Now that it is November, Early Bird Launch for festival tickets and camping is right around the corner! On Tuesday, December 5th at 10am, 3-day Tickets and Camping for the 11th annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival will open!Add the Early Bird Launch to the calendar now and watch for an email with all the launch details in the coming weeks. If you’re new to the launch, it is helpful to know that popular camping options often sell out in seconds. It is best to not only determine what option is ideal for you, but to also create a solid back up plan when your first choice is not available. Get ready… it all begins in just a few weeks!Red Wing XI will take place June 21-23 at Natural Chimneys Park in Mt. Solon, VA.
From the good folks at Rooster Walk: Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band will perform its first East Coast set in nearly 20 years at the 14th annual Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival, set for May 23-26, 2024 at Pop’s Farm in Martinsville, Virginia.
A bluegrass band from Colorado, Broke Mountain was formed in 2003 by a group of then-unknown, incredibly talented college musicians in their very early 20s. Remarkably, the members went to establish star-studded careers in nationally touring bluegrass bands. Broke Mountain is comprised of Anders Beck (dobro/Greensky Bluegrass), Travis Book (bass/Infamous Stringdusters), Robin Davis (mandolin/The Robin Davis Duo), Jon Stickley (guitar/Jon Stickley Trio) and Andy Thorn (banjo/Leftover Salmon). Broke Mountain juggled college studies and touring duties in the summers of 2003 and 2004 in Colorado and surrounding states before parting ways to accept full-time touring gigs with other bands. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary with a full album re-release, Broke Mountain’s Rooster Walk debut will also double as its first ever East Coast festival set.
In contrast to Broke Mountain, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country will perform for the third consecutive year at Rooster Walk. The band, led by electric guitar virtuoso Daniel Donato, has been one of the fastest-growing acts in the country over the past two years, selling out venues from coast to coast. Daniel Donato will perform two nights at RW14.
Also joining the first band announcement is TAUK Moore, a special collaboration between TAUK and female powerhouse vocalist Kanika Moore. A largely instrumental jam band, TAUK has performed late-night sets at RW multiple times in the past 10 years. They will be joined for the full set by Moore, the lead singer of Doom Flamingo, which played a late-night set at RW13 last May.
Other bands announced Tuesday include: Dogs in a Pile (a New Jersey-based funk/jazz/rock jamband surging in nationwide popularity); Yarn (NC/NY roots rockers who will once again perform an original set and a festival-finishing tribute set); Mountain Grass Unit (up and coming bluegrass shredders from Alabama); Isaac Hadden Organ Trio (masterful musicianship from a North Carolina power trio); Sol Driven Train (upbeat, horn-driven rock’n’roll beach vibes from Charleston, SC); J & The Causeways (New Orleans-based soul powerhouse reminiscent of St. Paul & The Broken Bones); Colby Helms & The Virginia Creepers (a captivating bluegrass band from nearby Franklin County, Va.); Clay Street Unit (Colorado-based honky tonk/roots rock); and Mighty Joshua (authentic reggae from central Virginia).
More than 30 additional bands will be added to the lineup, including the overall headliners, in the coming months.
Tickets for Rooster Walk 14 go on sale at noon Oct. 27, 2023, at the newly redesigned www.roosterwalk.com, which also features all the information needed to plan for an amazing experience.
The festival will take place Thursday-Sunday of Memorial Day weekend in the rolling foothills surrounding Martinsville, Va. Rooster Walk is a four-day festival celebrating music, art, and the great outdoors at the idyllic Pop’s Farm venue. With roughly 50 bands performing on six different stages, and an amazing roster of stellar music steers the Rooster Walk experience.
In addition to approximately 80 sets of live music, the family-friendly Rooster Walk will offer a wide variety of kids’ programming, family fun, craft beer, great food, arts and numerous opportunities to enjoy Virginia’s great outdoors with kayak river floats, pedal boats, bike rides, yoga, a disc golf course and beautiful on-site camping.
Rooster Walk has been named one of the Top 5 festivals in the state by the Richmond-Times Dispatch. It also was voted the region’s Most Creative Charitable Event by readers of Virginia Living Magazine for three consecutive years. The festival was created in memory of late Martinsville natives Edwin “The Rooster” Penn and Walker Shank, who graduated from Martinsville High School in 2000.
