On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Town of Cary will present a free concert by Southern Avenue at 7 p.m. on the site of the old library (across from the Cotton House Brewery). In addition to the concert, there will be food and drinks available for purchase from local vendors.
Memphis-based, GRAMMY®-nominated Southern Avenue inked their first record deal with legendary Stax Records in 2016. The first Memphis band signed to Stax in over 40 years, their self-titled debut was an immediate phenomenon, reaching #1 on iTunes’ “Top Blues Albums” chart before being honored with the 2018 Blues Music Award for “Best Emerging Artist Album.” 2019’s KEEP ON proved an even greater success, debuting among the top 5 on Billboard’s “Top Blues Albums” chart amidst worldwide critical acclaim, ultimately earning Southern Avenue their first GRAMMY® Award nomination, for “Best Contemporary Blues Album.”
In addition to the early success that the band has had with their recordings, they have also found a home on the road. The band has performed in 15 countries on three continents and averages over 150 shows in a typical year, making the group one of the most sought-after live performance experiences. Their high-energy shows have captivated audiences around the globe, making this eclectic group a must-see at venues and festivals alike.
WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — MerleFest, presented by Window World, is planning a 35th celebration on April 27-30, 2023, and a 100th heavenly birthday celebration for Doc Watson.
MerleFest started in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Garden of the Senses on Wilkes Community College to memorialize world-renowned flat picker Eddy Merle Watson, Doc Watson’s son. In keeping with the MerleFest traditions, 2023 will offer jams honoring MerleFest’s past, present and future.
The celebration also aligns with the late Doc Watson’s 100th heavenly birthday. The festival plans to celebrate the life of Doc Watson and the history of MerleFest both visually and musically through vintage videos and artist collaborations.
MerleFest, an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans, occurs on the campus of Wilkes Community College.
Volunteers may choose to work a specific number of days or the entire four-day festival. In exchange for working a four-hour shift, volunteers will receive free entry into the festival for that day, free volunteer parking and shuttle, and a 10% discount on camping at the River’s Edge Campground.
We will begin accepting online applications for its popular volunteer program on Oct. 1. Those who are interested in volunteering can apply online at www.merlefest.org/volunteer.
Additional information about MerleFest 2023 can be found at www.merlefest.org.
The. 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s Bluegrass Music Awards were announced on Thursday, Sept. 29, amid three-plus hours of performances ranging from bluegrass royalty to newcomers held at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
Both nominees and winners were chosen by the professional voting membership of the IBMA.
And the winners are…
Mandolin Player of the Year – Sierra Hull
Bass Player of the Year – Jason Moore
Instrumental Recording of the Year – “Vertigo” – Béla Fleck featuring Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Bryan Sutton (artists); Béla Fleck (writer); Béla Fleck (producer); Renew Records (label)
Gospel Recording of the Year – “In the Sweet By and By” –Dolly Parton with Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Bradley Walker, and Jerry Salley (artists); S. Fillmore Bennett/Joseph Webster (writers); Jerry Salley; (producer), Billy Blue Records (label)
Collaborative Recording of the Year – “In the Sweet By and By” –Dolly Parton with Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Bradley Walker, and Jerry Salley (artists); S. Fillmore Bennett/Joseph Webster (writers); Jerry Salley; (producer), Billy Blue Records (label)
Fiddle Player of the Year – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Banjo Player of the Year – Béla Fleck
Guitar Player of the Year – Cody Kilby
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year – Justin Moses
Male Vocalist of the Year – Del McCoury
Female Vocalist of the Year – Molly Tuttle
Vocal Group of the Year – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Song of the Year – “Red Daisy” – Billy Strings (artist); Jarrod Walker/Christian Ward (writers); Rounder Records (label); Jonathan Wilson/Billy Strings (producers)
Instrumental Group of the Year – Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart
New Artist of the Year – Rick Faris
Album of the Year – Béla Fleck’s “My Bluegrass Heart”
Sponsored by Campbell University School of Law, the luncheon included live and recorded performances from the five groups nominated for Momentum Band of the Year, which was won by Full Cord of Grand Haven, Michigan, whose members were shocked and surprised they beat out who they considered very tough competition, frontman Brian Oberlin said after the awards were announced. Full Cord was also this year’s winner of the Telluride Bluegrass Competition.
Oberlin asked the crowd just before the band started playing for a Raleigh Convention Center ballroom packed full of artists, fans, promoters, record label producers, music writers and marketers, “Raise your hands … Who here is hearing bluegrass for the first time?,” which was met with a hearty round of laughter and apparently a single raised hand.
Other Momentum Award winners were:
Vocalist of the year – Rebekka Nilsson, lead songstress of the Norway-based Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, which was also up for band of the year. Her haunting performance of “Wayfaring Stranger” left no doubt as to why she was chosen for this year’s award in this particular category.
