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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass

Category Archives: Music Festival


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The Steel Wheels go ‘Sideways’ with new album

Virginia string band The Steel Wheels have expanded their sound on the new album, “Sideways,” while at the same time sticking to their bluegrass roots.

Released Feb. 9, the album’s title track begins with the clawhammer banjo then builds, as many of the band’s songs do, into something more raucous that includes drums and colorful electric guitar textures.

“It’s beautiful and crushing to be alive sometimes,” band leader Trent Wagler said in a statement. “We aren’t here to sing songs that only cut one way — but if they do, they’ll cut sideways.”

But don’t take our words for it, check out the title track at this link: https://youtu.be/vZStXW1cNBY

The Steel Wheels enlisted producer Sam Kassirer, who’s known for his work with Lake Street Dive, Langhorne Slim and Josh Ritter, among others, to help create “Sideways.”

The band is currently touring in support of the album, after stopping in Elkin earlier this month and at the Salvage Station in Asheville on March 2 and the Broadberry in Richmond on March 27.

The group is the host band of the annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival in Mt. Solon, Virginia, set for June 21-23. The fest’s impressive lineup includes Kurt Vile, Bonny Light Horseman, Sierra Hull, Brent Cobb and Pokey LaFarge and many others. For more info and tickets, click here.


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N.C. History Museum presents Tar Heel Troubadours: Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road on Saturday, Feb. 17

International Bluegrass Music Assocation fans and MerleFest faithful: The North Carolina Museum of History will present Tar Heel Troubadours: Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road from 7–8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17. Purcell leads Cane Mill Road as they rock the traditional bluegrass standards they were raised on. The band also writes original music for the bluegrass, old-time and Americana genres.

From the museum’s website: “Join us for Tar Heel Troubadours, a celebration of Americana, roots, bluegrass, and traditional music performed by artists from or living and working in North Carolina.

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MerleFest 2024 announces finalists for 9th annual band competition

Top Row (left): Saylor Brothers, Zach Brock, Mild Goose Chase; Middle Row (left): Holler Choir, Florencia & The Feeling; Bottom Row (left): Screamin’ Bridge, The Dirty French Broads, The High & Wides

MerleFest, presented by Window World, has announced the finalists for its ninth annual band competition, which will be held during this year’s festival, April 25-28, on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Tickets for the MerleFest Mega Raffle went on sale Feb. 1, and with prizes like a brand-new Ford Bronco and Harley Davidson motorcycle, tickets are going fast! The 2024 festival will also see an outpouring of support from volunteers as applications reach record numbers.

Since its inception, MerleFest has emphasized its commitment to celebrating emerging talent and supporting artists of all backgrounds and experience levels. Each year, the festival provides some of today’s most fresh and noteworthy voices to showcase their virtuosity by performing alongside their peers during Saturday’s festivities. Of the eight finalists competing, one winner will earn the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of festival goers.

The band competition performances will take place Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the winner will be announced on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The winning band will perform on Sunday, April 28, at the Hillside Stage at 11 a.m.

This year’s Band Competition will include:
The Dirty French Broads (Asheville, NC)

Florencia & The Feeling (Johnson City, TN)

The High & Wides (Baltimore, MD)

Holler Choir (Asheville, NC)

Mild Goose Chase (Winston Salem, NC)

Saylor Brothers (Asheville, NC)

Screamin’ Bridge (Williamston, NC)

Zach Brock (Yadkinville, NC)


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2024 Red Wing Roots Music Festival announces the full artist line up for the 11th annual festival


From the good folks at Red Wing: Red Wing Roots Music Festival is excited to announce the full line up of
artists scheduled to perform at the 11th annual music festival, taking place June 21-23, 2024, at
Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon, Virginia.
Along with festival hosts and local favorites, The Steel Wheels, the list of festival headliners
contains many artists new to the Red Wing stage, including Kurt Vile & The Violators, Bonny
Light Horseman, Brent Cobb, Lee Fields, Mapache, Tuba Skinny and Rose City Band. Fifty
artists are scheduled to appear across five stages during the three-day event, with festival
favorites such as Sierra Hull, Pokey Lafarge, The Brothers Comatose, Amy Helm and Lindsay
Lou. View the full line up at www.redwingroots.com/2024-line-up/.
Since 2013, Red Wing has strived to offer patrons an opportunity to explore the many sounds of
roots music. “The term ‘Roots Music’ conveys both the depth of our American musical traditions,
like folk, blues, Cajun, old-time and bluegrass, and the breadth of its current iterations. It is the
celebration of the American songbook, past and present,” said Jeremiah Jenkins, co-founder and
managing partner.
Red Wing embodies both great music and opportunities to engage the great outdoors of Augusta
County. The festival partners with local organizations to offer biking, hiking, group runs, and
yoga beneath the rock towers at Natural Chimneys Park. For avid cyclists, a Saturday morning
ride to Reddish Knob allows for a mountain top celebration with stunning views of the
Shenandoah Valley.
As always, Red Wing will host the region’s finest food vendors, including options for craft beer,
cider, and wine in the Blue Mountain Beer Gardens. There are also more than 20 craft vendors
offering an array of products such as clothing, jewelry, art, flowers and more. Shady Grove, a
shaded activity zone located near the Chimneys, features a climbing wall, organized and
informal games, slack lines, and a mist pavilion for cooling down during the hot summer days
for attendees of all ages.
On-site camping has long been a popular aspect of the festival. While several camping passes
have already sold out, great options remain for tent camping, small RV/car camping and Red
Wing Glamping, a luxury tenting option. Currently three-day festival tickets are on sale and moving
quickly. Single day tickets will be made available for purchase later in the spring.
For tickets and more information, visit www.redwingroots.com.


