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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass

Monthly Archives: August 2023


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Labor Day 2023 weekend brings a variety of outdoor music festivals to North Carolina, Virginia

Editor’s Note: This story originally ran in the Wake Weekly newspaper at this link.

As summer winds down, Labor Day weekend is heating up with a variety of outdoor music festivals from western North Carolina to Virginia. What better way to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers than hanging out with friends and listening to some old favorites, as well as being introduced to some new artists?

Following are just a few festivals featuring a variety of musical genres and activities to choose from:

The Earl Scruggs Music Festival

The Earl Scruggs Music Festival in Mill Spring, North Carolina, Sept. 1-3, is a celebration of the defining bluegrass banjo player Earl Scruggs. It features about 30 bluegrass, folk and Americana acts on two stages, including newgrass band Into the Fog, which has its roots in Wake Forest, where lead singer and band co-founder Brian Stephenson calls home, and Raleigh’s Tray Wellington Band. Other acts include Emmy Lou Harris, Del McCoury Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Earls of Leicester, Pete Wernick,Greensky Bluegrass, The Jerry Douglas Band, Della Mae, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Zoe and Cloyd, Rissi Palmer, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper and the Jon Stickley Trio. The festival also hosts a collection of food trucks, children’s activities, free horse jumping demonstrations and trail rides for a fee. The festival debuted in 2022 and is a collaboration between the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby and WNCW FM at Isothermal Community College in Rutherfordton. For a schedule and tickets visit earlscruggsmusicfest.com/.

The Happy Valley Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention

The Happy Valley Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention at Jones Farm in Lenoir, North Carolina, is Sept. 1-3 and pays homage to the legends and stories of the Yadkin River Valley. The festival includes 11 categories of competition for old time and bluegrass bands and musicians and featured performances on Sunday, plus children’s activities, food vendors and more. In addition to competitors, artists include William Ritter and Sarah Ogletree, Burnett Sisters Band, Michael Reno Harrell, Strictly Clean and Decent, Rob McHale and Rodney Sutton. The 2023 festival is the 18th and final edition of the event, organizers say. Learn more at happyvalleyfiddlers.org/.

The 12th annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival

The 12th annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival set for Sept. 2-3 in High Point’s Oak Hollow Festival Park is sponsored by The Friends of John Coltrane, which works to preserve and celebrate the life and music of Coltrane and to enrich the lives of others through the introduction of jazz and other musical genres. Artists include Keb’ Mo’, Dave Koz, Maysa, Mr. Sipp, Candy Dulfer, Eric Darius, Norman Brown, Samara Joy, Chucho Valdes, Yellowjackets, Terri Lyne Carrington, Matthew Whitaker, and more. Learn more at coltranejazzfest.com

The 14th annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County

The 14th annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County is set for Sept. 2-3 and celebrates African American culture through art, music, dance, food and community. Local and national musical acts are presented Saturday and Sunday on the main stage in addition to a juried art gallery, craft and food vendors, educational and hands-on activities in the Family Village, and more. The festivities kickoff Friday with Gladys Knight and Eric Benet  performing at the North Carolina Museum of Art. For tickets and more information visit www.aacfestival.org/

ProgDay

ProgDay, the world’s longest-running Progressive Rock Festival, is celebrating its 28th year and is set for Sept. 2-3 at Chapel Hill’s Storybrook Farm. The event will feature artists from all over the world including Karmic Juggernaut, A Light Sleeper, Moon Letters, Perfect, Red Fiction, tu:NER, We Used to Cut the Grass and You Bred Raptors? For tickets visit https://progday.net/.

The 14th annual Front Porch Fest

The 14th annual Front Porch Fest is a family friendly festival set for Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at Spirithaven Farm in Stuart, Virginia. This year’s musical lineup includes Butcher Brown, Jimkata, Dangermuffin, DJ Williams, Sun-Dried Vibes, Cailtin Krisko & The Broadcast, Big Daddy Love, The Plate Scrapers, The Judy Chops, Urban Soil, The Wilson Springs Hotel and many more, according to organizers. In addition to 30-plus bands, Front Porch Fest features an array of children’s activities, yoga, campsite jams, on-site camping, craft brews and foods, and more. For tickets, volunteering, vending and sponsorship opportunities visit frontporchfest.com/