A portion of proceeds from the festival will be donated to local and regional charities, including Rooster Walk’s own Penn-Shank Memorial Endowment Scholarship Fund for students at Martinsville High School, and the Rooster Walk Music Instrument Program for public band programs in the local city and county school systems.
The festival is produced by Rooster Walk Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to promoting music, arts and education in its home of Martinsville-Henry County. Since 2009, Rooster Walk Inc. has donated more than $320,000 to local and regional charities.
Join RoosterWalk and Rives on the Road for a seafood block party on the historic courthouse square in Uptown Martinsville on Saturday, Nov. 25.
The R.W. Shucks Block Party will feature a delightful and delicious array of oysters, seafood, live music and libations from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Oysters will be offered roasted, on the half shell, raw and as shooters. The Longfin Grill Food Truck and Salty’s Lobster Co. Food Truck will augment the menu with additional amazing seafood options. All food will be sold a la carte.
Musical performances by Marvelous Funkshun (delivering a special Jimi Hendrix tribute set) Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers, In The Meantime, The Pirates of the Piedmont, and The Parrots of the Piedmont (offering a Jimmy Buffet tribute).
The event is sponsored by Hooker Furniture and Pabst Blue Ribbon. Tickets are on sale now at this link.
On Saturday, December 2nd, RUMOURS ATL brings us a perfectly delivered Fleetwood Mac Tribute. Since 2014, Rumours (or Rumours ATL) has set stages ablaze across the U.S. with their scorching Fleetwood Mac renditions. Garnering a reputation as the best Fleetwood Mac tribute band, they’ve captivated audiences internationally, playing top venues and festivals in the US and abroad. With meticulous attention to detail and infectious energy, Rumours sells out venues and leaves fans dancing, singing, and discovering new facets of Fleetwood Mac’s magic at every performance. Believe in miracles and join the unforgettable experience of Rumours. Tickets on sale Thursday, 9/28 at Noon EST.
Sneezy brings the party! Join us for a dancy, fun-filled night of music at The TAD Space in Martinsville, VA. Get ready to be blown away by the incredible performances of Sneezy and Liv Sloan & The Diehards. This event promises to be a night filled with laughter, music, and unforgettable moments.
2023 Rives on the Road Season Passes will be accepted at each of these shows, BUT must be acquired in advance. Every Rives on the Road season pass holder has received an email with their personal code to redeem their tickets for each of these events. Rives on the Road season pass holders must acquire their tickets via Eventbrite by the due date indicated.
Rooster Walk and Rives on the Road
Back in 2016, Rooster Walk Inc., the 501c3 nonprofit company, absorbed a nonprofit named “Arts at the Rives,” and began organizing and promoting concerts at the Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville. In the fall of 2019, the Rives Theatre tragically caught fire and was a total loss. It has not been rebuilt. To keep the music alive, Rooster Walk Inc., now offers “Rives on the the Road” concerts each year. These “pop-up shows” take place in various venues in the Martinsville-Henry County community, and cover a wide range of genres, from rock and blues to bluegrass, country, jazz and more. Season pass sales have closed… with a record number sold.
The 19th Richmond Folk Festival begins Friday, Oct. 13, and runs for three days of a variety of FREE music, food and fun, according to organizers.
With six stages and nearly 90 performances, many people plan to spend more than one day at the festival. Add in more than 30 food vendors, a crafts marketplace, a Virginia Folklife Area and Stage and one of the most beautiful festival sites in Richmond, and we think you’ll want to go for multiple days to experience as much as possible. And the festival goes on, rain or shine, with several of the stages tented.
Essentials to enhance your visit
Festival Hours
Friday, Oct. 13 — 6:30 pm – 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14 — Noon – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15 — Noon – 6 p.m.
Performers Read up on all of the fantastic artists who will perform. With styles ranging from jazz to gospel, Irish, rockabilly, salsa and more, there’s something for everyone to love or learn about.
Performance Schedule With six stages and more than 90 performances, you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure to get the most out of the festivals. Take a peek now so you can plan ahead!
