Billed as the world’s largest music, food and bourbon festival, Bourbon & Beyond 2024 has announced its lineup and there is literally something for every musical taste on the menu. The event is planned for Sept. 19-22 at the Highlands Festival Grounds and Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
Tickets and packages can be purchased at this link.
The latest news from Zoe and Cloyd: “We have a lot of exciting shows coming up over the next few weeks, including at one of our favorite restaurant venues, The Purple Onion in Saluda, and opening for our pals the Steep Canyon Rangers at Oskar Blues in Brevard! We will also be performing in Winston-Salem for Fiddle & Bow and presenting our annual Valentine’s concert at the BMCA in February.” “WE ARE GOING TO IRELAND IN JUNE!! We are so excited to go back overseas to the Emerald Isle for the Wesport Folk and Bluegrass Festival in the beautiful coastal town of Westport. Come join us!” “We were so pleased that “Songs of Our Grandfathers” came in at No. 31 on the WNCW Top 100 of 2023 countdown! Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us and don’t forget to follow us on the streaming platforms and add us to your playlists. Cheers to a great year ahead, Natalya & John |
| Upcoming Shows Thursday, Jan. 25 – Purple Onion, Saluda NC Friday, Feb. 2 – Opening for the Steep Canyon Rangers at Oskar Blues Brewing, Brevard NC Sunday, Feb. 4 – Fiddle & Bow, Winston-Salem NC Saturday, Feb. 17 – Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Black Mountain NC |
THE BIG WHAT? is set for Aug. 22-24 at the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center in Pittsboro, about 30 minutes from Raleigh.
From the band: “The Big What? is back! We are so grateful and beyond excited to announce the 10th anniversary edition of our Music Festival & Campout this summer!”
Ticket Info
General Alien (GA) Weekend Passes include (1) GA ticket, GA tent camping, and GA parking for 1 person.
GA Tent Camping is included with a GA pass but Car Camping ($65) or RV Camping ($150) will require a separate pass per vehicle (available as an add on at checkout).
Very Important Alien (VIA) Weekend Passes include (1) VIA ticket with souvenir laminate, reserved tent camping in a prime location, access to a reserved viewing area in front of the main stage, access to private bathrooms, 1 hot meal each night plus access to refreshments during the day, and a free download of each Big Something set.
Supreme Very Important Alien (SVIA) Weekend Passes include (1) VIA ticket with everything from the VIA program above plus an exclusive Saturday afternoon acoustic Big Something performance in a secret location, plus (1) signed screenprint Big What? poster, and (1) signed Big Something setlist from all three nights.
Reserved TENT Camping in a prime location is included with every VIA/SVIA pass but Car Camping ($65) and RV Camping ($150) will still require a separate pass per vehicle (available as an add on at checkout).
Kids 12 and under are $30 each and can only be purchased day of show at the gate.
Please Note: a Parent or Legal Guardian must accompany anyone under 18 at all times.
The Big What? is a rain or shine event. All tickets are non-refundable. Tickets available at this link.
Music lovers, listen up: There is no better way than to catch the magic of MerleFest (and many other music festivals) than to volunteer! You get to listen to a slew of fantastic artists for FREE plus you get free parking and even a discount on camping for a few hours of your time.
MerleFest Volunteer applications are now open. As a volunteer, participants will receive free entry to the festival for the entire day of their shift, free parking, and shuttle, and 10% off camping at River’s Edge Campground. Most importantly, volunteers will be supporting a major fundraiser for Wilkes Community College.
Please visit merlefest.org/volunteer to sign up before the April 13 deadline.
Greensky Bluegrass began making music in 2000 and stood out for their non-traditional take on bluegrass, where they fused rock and acoustic influences.
Known for their improvisation on stage as well as performing multiple sets at one show, this five-piece band began in Michigan and has since has seen many changes, particularly to their line up. However, what remains the same is their original sound, compelling performances and indisputable passion. As well as their original songs, the band has also covered The Rolling Stones, Prince, Aerosmith and Bruce Springsteen, just to name a few.
You can check out this unique group at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, at The Ritz in Raleigh. Tickets are $49 for general admission and can be found at this link.
Donna The Buffalo & The Steel Wheels 2024 Tour comes to the Carolina Theatre of Durham on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.
Tickets to see Donna The Buffalo & The Steel Wheels in Durham are on sale at the Carolina Theatre box office and the venue’s website.
According to the Carolina Theatre’s website, Donna the Buffalo offers everything you want in a roots band — songs that matter, a groove that makes you dance, an audience that spans generations, and a musical voice that evokes a sense of community. The band has become a lifestyle for its members and audiences who gather at the countless festivals they perform at across the country, including the band’s own festival, the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg, New York.
The Steel Wheels, known for their rootsy brand of Americana, also gathers their fans at their own festival, the Red Wing Roots Music Festival. The festival, a weekend-long celebration of music, community, and the beautiful Shenandoah Valley allows The Steel Wheels to showcase their music informed by traditional sounds from the Virginia mountains where the band was formed.
About The Carolina Theatre of Durham
Carolina Theatre of Durham is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. The Carolina Theatre of Durham is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. Visit carolinatheatre.org for more information.