Appaloosa Roots Music Festival

MerleFest’s favorite house band Celtic rockers Scythian hosts Appaloosa Roots Music Festival in Front Royal, Virginia, on Sept. 2-3. The lineup features an exciting mix of artists from various genres including the Triangle’s own Chatham Rabbits, Blue Highway, Screaming Orphans, Carbon Leaf, Christian Lopez and many more. For tickets and more information, visit appaloosafestival.com/


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NCMA of presents Gladys Knight with special guest Eric Benet on Sept. 1 in association with the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County

The North Carolina Museum of Art welcomes Gladys Knight, the seven-time Grammy-winning Empress of Soul, for a special evening of pop, R&B, gospel and adult contemporary music on Friday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Grammy-nominated R&B/neo soul singer Eric Benét opens. Click the link below for tickets and more information.

Gladys Knight with special guest Eric Benét, presented in association with the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County

The 14th annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh & Wake County is set for Sept. 2-3 and celebrates African American culture through art, music, dance, food and community. Local and national musical acts are presented Saturday and Sunday on the main stage in addition to a juried art gallery, craft and food vendors, educational and hands-on activities in the Family Village, and more. For tickets and more information visit http://www.aacfestival.org/.


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Jim Lauderdale taps the ever-talented Po’ Ramblin’ Boys for a new bluegrass album out Sept. 15

From the good folks at IVPR: When he came to ask about making an album, we were seriously blown away,” says C.J. Lewandowski, mandolinist of Grammy-nominated bluegrass outfit The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. The “he” mentioned above? Well, that’s Mr. Americana, himself, Jim Lauderdale. “It was really validating—Jim Lauderdale calling us to do a bluegrass album,” says Lewandowski. “We must be doing something right,” says one of the genre’s most promising young torchbearers who saw Lauderdale perform many times throughout his upbringing in Missouri. 

On Sept. 15, the makes-perfect-sense pairing of Jim Lauderdale and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys will release The Long And Lonesome Letting Go, a twelve-song LP of all-new Lauderdale co-writes—half of which was written with Po’ Ramblin’ Boys guitarist Josh Rinkel. Other co-writers include 10-time IBMA Award winner Becky Buller, North Carolina old soul Joe Newberry, well-traveled producer/songwriter Jimmy Ritchey, and rising young guns Logan Ledger and Alex Leach. Whether as co-writer, bandleader, master of ceremonies, or musical ambassador for musical styles or states, Lauderdale has been one of Americana music’s all-time great collaborators. And The Long and Lonesome Letting Go stands as one of the best collaborative works in his 36-album discography.

Today, Lauderdale and The Po Ramblin’ Boys shared the album’s lead-off track, “Long And Lonesome Letting Go,” another co-write, this time with prolific writer and seasoned multi-instrumentalist, Bob Minner. Joining the already-stacked lineup is one more unmistakable voice; that high tenor of Bluegrass Hall of Famer Del McCoury. “I felt like that song ought to kick off the record, and somebody in Po’ Ramblin’ Boys said, ‘You know, Del would sound great on this,’” Lauderdale says. “Of course! So we reached out and luckily he was available. It didn’t feel right to just have him on the chorus, so he and I switch off a few lines in the verses. I’d never gotten to record with Del before, so that was a real treat.”

Fans can hear the uptempo heartache of “Long And Lonesome Letting Go” right now at this link or at No Depression where “Long And Lonesome Letting Go” is in their Bonus Tracks column. 

Jim Lauderdale and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys will both be headed to this year’s IBMA World Of Bluegrass conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, performing The Long And Lonesome Letting Go tunes together as well as separate sets of their own original songs. For more information, please visit worldofbluegrass.org.