Donations This is a LARGE festival with a hefty budget that is supported largely by generous sponsors. However, the festival needs your help to remain FREE and sustainable! There is a suggested donation of $10 per person per day that can be made online HERE, or by finding a volunteer in a bright orange shirt carrying a bright orange bucket at the festival and making a “Drop in the Bucket!” Or, you can text FOLK to 44321 to give from your mobile phone. Thanks for your help in keeping the festival FREE!
Started in 2017, the Wake Forest Listening Room hosted a series of performances featuring local and regional original musicians.
The owners state on the website the main intent behind the listening room was to give artists a “sacred space” where their music could be focused on by the audience with no distractions such as sports on TV or loud conversations.
“The series found a permanent home downstairs from Sugar Magnolia Cafe, where we hosted more than 300 performances before COVID shut us down in late 2021. In October 2023, we’re re-opening in the new space next door to our independent Wake Forest bookstore, Page 158 Books.”
Recognizing those in the bluegrass community who work diligently to promote the genre, award-winning bass player Missy Raines served as emcee for the 2023 IBMA Industry Awards, which was sponsored by the California Bluegrass Association and publishers of the “Bluegrass Breakdown” newsletter.
“I have come to every single IBMA event and this one is dear to my heart,” Raines said as she kicked off Thursday’s luncheon and awards ceremony at the Raleigh Convention Center.
The annual event has made Raleigh its home since 2013
As the World of Bluegrass festival kicks off its 11th year in Downtown Raleigh this week, the organization behind the event says 2024 will be its final year in the city.
The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) will no longer hold its five-day conference and festival in Raleigh beginning in 2025, organizers announced Wednesday following the IBMA 2023 Momentum Awards luncheon.
While the event has been a big driver of tourism and economic activity downtown since 2013, its numbers have fallen sharply since the pandemic. Raleigh officials say the plan is to replace the event with a new festival with an expanded scope.
The IBMA’s board of directors is conducting a site search and will announce a new host city by the end of the year.
In the meantime, organizers of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s World of Bluegrass, taking place Sept. 26-30, 2023, in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, say they are looking forward to a “normal” year after surviving two hurricanes and a pandemic over the past 11 years the festival has been held in the state’s capital.
This year’s weeklong bluegrass conference and festival offers both ticketed performances at Red Hat Amphitheater, the Raleigh Convention Center, the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and other venues scattered throughout downtown as well as five additional free StreetFest Stages during WideOpen Bluegrass on Friday, Sept. 29-30.
The 11th annual event kicked off Tuesday with the annual Bluegrass Ramble Showcase and Business Conference. The award-winning band Special Consensus along with special guests launched the musical performances on Tuesday evening at the Lincoln Theatre.
“When the festival is in town every third person has a fiddle, guitar or banjo on their back,” said David Brower, festival producer and executive director of PineCone, the Raleigh-based non-profit that helps IBMA produce the festival. “It’s one of the best times of the year in downtown Raleigh.”
Bluegrass music’s self-described biggest event of the year is set to run in Raleigh through 2024 after which it will move on to a yet undisclosed location, organizers said during Wednesday’s Momentum Awards luncheon, sponsored by Campbell University School of Law. For the 11th year, PNC Bank returns as the presenting sponsor of IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC.
The 2023 winners of the Momentum Awards are:
Band of the Year – Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band of California
Vocalist of the Year – Carley Arrowood-Thrailkill
Instrumentalists of the Year – Bass player Maddie Dalton of Sister Sadie and Resophonic Guitar and Banjo player Gaven Largent of East Nash Grass
Mentor of the Year – Dan Boner, artist, director and professor at Eastern Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies and IBMA Board Chair
Momentum Industry Involvement Award – Matt Hutchinson, host/producer of Bluegrass Jam Along podcast
The Industry Awards and the 34th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Show, presented by Yamaha, will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 28, with hosts Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle.