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Jason Adamo Presents: North Carolina Songwriters in the Round at Cary Theater at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3

North Carolina Songwriters in the Round returns to The Cary Theater at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3. This year’s showcase features two sets of songwriters sharing the stories behind the songs they’ve written, performing in the round, Nashville style.

Performers include Jason Adamo, Stephen Jenkins, George Hage, Reeve Coobs, Julie Mcknight, Jeremy Gilchrist, Brooke Hatala and Amy Gerhartz.

Tickets are $24 with discounts for seniors, students, children and more. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/78931446/jason-adamo-presentsnorth-carolina-songwriters-in-the-round-cary-the-cary?partner_id=240&_ga=2.163573180.1004683941.1706761379-526157060.1706761379.



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Tickets on sale now for 32nd annual High Sierra Music Festival on July 4-7, 2024

The initial lineup includes Ziggy Marley, Greensky Bluegrass featuring Holly Bowling, and The Allman Betts Band at High Sierra Music Festival with more (headliners) to come! The 32nd annual event returns to Plumas County Fairgrounds in Quincy, California, on July 4-7.

ON SALE NOW – RV Passes, Parking Passes, FestivALL VIP Packages and everything else you could need to have the time of your life at High Sierra 2024. 

Many of the passes are high demand/low inventory, and do sell out quickly, so be sure to act fast! As with last year, on-site parking passes will be designated by area for Shady Grove, Hillside and Corral Parking.

Visit this link for more info and tickets!


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44th North Carolina Jazz Festival to heat up Wilmington on Feb. 1-3, 2024

The temps may be frigid, but things will be heating up in Wilmington the weekend of Feb. 1-3, 2024, during the 44th annual North Carolina Jazz Festival.

All evening concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Hotel Ballast ballroom.

Thursday Night Showcase
Thursday night, our “Special Event” night, is when the festival features different styles of jazz. This year we will open with The Port City Trio, a Wilmington-based group that is well known in the area for the Jewell Family’s tradition of playing jazz, blues and pop styles of music. “We welcome them to our stage, as they feature their daughter Annie, a violinist who was in our very first masterclass, given by Bucky Pizzarelli and Jonathan Russell,” the website states. “Not giving away ages, but Jonathan was about 12 then, and so was Annie!”

“Our main event for the evening will be The Emmet Cohen Trio. Emmet, a multifaceted young American jazz pianist and composer has emerged as one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. Last year he came to Wilmington as pianist for Tootie Heath, who gave a concert at UNC-Wilmington. The reception by the local jazz community was spectacular, and now we have the opportunity to present Emmet with his own trio as our very special introduction to his ‘style’ of jazz.”

The evening’s music will come to a close with some of the weekend’s All-Stars in a Traditional Jazz Jam.

Friday and Saturday Nights
“We will continue our celebration with 15 All-Star musicians playing in the traditional seven sets of six or seven players, each set with a different leader. You will see/hear many of our favorite NCJF musicians plus new additions to our lineup. These will be 4½-hour concerts.

Patron Brunch
“On Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. we treat our patrons to a musical brunch, when all of our All-Star musicians play for their pleasure while everyone enjoys a delicious brunch.  During the last hour we have a ‘jam’ when the patrons who are musicians have the opportunity to play with the All-Stars.”

Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at this link.


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6th Annual Daryle Singletary ‘Keeping It Country Jam’ to feature Neal McCoy, Rhett Atkins, Doug Stone, The Malpass Brothers and many more on Feb. 13 at Nashville Palace

The White Oaks Ranch presents the sixth annual Daryle Singletary Keeping It Country Jam, sponsored by Solomon Plumbing and Fire Protection, at The Nashville Palace on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, as the unofficial kickoff to The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Convention and Sport Show. Neal McCoy, Tyler Farr, Doug Stone, Rhett Akins, Craig Campbell, Andy Griggs, The Malpass Brothers, John Morgan, Jenna Lemaster, Duke Henry and Robert Bacon are scheduled to perform. Additional event sponsors include RCI Restoration & Thrive Label Group.

Reserved tickets are $60 and general admission tickets are $30 and are available online at this link.

“As a family, this event is special to us in so many ways,” said Holly Singletary in a press release. “First off, we get to reconnect with so many of Daryle’s friends. Secondly, we keep Daryle’s name and legacy alive for the next generation of fans to know his traditional sound. I am grateful every year for the artists who agree to perform and help us raise money for the Daryle Singletary Memorial Trust.”Singletary, who was 46 when he died from a blood clot in 2018, rose to fame in the ’90s with a string of successful hardcore country albums. From rural Georgia, where his father was a postmaster, Singletary moved to Nashville in 1990 to pursue a music career full-time. After catching the eye and ear of his musical hero, Randy Travis, Singletary released his debut record, the self-titled Daryle Singletary (1995), which produced four Billboard Hot Country charting singles, including the smash hit “I Let Her Lie,” which topped out at No. 2 on the charts. Additional hits included the 1996 single “Too Much Fun,” and 1997’s “Amen Kind of Love.” Other hit albums include 1998’s top-20 album, “Ain’t It the Truth,” and a pair of albums featuring some of Singletary’s favorite country songs, “That’s Why I Sing This Way” (2002) and “Straight From the Heart” (2009). His last album, “There’s Still A Little Country Left,” was released in 2015.


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Bourbon & Beyond 2024 announces lineup for Sept. 19-22 in Louisville

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.


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The Big What moves to Shakori Hills on Aug. 22-24

The Big What? is back with three nights of Big Something & friends plus more artists TBA

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.