“The Long And Lonesome Letting Go” Tracklist:

Long And Lonesome Letting Go (2:43)

She’s On A Different Train (2:31)

I’m Only So Good At Being Good (4:13)

You Fell Off The Face Of The Earth (2:51)

Last Resort (2:50)

Ghost Of A Rose (3:51)

Darkness Is The Other Side of Light (2:41)

If I Could Only Get My Heart To See (2:20)

That Was When We Were Together (2:40)

A Better Place (2:36)

She’s The Light (3:31)

Drop The Hammer Down (2:35)

Jim Lauderdale Tour Dates:

AUG 26 SAT Tønder Festival  Tønder, Denmark

SEP 1 FRI Four Corners Folk Festival Pagosa Springs, CO

SEP 2 SAT Lulu’s DownstairsManitou Springs, CO

SEP 3 SUN Jim Lauderdale w/Songs From The Road Band Denver, CO

SEP 10 SUN Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion  Bristol, TN 

SEP 14 THU The Barn Columbus, MS

SEP 15 FRI Duling Hall Jackson, MS

SEP 17 SUN Docie’s Dock  Fort Walton Beach, FL

SEP 20 WED Vine Grove Bluegrass Festival Vine Grove, KY

SEP 29 FRI IBMA Bluegrass Live  Raleigh, NC 

OCT 5 THU Suwannee Roots Revival  Live Oak, FL

OCT 5 THU Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers  Gainesville, GA

OCT 12 THU Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival Waycross, GA

OCT 17 TUE Jim Lauderdale live at People’s Brewing  Lafayette, IN

NOV 10 FRI 04 Center Austin, TX, United States

NOV 11 SAT Jim Lauderdale with special guest Tony Ramey Richardson, TX

NOV 16 THU The Franklin Theatre Songwriter Series: Sierra Hull, Jim Lauderdale, Bobby Tomberlin, & Lillie Mae Franklin, TN, United States

NOV 17 FRI Jim Lauderdale LIVE Paducah, KY, United States

FEB 4 SUN Outlaw Country Cruise 2024 Andover, FL, United States

FEB 15 THU Tractor Tavern Sunny Sweeney Seattle, WA, United States

Po’ Ramblin’ Boys Tour Dates:

AUG 26, 2023 Bower’s Mansion Bluegrass Festival New Washoe City, NV

AUG 31, 2023 SamJam Bluegrass Festival Piketon, OH

SEP 1, 2023 Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival Woodstown, NJ

SEP 2, 2023 – SEP 3, 2023 Jackpine Jamboree Birnamwood, WI

SEP 14, 2023 Music on the Town Dandridge, TN

SEP 15, 2023 Eckert’s Folk and Bluegrass Festival Belleville, IL

SEP 16, 2023 Bulls & Barrels Family Weekend Campbellsville, KY

SEP 22, 2023 Pigeon Forge Bluegrass Festival Pigeon Forge, TN

SEP 30, 2023 IBMA World of Bluegrass at Red Hat Amphitheater Raleigh, NC

OCT 16, 2023 Gatlinburg Craftsman’s Fair Gatlinburg, TN

OCT 17, 2023 Gatlinburg Craftsman’s Fair Gatlinburg, TN

OCT 18, 2023 Gatlinburg Craftsman’s Fair Gatlinburg, TN

OCT 19, 2023 Bluegrass Island Music Festival Manteo, NC

NOV 3, 2023 The Rex Galax, VA


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Town of Cary’s 47th Annual Lazy Daze festival to feature Into the Fog, Peter Lamb & The Wolves and many more on Aug. 26-27

The 47th Annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival is set for Aug. 26-27 and it’s going to be hot both literally and figuratively! For nearly half a century, the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival has welcomed guests from around the country and beyond to the heart of Downtown Cary, North Carolina, for two days filled with art, live music and other entertainment and lots of food and beverages. Dating back to the event’s conception in 1977, this juried craft show celebrates the “Lazy Daze” of summer, taking place the last weekend of August and bringing together nearly 300 artists from 16 states across the U.S. Featuring a beer garden, numerous interactive art activities, a kid’s world area and demonstrations from professional craftsmen, Lazy Daze remains a top-rated contemporary crafts festival among the nation. For more information, visit carync.gov/lazydaze

Lazy Daze Entertainment Schedule


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Folk and Fun Festival set for Oct. 1 at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard featuring The Midatlantic, The Orange Constant and more

I am so excited to see The Midatlantic in this lineup for the first Folk ‘N’ Funk Music Festival at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh! Grab your tickets starting at $15 now, as they are limited at this link.

The Lineup

Counterclockwise String Band: 12 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

The Midatlantic: 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Florencia & The Feeling: 3 p.m.-3:45 p.m.

Duck: 4:15 p.m.-5 p.m.