The Main Stage performances at Red Hat Amphitheater for this year’s festival will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The daily lineup for the Main Stage performances at Red Hat Amphitheater includes:
Friday, Sept. 29
The Del McCoury Band
Mighty Poplar
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Kids on Bluegrass
Saturday, Sept. 30
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Kruger Brothers play Doc Watson (with special guest Jerry Douglas)
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (with special guest Bobby Osborne)
Jake Blount, Kaia Kater & Tray Wellington
Missy Raines & Allegheny (with special guest Alison Brown)
“We are proud that IBMA Bluegrass Live! continues to provide stellar bluegrass music to more fans than any festival in the world,” said IBMA Interim Executive Director Paul Schiminger. “It is truly a celebration of our great music! The lineup on this year’s main stage at the Red Hat Amphitheater is an exciting mix of Hall of Famers and some of the most dynamic and creative artists in bluegrass. Don’t miss these unique and incredible performances!”
Brower added, “There’s a little something for everyone. The main stage at Red Hat Amphitheater has multiple Hall of Fame members, a brand-new super group, hot rising stars and a celebration of 100 years of Doc Watson. And then wait until folks see the lineup for the StreetFest stages that will line the streets of downtown Raleigh. You’re gonna be able to walk around and celebrate where we’ve been as a genre and at the same time get a sneak peek of where we might be headed.”
ABOUT IBMA
IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC is part of the five-day IBMA World of Bluegrass event, billed “The Most Important Week in Bluegrass,” which also includes the IBMA Business Conference, the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble showcase series and the 34th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards. Tickets and hotel reservations are open now for the general public. More information is available at the IBMA World of Bluegrass website.
Carolina Indie Fest returns Friday, September 29th and Saturday, September 30th with ten bands, fistfuls of food trucks, dozens upon dozens of crafty vendors, new beer releases and a surprise or two to tickle your fancy. Admission is free thanks to the generosity of our sponsors. For the uninitiated, Carolina Indie Fest is a celebration of independent music with ten bands performing all original music over two days in a festival atmosphere. The stage is sited in the rear parking lot of Hugger Mugger Brewing (229 Wicker Street) in downtown Sanford and the vendors and food trucks spill into the adjacent public parking lot above the beer garden and (new this year) onto the parking deck attached to the brewery. Bring a lawn chair and grab the best seat in the house early – the music starts at 5pm on Friday, Sept 29 and 3pm on Saturday, Sept 30.
Music – Here’s the music lineup – click on the name of the band to be directed to one of the places you can find their music streaming.
Beer & More – Every year we have a fest beer release – this Indie Fest’s beer release is a Belgian peach witt (wheat) beer. We save prior year Indie Fest beers to re-release and this year’s Belgian peach witt will be side-by-side with our September 2022 Vintage Ale called Annika’s & our May 2023 Indie Fest release which was a Blackberry Kolsch named Whoa Blackberry Bramble Lam. Sanford’s own Family Mobile Veterinary Clinic is the generous Indie Fest sponsor of all three beers. Of course we have 18 of our own beers produced on site as well as a selection of ciders, wines and craft sodas. Indie Fest Merch – We have Carolina Indie Fest shirts and really cool long sleeved, light weight hoodies for sale at the back bar in the Hugger Mugger Brewing beer hall. There may be some additional glassware and stickers available here and there. Be on the lookout for the first ever appearance of Indie Man!
Staying Updated – We post info on parking and other “day of” type items on the Carolina Indie Fest website. The band lineup and news from weeks leading up to the event can all be found there. We’ll post more timely matters on the Carolina Indie Fest Facebook page. This looks to be another great festival, go ahead and block out those two days on your calendar and bring a lawn chair to settle in and enjoy some great music. If you made it this far into our guide you’re a real trooper – peace love and rock n roll!
The International Bluegrass Music Association’s Official Bluegrass Ramble Showcases are the premier platform for introducing talent and new music to the bluegrass community during IBMA World of Bluegrass and this year is no exception. The event takes place at venues scattered throughout downtown Raleigh on Sept. 26–28, 2023. Each selected showcase act will perform at least twice during the week — typically once during the IBMA Business Conference and once at an IBMA Bluegrass Ramble venue.
Thousands of bluegrass fans are expected to fill six venues over three nights to catch the newest in bluegrass music. If you want to hear the next upcoming bluegrass stars, you won’t want to miss the following shows.
Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased at this link.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, September 26
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER ROOM 304 7:00PM Backline 7:35PM Sequoia Rose 8:10PM Buster Sledge 8:45PM Alex Leach 9:20PM Swamptooth 9:55PM DownRiver Collective 10:30PM Thomas Cassell 11:05PM Golden Shoals
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER ROOM 306 7:00PM Sicard Hollow 7:35PM Caleb Bailey & Paine’s Run 8:10PM Grain Thief 8:45PM Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light 9:20PM The High and Wides 9:55PM Magpie the Band 10:30PM Remedy Tree 11:05PM Wyatt Ellis
JIMMY V’s – SHERATON (420 FAYETTEVILLE ST) 7:00PM J.M. Clifford 8:00PM Lori King & Junction 63 9:00PM The Ruta Beggars 10:00PM Prairie Wildfire
THE LINCOLN THEATRE (126 E CABARRUS ST) 7:00PM Country Gongbang (International Band Performance Grant Recipient) 8:00PM Violet Bell 9:00PM Seth Mulder & Midnight Run 10:00PM Arkansauce
THE POUR HOUSE (224 S BLOUNT ST) 7:00PM Into the Fog 8:00PM The Faux Paws 9:00PM Taff Rapids Stringband 10:00PM Sicard Hollow
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER BALLROOM AB 7:00PM The Tennessee Bluegrass Band 8:00PM Mild Goose Chase 9:00PM U.S. Navy Band Country Current
Wednesday, September 27
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER ROOM 304 7:00PM Seth Mulder & Midnight Run 7:35PM The Ruta Beggars 8:10PM J.M. Clifford 8:45PM Mild Goose Chase 9:20PM Taff Rapids Stringband 9:55PM The Faux Paws 10:30PM Lori King & Junction 63 11:05PM Corner House
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER ROOM 306 7:35PM Prairie Wildfire 8:10PM U.S. Navy Band Country Current 8:45PM Arkansauce 9:20PM Into the Fog 9:55PM The Tennessee Bluegrass Band 10:30PM Country Gongbang (International Band Performance Grant Recipient) 11:05PM Violet Bell
JIMMY V’s – SHERATON (420 FAYETTEVILLE ST) 7:00PM Buster Sledge 8:00PM Thomas Cassell 9:00PM The High and Wides 10:00PM Swamptooth
THE LINCOLN THEATRE (126 E CABARRUS ST) 7:00PM Wyatt Ellis 8:00PM Remedy Tree 9:00PM DownRiver Collective 10:00PM Grain Thief
THE POUR HOUSE (224 S BLOUNT ST) 7:00PM Golden Shoals 8:00PM Sequoia Rose 9:00PM Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light 10:00PM Alex Leach
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER BALLROOM AB 7:00PM Corner House 8:00PM Caleb Bailey & Paine’s Run 9:00PM Magpie the Band 10:00PM Backline
Thursday, September 28
BEER & BANJOS IBMA WORLD OF BLUEGRASS EDITION VARIOUS VENUES 7PM-11PM
JIMMY V’S – SHERATON (420 FAYETTEVILLE ST) 7:00PM Nixon, Blevins, and Gage 8:00PM River Ridge 9:00PM The Eastside Ramblers 10:00 Cuttin Grass
THE LINCOLN THEATRE (126 E CABARRUS ST) 6:00PM The Holland Brothers 7:00PM GrassStreet 8:00PM Hank, Pattie, & The Current
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER BALLROOM AB 7:00PM The Loblollies 8:00PM Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road 9:00PM Turkey Hill 10:00PM Jake Goforth Band
THE POUR HOUSE (224 S BLOUNT ST) 7:00PM Jack Devereux Band 8:00PM Nu-Blu 9:00PM Wildwood Sirens 10:00PM Wyldwood Stringband 11:00PM Into the Fog
It’s less than a month when we all can spread our wings together again at the 19th Annual Fall Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance! This fall’s event hosted by Donna the Buffalo features the incomporable Mavis Staples, Tan and Sober Gentlemen and Big Daddy Love just to name a few!
The Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is a collaboration between the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center and the GrassRoots Festival Organization, providing a family-friendly celebration of music, dance, art and education. Activities for all ages include yoga classes, sustainability discussions, food vendors, local beverages, demonstrations, workshops and much more! There are a variety of camp site options on a bucolic 72-acre site in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
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