of helpers, saying “I appreciate it. I can’t do this by myself. I truly appreciate that I have someone here that I can depend on. To all, I appreciate it, especially Susie. If she ain’t pushing me, she’s pulling me. She’s right there, making me move.”
There was also a presentation by the Person County Tourism and Development Authority as the festival officially opened on Thursday. The director and chairs and the mayor of Roxboro proceeded to surprise the promoter with a framed certificate of appreciation.
Then on Saturday evening, his family gathered on stage to acknowledge the long hours and hard work that Wilson has devoted to bluegrass music. He was presented with two festival quilts, one made from Bass Mountain t-shirts and one from Willow Oak t-shirts.
His daughter, Mandy, shared from the stage…
“Needless to stay, I have grown up in bluegrass as many of you have. It’s been a part of me because it’s a part of you, Daddy. Over the years, I have learned the storytelling of bluegrass. I really feel that’s what bluegrass is, and festivals are storytelling, and friends and family coming home to each other. There’s years that’s the only place that you see them.
[Speaking to the crowd] You are our family and you are our friends. I enjoy the time we have to tell our stories: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Some can’t be repeated! It’s such a special time.
We took t-shirts from Bass Mountain and Willow Oak [festivals] and made quilts. Please sign them. We hope when you look at these quilts that you remember the stories and the good times and the friends and family that have participated in the festivals in the past.”
Wilson’s son, Barrett, also had made a plaque for his father. It reads: “Honoring 50 years of promoting and playing bluegrass music, from your bluegrass family.”
Mandy concluded, “Daddy, you are a legend and we love you.”
Wilson was obviously moved.
“This is just too much. Not only did my family help me travel this journey, they sacrificed more than I did, while I was out running up and down the road doing what I love doing. I am so thankful that I have this family. They have stuck by me, highs and lows, good times and bad times. We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them. I lost my wife in 2002 and they were right there with me. My dear friend and that’s light words, Susie, and I re-connected at Bass Mountain at our final reunion show. We’ve grown closer each year. She encouraged me on this festival. I was ready to give it up several years ago. I had just lost the drive and enthusiasm that you have to have to undertake something like this. It’s a whole lot of work, but you have to love it to do it.”
He then addressed the audience.
“I thank you for supporting the music. I thank you for supporting my family, but that’s not all. The staff that has helped me, we couldn’t do it without them. They’re the backbone of the day-to-day operation of this festival. They are part of my family and I love them, too. Mr. Michaels, this is it.”
And he passed the microphone to bluegrass radio DJ, Buddy Michaels, who responded, “If you ain’t got a tear in your eye, you better check your pulse. God bless y’all.”
Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road have served as host band for the festival the past several years. Jordan reflected…
“We sure have enjoyed playing Willow Oak Music Park. Mike Wilson has been a terrific promoter. It’s a beautiful park. He keeps it cut and he keeps it clean. Everything always works out great here. A lot of people come here and even bring their fishing poles and go fishing sometimes. We’ve been the host band for several years. What that means, we play most of the days, we mingle with the crowd, we get out and have a good time with picking sessions.
I hate to see Willow Oak go. I certainly understand, though. It comes down to it when people have been doing it a long time. I understand that because I’m a promoter myself. It’s a lot of work. It’s probably some of the hardest work that I know of. The promoters have a very hard job: getting the park ready, booking the bands, getting their contracts, making the schedules, taking care of all the tickets. It’s just so much.
Between Mike Wilson and my team at Jordan Entertainment, we’ve been able to do all that and keep everybody happy. We’ve always sold t-shirts and I’ve had several people tell me that they have every t-shirt from every year. It’s been an honor and a privilege to be the host band. We hate to see the most beautiful campsite in the world close down from having bluegrass festivals. We wish Mike and Susie well as they continue to travel and pursue other things.”
Besides great music from bands such as Authentic Unlimited, the Lonesome River Band, the Kody Norris Show, Little Roy & Lizzy, the Gospel Plowboys, Darin & Brooke, and many others, there was also a time on Saturday afternoon when Buddy Michaels and Little Roy Lewis sat down on stage with Wilson to reminisce about their years together at festivals.
Festival MC Doug Whitley pointed to 84-year-old Little Roy, “We’ve got a legend right here, getting ready to talk.”
Little Roy, half the size of Wilson, teased…
“I go up to Mike Wilson and act like I’m going to wear him out. One day, he got enough of it. We were in Summersville, WV and it had poured down rain. There was this little mud hole there. He’s as strong as an ox. He took me up by my feet and held me straight out over that mud hole. I thought I was going in, but he’s the best friend I ever had.”
After the show, Mike ended the weekend with a smile and said, “It’s been a heck of a party.”
Mike, we wish you well as you take new paths. Thank you for all you have done to promote bluegrass music. You are appreciated!
We will have multiple galleries of photos from the final Willow Oak fest over the next few days, thanks to Laura Ridge.