The Orange Constant: 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

Bowstring will be serving pizza and drinks.

Doors open at 11 a.m. Free Parking. No Refunds.


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The Kruger Brothers present ‘Carolina in the Fall’ music and food festival for 7th year on Sept. 22-23

I had the pleasure of being invited to this festival several years ago by the incomparable Kruger Brothers, who are MerleFest fan favorites for the uninitiated, and I fell in love with this festival. It’s mostly free, it’s intimate (I sat on the stage steps as Ricky Skaggs performed just a few feet away), it always has a great lineup (and this year is no exception) and it’s in a fantastic location (downtown Wilkesboro has a very Mayberry vibe). Trust me, you are going to want to add this festival to your fall music calendar!

From the good folks at Carolina in the Fall: Carolina in the Fall returns for our seventh festival in the Carolina West Community Commons in Downtown Wilkesboro, North Carolina, with our host band, The Kruger Brothers, for two days of great music, food, drink and community.

This year’s festival will be Sept. 22 and 23. Our lineup is headlined by Balsam Range, The Kruger Brothers, Woody Platt and Shannon Whitworth and John Cowan’s NewGrass Allstars. The lineup also includes Hank, Pattie & the Current, Alex Key, His & Hers, Presley Barker, Shay Martin Lovette, and returning international guests, Thurler-Mosimann Project.

We have made some significant changes to last years festival in an effort to simplify the festival experience and want to highlight those again. Here are the biggest changes to be aware of:

Carolina in the Fall is a mostly free festival. VIP tickets will be sold for reserved seating at the main stage. All seating behind the reserved and sponsor seating areas will be open and free to the public.

There will only be one stage this year. Managing four stages spread out across the downtown had become an overwhelming task and we wanted to bring the focus back to those artists who perform on our main stage each year. The Carolina Stage in the community commons is our one featured stage.

Music begins at 5 p.m. on Friday. After five years of watching our attendance, we’ve realized that most festival goers arrive after work on Friday. So, we’ve condensed our Friday lineup to begin when most folks can attend.

2023 Stage Schedule

Friday 

5:00 – 5:45 – Presley Barker

6:00 – 6:45 – Alex Key

7:00 – 8:15 – Balsam Range

8:45 – 10:00 – The Kruger Brothers

Saturday 

12:00 – 12:45 – Shay Martin Lovette

1:00 – 1:45 – His & Hers

2:00- 3:00 – Thurler-Mosimann Project

3:15 – 4:15 – Hank, Pattie & the Current

4:30 – 5:30 – John Cowan’s NewGrass AllStars

6:00 – 7:15 – Woody Platt & Shannon Whitworth

7:45 – 9:15 – The Kruger Brothers

Registration is also open for the 8th Annual Chad Lovette Memorial Trail Run at Cub Creek Park in Wilkesboro on Saturday, Sept. 23! Link to register below. Of course we will have our virtual option available for our friends and family who aren’t able to make it in person! We can’t wait to gather again with everyone to celebrate Chad and then head to Carolina In The Fall (Chad played at the inaugural festival). As always, all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to contribute to the fight against cancer!

https://runsignup.com/…/ChadLovetteMemorialTrailRun5K10…


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14th annual Front Porch Fest set for Aug. 31-Sept. 3 in Stuart, Virginia

Labor Day weekend 2023 marks the 14th annual Front Porch Fest. This event is held on the Front Porch of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Patrick County, Virginia, and will take place Aug. 31st – Sep. 3rd, 2023 at Spirithaven Farm. This year’s musical lineup includes Butcher Brown, Jimkata, Dangermuffin, DJ Williams, Sun-Dried Vibes, Cailtin Krisko & The Broadcast, Big Daddy Love, The Plate Scrapers, The Judy Chops, Urban Soil, The Wilson Springs Hotel and many more, according to organizers.

Front Porch Fest is a 4-day family-friendly music festival held in Stuart, Virginia featuring local, regional, and national touring acts. In addition to 30+ bands, Front Porch Fest features an array of children’s activities, yoga, campsite jams, on-site camping, delicious craft brews and foods, and more.

No charge for children 12 years and under, though children are required to have a ticket in their name.