Want to whisk away the winter blues and get a preview to one of Rooster Walk’s artists?
Acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitar virtuoso, Daniel Donato, will perform at The Ramkat on Feb. 2, the good folks at All Eyes Media have announced. (ticket info). Donato is on tour in support of his recently released album, Reflector (Retrace Music). The 15 songs on this new record are Donato’s first collection of all original songs. They embody the progressing musical space he has created for himself, which he refers to as “cosmic country.” You can listen to the new album on your preferred DSP HERE.
Donato was recently featured in Rolling Stone, UPROXX, Garden & Gun, and The Bluegrass Situation. The album has also received positive coverage from No Depression, Glide Magazine, Slide & Banjo, and Vintage Guitar Magazine, Magnet Magazine, and others.
“A longtime fixture on the stages of Nashville’s Broadway district, Donato has transitioned into a force in the rock and jam-band worlds…” – Rolling Stone
“It’s a feeling pitched between the retro country associated with Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton and the “conversational music” (his term) of the jam world. It comes across with uncommon clarity on Donato’s latest album, ‘Reflector’…” – UPROXX
“’Reflector’ is, literally, a reflection of his well-developed tastes, like a kaleidoscopic color wheel of the music that seasoned him, from the jam-heavy Grateful Dead to the crooning country of Willie Nelson.” – No Depression
“Prepare yourself for one of the most interesting, omnivorous, and immersive experiences that you can discover in music that still claims an allegiance to ‘country.’ It’s Daniel Donato’s Reflector, and it’s the realization of his “cosmic country” dream first envisioned years ago, but finally coming to fruition in its full form now.” – Saving Country Music
Donato released a music video for the joyful track “Hi-Country.” You can watch it HERE.
Donato’s “cosmic country” is a combination of Southern rock, bluegrass, classic country, and honky-tonk with Southern California folk and Northern California musical exploration. His album opener, “Lose Your Mind,” perfectly demonstrates this incredible blend. You can listen to his single “Lose Your Mind” HERE.
Reflector possesses such an energetic yet vibey sound that encompasses everything Donato is about. Donato is dedicated to his craft and exemplifies incredible work ethic. It also helps that he is a monster of a guitar player. You can see him in action with Billy Strings on stage at the Double E Performance Center in Vermont HERE.
Reflector was also produced by multi-Grammy Award winning producer/engineer/mixer Vance Powell (White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Chris Stapleton).
Sam Bush Band, Lyle Lovett, Big Richard, Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass, The Fretliners and AJ Lee & Blue Summit are just a few of the acts headed to the rustic Colorado mountain town of Telluride next June, according to JamBase.
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival returns to Town Park on June 20 – 23, 2024. Organizers Planet Bluegrass recently started revealing the Telluride Bluegrass 2024 lineup one act per day with six artists confirmed so far.
Sam Bush Band and Lyle Lovett are aboard for the 51st annual event. Lovett will be joined by His Large Band.
Other acts featured on the 2024 Telluride Bluegrass Festival lineup are Big Richard, Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass, The Fretliners and AJ Lee & Blue Summit. The theme for Big Richard’s set is to be confirmed. Look for additional artists to be announced in the days and weeks to come.
Telluride Bluegrass tickets went on sale earlier this month and quickly sold out. Planet Bluegrass typically puts refunded tickets up for resale each spring. For more information on one of the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious music festivals, visit https://bluegrass.com/telluride
Tickets are on sale now at https://www.rompfest.com/!
Emmylou Harris, a 2018 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, will bring her band to headline the 14th annual Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival on May 23-26, 2024 ,at Pop’s Farm just outside Martinsville, Virginia. Joining her at the top of the band lineup will be celebrated guitarist Cory Wong, an exploding star on the international music scene.
Harris has been estimated to have sold more than 15 million records worldwide. She has also earned 13 Grammy Awards and placed 27 singles into the top 10 US country chart. She will make her Rooster Walk debut with a Saturday evening set.
Wong will also make his RW debut when his band performs a Friday night headlining set. A former member of Vulfpeck, Wong’s live shows are lauded for their instrumental wizardry, incredible cohesiveness and their sheer, energetic fun.
Other bands getting added to the lineup include: Couch (Boston, Massachusetts – funk/rock/soul); Catilin Krisko & The Broadcast (Asheville, North Carolina – rock); Arkansauce (progressive bluegrass from northwest Arkansas); Sneezy (high-energy party music from Chicago, Illinois); Sticks N Thorns (bluegrass duo featuring Andy Thorn of Leftover Salmon and Jon Stickley); Travis Book & Friends (Asheville, Americana/rock band led by The Infamous Stringdusters’ Travis Book); The Jared Stout Band (southern rock from the New River Valley of Virginia); T.C. Carter Band (blues from Martinsville); Lua Flora (Asheville – beach folk); Big Fat Gap (Chapel Hill, North Carolina – bluegrass); Jules & The Agreeables (Key West, Florida – rock); DJ What (Martinsville – DJ); and Pirates of the Piedmont (Martinsville – pirate shanties).
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