Mentor of the Year – Della Mae’s Kimber Ludiker. In addition to touring and performing, she serves as the director of the California Bluegrass Association’s Youth Academy, co-coordinator of IBMA Kids on Bluegrass, director of the Bluegrass Camp at Ashokan and producer-host of the Bluegrass Academy and Bluegrass Campout.
Instrumentalist(s) of the Year – The first award went to Harry Clark, a mandolin and guitar player who performs with East Nash Grass (also up for band of the year), the Dan Tyminski Band and the Wooks. The second award was presented to George Jackson, a fiddle and banjo player, who has performed with Front Country, Peter Rowan and Missy Raines, among others.
ABOUT THE IBMA MOMENTUM AWARDS
The Momentum Awards recognize impressive new talent in the bluegrass world, on both the musical side of our community. These awards focus on artists and businesspeople who are in the early years of their careers in bluegrass music. Learn more at this link.
In 2015, bands of rain from Hurricane Joachin came down on Raleigh, soaking artists, vendors and attendees of bluegrass music’s biggest week and leaving organizers scrambling to move the International Bluegrass Music Association’s IBMA Bluegrass Live! festivities indoors to the relative comfort of the city’s convention center.
Fast forward seven years and IBMA’s organizers announced today all of the outdoor festivities associated with this week’s IBMA Bluegrass Live! will move indoors, due to expected rain and wind from Hurricane Ian as it approaches the western shores of Florida.
“The music will go on,” said IBMA Executive Director Pat Morris at this afternoon’s IBMA welcome reception celebrating the festival’s 10th year in North Carolina’s capital city. “We have a fantastic week lined up.”
This year, however, will be different than 2015, when the ticketed festival and the free street events were all suddenly forced into the confines of the convention center. What won’t change is several days of bluegrass tunes ringing throughout the facility — some planned in ballrooms and convention rooms, others spontaneously erupting into jam sessions filling up the facility’s not-so-hidden corners and even in hallways and on staircases.
One major difference will be the ticketed Main Stage performances, originally planned for the outdoor Red Hat Amphitheater adjacent to the convention center, will take the stage in the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Reserved seating bought in advance will be honored. Unfortunately, fans hoping for a free general admission ticket to see headliners such as the Infamous Stringdusters, Jerry Douglas and Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway may be out of luck. Organizers are still working out details to try to make some free seating available.
On a positive note, there is still a lot of free entertainment to take in. All previously scheduled performances at the five free Street Stages are moving into the Raleigh Convention Center along with all 115 vendors including the Art Market, Shop Local and Black Friday Market. Also on tap indoors will be the beer garden, PNC Porch, jam “tents” and other activities planned for this weekend.
Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said the resiliency of the organizers and the City of Raleigh is similar to that often sung about in bluegrass music as well as the genre itself, which celebrated its 75th anniversary during the height of the pandemic.
“Whether you have been here before or it’s your first time, you are in for great entertainment,” she told the crowd in the RCC ballroom. “We did this in 2015 and it turned out great, and it’s going to be great again.”
Baldwin added she hopes IBMA will return to Raleigh for another 10 years. “The best part of IBMA is you get to be part of this unique experience and community,” she said. “It’s about bringing people together.”For tickets and more information, visit https://worldofbluegrass.org.
From international superstars, including Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, Shania Twain and Taylor Swift, to contemporary North Carolina artists, such as Rhiannon Giddens, Rissi Palmer and Kasey Tyndall, “The Power of Women in Country Music,” coming to the North Carolina Museum of History from the GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles, highlights the past, present, and future of country music’s greatest female trailblazers.
This empowering exhibition will be amplified with a special concert series, author series, family events and activities and more. Tickets are available at this link: Purchase tickets!
“The Power of Women in Country Music” will take visitors on a journey through the history of women in country music, from the early years and post–World War II to the emergence of Nashville as a country music mecca and to female country artists becoming international pop sensations. The exhibit will feature artifacts, such as instruments and costumes, and special content from a diverse roster of 70 female country artists.
Be sure to save these dates for our Southern Songbirds concert series too, emceed by legendary North Carolina native Jim Lauderdale:
“Our triumphant return to The Ramkat will be an absolute knockout party you won’t want to miss! With it being so late in the touring season, we’re looking at this as our last HURRAH in N.C. before the end of the year, which means that this will be the LAST CHANCE TO SEE US IN N.C. THIS YEAR! We also advise that you get your tickets NOW because all the seating and balcony seating is SOLD OUT! Only GA for the floor and balcony is left, so BE QUICK and we’ll see you there!”
Tickets (what are left anyway) are on sale at TheRamkat.com!
IBMA has announced performances by four of this year IBMA’s Entertainer of Year Nominees for this year’s Bluegrass Music Awards show on Sept. 29: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Sister Sadie and Del McCoury Band.
Also, a star-studded list of performances by Dan Tyminski Band, Ronnie Bowman and Bela Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart will be included in the show, with special Hall of Fame tributes and performances to honor Norman Blake, Peter Rowan and Paul “Moon” Mullins.
The awards will be held at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.
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