For tickets, volunteering, vending and sponsorship opportunities please visit https://frontporchfest.com/

Front Porch Fest is produced by One Family Productions, a nonprofit working to support community enrichment and growth. Proceeds from this event are donated to local charities such as the Patrick County Food Bank and Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County and others.

One Family Productions also produces the Patrick County Christmas Parade, First Friday Summer Jam Series and is a co-producer of Bushels & Barrels Local Food, Beer and Wine festival. Learn more at www.onefamilyproductions.org


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Town of Cary announces Marvelous Music Mainstage Series 2023-24

From the Town of Cary website: Come to downtown Cary and be a part of incredible evenings of entertainment through the Marvelous Music Mainstage Series. The 23nd season marks the 12th anniversary of this beloved series in the restored, historic Cary Arts Center. The series showcases a variety of emerging and nationally-acclaimed touring artists.

General Ticket Information: 

Season Tickets on Sale Now!

“Ella, the Early Years” – Amanda King in Concert

Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.

23-24 MM_Ella & The Early Years

Amanda King has delighted audiences from New York City to San Francisco with her joyous celebration in “Ella, the Early Years.” Focusing on Ella Fitzgerald’s early career with great music and superb storytelling, Amanda is backed by a “big band” ensemble to artfully deliver a wonderful jazz concert as well as a cultural retrospective. Audiences of all ages love the swingin’ tunes from the Big Band Era as well as the anecdotes of Ella’s storied career.

For more, visit amandaking.com.

Sones de Mexico Ensemble

Friday, October 13, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.

23-24 MM_Sones de Mexico

Since its founding in 1994, Sones de México Ensemble has grown to be one of the country’s premier Mexican folk music ensembles with a diverse repertoire, rich in colors, textures and rhythms demonstrating that there is more to Mexican music than mariachi with a repertoire, including the regional styles of huapango, gustos, chilenas, son jarocho, and more. Sones de México has toured coast-to-coast, performing at The Getty in Los Angeles, Carnegie Hall in New York City, The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and Orchestra Hall in Chicago celebrating the riches of Mexican music, dance and culture.

For more, visit sonesdemexico.com.

From Broadway to Hollywood! – Empire Trio

Saturday, November 18, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.

23-24 MM_From Broadway to Hollywood-Empire Trio

Join the EMPIRE TRIO for a unique celebration of music from the Great White Way to the Big Screen.  Starting with classic show tunes from beloved Broadway musical, including Les Miserables, West Side Story and Phantom of the Opera the Trio brings their own breathtaking and unique arrangements. Then the show moves west with a dazzling performance of some of the most beloved and toe-tappingly famous songs from the world of film, with songs ranging from the Wizard of Oz and Casablanca to Ghost and Titanic. The performance weaves together the stories from both backstage and behind the camera as well as the singers who performed them.

For more, visit empiretrio.com.

Sons of Mystro

Friday, February 23, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.

23-24 MM_Sons of Mystro

Umoja and Malcolm are the two talented violinists that make up Sons of Mystro. Their unique sound draws from an array of musical genres, from classical to R&B to hip-hop, all while incorporating their signature touch of soulful improvisation. Each concert is a perfect blend of covers and original compositions that showcase their musical prowess. With their mesmerizing arrangements, intricate harmonies, and contagious energy, Sons of Mystro is sure to sweep the audience away in an unforgettable evening.

For more, visit sonsofmystro.com.

The Tartan Terrors

 Friday, March 8, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.

The Tartan Terrors are their own Celtic Invasion, mixing music energy with traditional folklore, dance, and humor. With an arsenal featuring classic bagpipes and fiddle, driving drum tones, and signature guitar styles, audiences marvel as The Terrors use their sonic blitz to underscore award winning Step Dancers and internationally recognized comedic performers alike. They have performed on four different continents, in some of the most prestigious Festivals and Highland Games as well as all across North America. Join the phenomenon of the Tartan Terrors and see why Celtic Beat Magazine hails them as the heirs apparent to “Celtic mayhem.”

For more, visit tartanterrors.com.

Appalachian Road Show

Saturday, April 27, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.

Appalachian Road Show is a visionary acoustic ensemble, bringing new-generation interpretations of traditional Americana, bluegrass and folk songs, as well as offering innovative original music, all presented with a common thread tied directly to the heart of the Appalachian regions of the United States. Featuring multiple Grammy winners and Grammy nominated performers, these musicians showcase both the traditions and the history of this storied region. Appalachian Road Show invites us to come and sit a spell on its porch as the band shares its dynamic musicianship through songs and stories.

