The free roots and culture festival runs Sept. 8-10 in downtown Greensboro
The North Carolina Folk Festival is a nonprofit organization that honors, celebrates, and shares the meaningful ways communities express their creativity and cultural traditions through music, dance, food, crafts and other folk arts to enhance appreciation of diverse traditions and contribute to community vibrancy and inclusivity.
Our signature annual event, the NC Folk Fest, takes place each September and features more than 300 artists on multiple stages with continuous performances. The Festival attracts huge crowds of people to downtown Greensboro for a three-day celebration of cultural heritage through music, dance, handmade crafts, food, and family fun! As one of the fastest growing FREE festivals in the Southeast, the NC Folk Fest features an exciting new lineup of global artists, American roots performers, and North Carolina flavors every year!
The Phoebes Bandhttps://www.facebook.com/thephoebesbandTriangle-based rock and blues outfit with soulful vocals, screaming guitars, and a driving rhythm section
8 p.m.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Nick Autryhttps://www.facebook.com/nickautrymusic/NC-native involved in over a dozen #1s for Nashville’s biggest singers including Carrie Underwood and Sam Hunt returns for a full-band home state show
8 p.m.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Lie Heavyhttps://www.facebook.com/lieheavyBrand new metal supergroup featuring members of Corrosion Of Conformity, Confessor, Leadfoot, and The Backsliders
5:30 p.m.
The NuBeing Collectivehttps://www.facebook.com/nubeingcollectiveGreensboro collective with a masterful spin on contemporary hip hop with elements of jazz, blues, soul, and funk
8 p.m.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Sunday, October 15
11 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
SunQueen Kelcyhttps://www.facebook.com/sunqueenkelceyA gorgeously mellow start to your Sunday via a genre-bending collage of soul, hip-hop, rock, and contemporary R&B by way of Greensboro
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Hip Hop, Beats & Thangshttps://www.facebook.com/hiphopbeatsandthangsLegendary local emcee K-Hill showcases his new podcast with live performances, stories, interactive beat-making, and more
8 p.m.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Wednesday, October 18
10:45 a.m.
Military Appreciation Day Program
11:15 a.m. 1:15 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m.
440th Army Band
12:15 p.m.
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Military Uniform Revue
8 p.m.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Friday, October 20
11 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
DB Edmundshttps://www.facebook.com/dbedmundshqFounding member of Gladhands and The Stars Explode returns with gorgeous power pop-inflected tunes
2 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
Jazz Xpressions feat Lydia Salett Dudleyhttps://www.lydiasalettdudley.com/Masterclass in American music from graduates of the NCCU jazz studies program
5:30 p.m.
Riggsbee Roadhttps://www.facebook.com/riggsbeeroadPop, country, and classic tunes with a big banjo sound and three-part vocal harmonies from this unique and powerful femme phenom
8 p.m.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Whitsetthttps://www.facebook.com/whitsettbandBurlington’s exports, combining the best of old-school and new-school emo with their own deft melodic stamp
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Sunday, October 22
11 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
Notasium Showcasehttps://www.notasium.com/Showcase of incredible youth ensembles from the Triangle-based indoor musical play spaces and music schools
Brooke Hatalahttps://www.brookehatala.com/Alum of NBC’s The Voice, this gifted Nashville singer-songwriter and Raleigh native returns for a hometown performance
8 p.m.
Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist Make sure to see Brad Matchett Comedy Hypnotist use hypnosis to entertain at this family-friendly Vegas-style show. He uses volunteers who want to experience a great time. Relax, let go and find out just how much fun you can have! Brad only uses volunteers, no actors, just people who want to experience the great feeling of hypnosis.
Fiddlin’ Mike Ferryhttps://mikeferrymusic.net/homeInternationally-known fiddler, songwriter, author, teacher, and member of the Triangle’s own Weekend Excursion
Megan Dosshttps://www.facebook.com/MeganLeeDossFrom small-town Providence, NC – now belting it out in Greensboro, this powerhouse singer covers country, classics, and more
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/
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.
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/.
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
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
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.
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!
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.
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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