For more, visit theappalachianroadshow.com.

Contact

For general information, call (919) 462-2055.

Robbie Stone
Arts Program and Operations Coordinator
(919) 460-4969
robbie.stone@carync.gov


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Hosts announced for 34th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on Sept. 28

Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle to host this year’s show on September 28

From the good folks at the International Bluegrass Music Association: Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle have been announced as hosts for the 34th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Show, presented by Yamaha, on Thursday, Sept. 28 during the 2023 IBMA World of Bluegrass®.

Secor is the consummate entertainer: the merry ringmaster, mischievous busker, passionate professor, modern Beat, and unassuming virtuoso, all rolled into one. Ketch is best known as the founder and frontman of Old Crow Medicine Show, a two-time GRAMMY Award-winning juggernaut whose triumphs include induction into the Grand Ole Opry and double-platinum certification for their iconic hit single “Wagon Wheel.” The scope and potency of Ketch’s work has long since spilled over to include documentaries, writing and starring in variety shows, authoring a children’s book, composing a musical, and launching a school. His myriad projects also include serving as an advisor, historical consultant, and featured speaker in Ken Burns’ acclaimed 2019 documentary Country Music. “Whether I’m in front of an audience of concert-goers or a six-year-old, whether I’m using puppets or a banjo, I’m always trying to show people that they can be mesmerized by a story, by a person, by a character,” says Ketch. “By humanity, really. By one another.”

Jubilee, releasing August 25 via ATO Records, is a companion album to Old Crow Medicine Show’s critically-acclaimed 2022 release Paint This Town and marks the band’s 25-year anniversary. The album was co-produced with Matt Ross-Spang, and features several special guests including legendary soul singer Mavis Staples, singer/songwriter Sierra Ferrell, and Old Crow co-founder Willie Watson, who records with the band for the first time in over 10 years on their recent single “Miles Away.”

Since moving to Nashville in 2015, Tuttle has continued to receive widespread accolades, most recently earning seven 2023 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominations: Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Guitar Player of the Year, Album of the Year (Crooked Tree), Song of the Year (“Crooked Tree”), Instrumental Group of the Year and Collaborative Recording of the Year (“From My Mountain [Calling You]” with Peter Rowan and Lindsay Lou). Additionally, Tuttle also won Best Bluegrass Album at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards earlier this year (Crooked Tree), Album of the Year at the 2023 International Folk Music Awards, IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 2022, Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2018 Americana Music Awards, and IBMA Guitar Player of the Year in both 2017 and 2018.

Tuttle’s new album, City of Gold, was released last month on Nonesuch Records to critical praise. Once again produced by Tuttle and Jerry Douglas, City of Gold was inspired by Tuttle’s constant touring with Golden Highway these past few years and follows her 2022 release of Crooked Tree.

“I’m thrilled Ketch and Molly will host this year’s Awards Show,” said Paul Schiminger, Interim Executive Director of IBMA. “They are sure to make the ‘Biggest Night in Bluegrass’ a memorable and entertaining night for everyone gathered to celebrate a terrific year in bluegrass music!”

Tickets available at worldofbluegrass.org


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‘Pickin’ in the Pines’ music series returns to Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Wednesday nights could turn out to be your favorite night of the week when the “Pickin’ In The Pines” music series, presented by B93.9, returns on Aug. 30 to Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre, according to the website.  

A beautiful outdoor setting in the heart of North Carolina’s Triangle regeion will set the stage for some of the region’s best talent with a country and bluegrass flare. Gates open at 5:15 and the music starts at 5:45 p.m. Tickets start at just $9.39 and picnics are allowed (no alcohol please). Kids 12 and under are free on the lawn. Buy all five concerts for just $40.

The complete schedule follows:

B 93.9 PRESENTS PICKIN’ IN THE PINES MUSIC SERIES

Tickets are on sale now through www.etix.com. Go to www.boothamphitheatre.com for event and ticket information.

Tickets can be purchased through etix.com. By phone call (800) 514-3849

Etix hours: Monday-Friday/ 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. EST

Saturday/10 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST & Sunday/noon – 8 p.m. EST